Karla Eslinger

Karla Eslinger, who served the past four years as a Missouri state senator, passed on a second term. She began her tenure as commissioner of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in June.

Under the law, Missouri counties can decide whether to enact a property tax freeze for seniors. St. Louis and St. Charles counties, along with the City of St. Louis, have already taken advantage of the law.

The state board of education tapped the state senator to take over after Margie Vandeven's retirement.

The Wasola Republican was elected to her post in 2020 and had an extensive educational background before running for office.

The budget includes millions for both starting and existing teacher salaries and school transportation as well as investments across the state.

The decision backs the governor’s original funding proposal as opposed to the recently passed plan from the Missouri House.