The funding formula is a mess, but seemingly the status quo is acceptable to the legislature. I’d like to see it simplified to tiers based on enrollment and geography where the state establishes a floor of per pupil spending that will be funded at the state level. A ceiling would also be established to protect tax payers. Individual districts would then be empowered to spend between the floor and ceiling with that amount being levied on property taxes at the district level. That’s where the concept of local control comes in. Let communities, through school board elections and public meetings, determine what level of spending they want. Certainly there would need to be a phase-in period as some districts based on a tier level would currently be outside the boundaries and would have to make adjustments over time. After all, the current spending is base-lined from budgets 30 years ago....which is insane, considering we’ve had a census done in this country three times since then.
Sorry, I need to reply to these more promptly. This all seems pretty reasonable to me. Have you seen other proposals from people about how all of this could work better? I’d be interested in reading about the range of alternatives people are considering.
I haven’t heard of any other proposals ( not that my idea is an actual proposal being considered). I spoke with one member of the legislature last year and they didn’t see much appetite on the part of the legislature to change anything.
The funding formula is a mess, but seemingly the status quo is acceptable to the legislature. I’d like to see it simplified to tiers based on enrollment and geography where the state establishes a floor of per pupil spending that will be funded at the state level. A ceiling would also be established to protect tax payers. Individual districts would then be empowered to spend between the floor and ceiling with that amount being levied on property taxes at the district level. That’s where the concept of local control comes in. Let communities, through school board elections and public meetings, determine what level of spending they want. Certainly there would need to be a phase-in period as some districts based on a tier level would currently be outside the boundaries and would have to make adjustments over time. After all, the current spending is base-lined from budgets 30 years ago....which is insane, considering we’ve had a census done in this country three times since then.
Sorry, I need to reply to these more promptly. This all seems pretty reasonable to me. Have you seen other proposals from people about how all of this could work better? I’d be interested in reading about the range of alternatives people are considering.
I haven’t heard of any other proposals ( not that my idea is an actual proposal being considered). I spoke with one member of the legislature last year and they didn’t see much appetite on the part of the legislature to change anything.