Standard&Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'AA+' rating, and stable outlook, to Cass County School District R-III (Pleasant Hill), Mo.'s series 2007 GO bonds. The rating reflects the school district's eligibility for, and participation in, the Missouri Direct Deposit of State Aid Program, in which the state makes direct deposits of portions of monthly state aid payments to a bond trustee. The program, which enhances local school district GO bonds, provides for a first-dollar claim on monthly state aid, which will be directly deposited to a master bond trustee. State aid covers maximum annual program debt service at least 1.5x. The district has entered into an irrevocable direct deposit agreement with the state treasurer, department of elementary and secondary
