Proposed changes in state’s education funding viewed as consolidation move

by James Ruse, Gallatin R-5 Superintendent

The State Legislature is working on a new funding source for Missouri Schools. The Missouri Senate has released a proposed simulation of a new educational formula chaired by Charlie Shields a Senator of Northwest Missouri District 34.

The simulation released shows many North Missouri Schools receiving zero new money for growth in years to come. It has some exceptions and it appears that most of the new winners of money have low levies which gives the school a look of higher need.

This formula is similar to the one of 1977 that was not levy weighted (a key issue for North Missouri) or sensitive to the needs of each district. This formula was flat and saw us fall into the bottom in per pupil expenditure of all states in our country.

The latest attempt at a new formula has rewritten several definitions of 1992 and hast taken us back to the definitions of 1977 in at an attempt to release the State of financial responsibility. The formula of 1977 was declared unfair and inadequate, which brought on other attempts to disperse money to schools in the eighties.

A comprehensive change in funding was accomplished in 1993 with the direct aide and nurturing of our North Missouri Rural Legislators. It was called Senate Bill 380 and it made major improvements in all Missouri Schools small and large with good accountability requirements.

Our current legislature has recently defined the term adequate by taking 100 schools that achieved well on the APR, a school rating system that is derived from tests and informational data. These schools per pupil expenditure was averaged and defined as adequate.

This average figure was released at $6,500 per student. The number was reduced to $6,117 since the average called for too much money. A lesser target of $6,117 was chosen to reduce the need for new state money to make the new formula less of a burden even in the new definitions. Many North Missouri Schools spend $6,500 to $8,500 per pupil so our students are defined as adequate and other schools that have lower levies are now defined as in need.

The formula as it stands does not have additional funds for it to grow so the method of money disbursement will be to trade from those that currently are operating higher than the $6,117 per pupil number to those that have not locally taxed themselves and are spending less than that number. This gives schools with higher expenditures two choices, cut to the $6,117 or let the new burden fall on the local taxpayers, both bad.

The formula shows Gallatin R-5 as the only school in Daviess County to gain anything. But the growth is 25,000 to 30,000 per year and our normal need to just allow the staff to get a year older, continue to provide for escalating health insurance costs and utilities all adds up to about $80,000 to $100,000 of needed new money. This would just allow us to stay even with yearly financial demands.

Obviously at times you must get along with less and we surely will relearn that lesson again. However, with this new formula philosophy, student needs and instructional needs are dismissed and survival skills are put into place. The State approach to completely reversing current funding and creating so many losers seems irresponsible.

The result of this new formula seems to be a comprehensive consolidation package of rural schools. The legislators are reporting to us that this was a complete surprise to all. If that is true, why is the formula still in its original form and unmodified while proceeding in hearing after hearing in progression to a floor vote in the House and Senate.

If you have thoughts on this issue call your representatives for more information. This formula has not been passed and can be modified to better meet the rural school needs.