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The superintendents of sevearl Ozarks school districts gathered together Thursday to advocate for their districts when it comes to state funding. KSMU's Jennifer Moore has details.
The superintendents, representing about 20 are districts, were unanimous in agreeing that the state’s formula for funding public schools is broken. Dr. Kent Medlin, from the Willard R-2 School district, said the formula was designed for a state that has a continued increase in state revenues—and Missouri’s revenues have declined.
The superintendents are supporting Governor Jay Nixon’s proposal to protect K-12 public education from further cuts in state funding. They’re also asking that the state funding formula be fixed in the legislature. Lastly, they’re proposing that the legislation be a stand-alone vote, rather than it being part of a larger bill with other issues, which they say would lead to confusion.
Dr. Norm Ridder, superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, says the legislature is considering two scenarios right now: one would result in SPS getting a $3 million increase, while the other would cost SPS more than $5.3 million in funding next year.
This roughly 8 million dollar disparity in the possible funding scenarios is just one more indicator of a broken funding formula, Ridder said.
For KSMU News, I'm Jennifer Moore.
