Standard&Poor's Ratings Services has assigned its 'AA+' long-term rating to Cass County School District R-III (Pleasant Hill), Mo.'s series 2011 general obligation (GO) refunding bonds. Standard&Poor's also affirmed its 'AA+' long-term rating on the district's existing GO bonds. The outlook is stable. The rating reflects Standard&Poor's assessment of the school district's eligibility for, and participation in, the Missouri Direct Deposit of State Aid program, under which the state makes direct deposits of portions of monthly state aid payments to a bond trustee. The program enhances local school district GO bonds, and provides for a first-dollar claim on monthly state aid, which the district will directly deposit to a master bond trustee. State aid covers
