School funding formula progresses

JEFFERSON CITY — Negotiators from the House and Senate agreed Wednesday evening on a proposal to change the formula used to distribute state money to local schools. The revised proposal made it to the Senate floor several hours after the compromise was reached, and Senators planned to discuss the revised proposal into the evening.

On Tuesday night, the House debated its version of the bill, which seeks to address a lawsuit filed on behalf of more than half of the state school districts, for 10 hours as Gov. Matt Blunt watched from a gallery. The House eventually passed the proposal at 3:20 on Wednesday morning.

Because the House bill differed from a proposed formula change passed earlier in the Senate, the two bodies had to meet on Wednesday to broker a compromise.

Despite all the legislative debate over the proposal, the lawyer representing the school districts said the lawsuit would likely continue regardless.

Jefferson City attorney Alex Bartlett represents more than half the state’s school districts in a suit arguing that state spending for education is neither equitable nor adequate. Bartlett said he believes most of his clients will continue to pursue the lawsuit even if the proposed formula is enacted because the proposal would struggle to keep up with inflation over the seven-year implementation period.

“Unless there is a substantial change focusing more on adequacy, I see it necessary to proceed in the courts,” Bartlett said. “I just don’t see this as enough to fix it. There is no new funding stream for education that has been proposed, and consequently, I see it primarily as just a half measure at this point.”

The proposed formula in the House split Republicans along rural and urban lines during a battle to get the bill out of committee and to the House floor two weeks ago. A weekend of phone calls and conversations between the governor’s office, House leadership and defecting Republican committee members, along with amendments that added more than $100 million to the cost of the new formula, helped get the proposal to the floor.

Blunt, lobbying in the House for the first time, has made the change a priority. He said he was observing the 10-hour debate from a gallery to work through concerns about the legislation.

“Things happen quickly, and if people have concerns, I want them to be able to voice them to me directly,” he said.

The proposal would set a minimum amount of spending per pupil and distribute money based upon demographics. The current formula largely is based on local property-tax contributions.

Negotiations between the House and Senate began less than 10 hours after the House passed the proposal. Negotiators had only two days to come to a consensus and garner support from both chambers before the legislative session ends. Blunt has said he would call a special session to complete the formula if time runs out.

Aside from working through differences over language in the measure, legislators said they must address the need to pay for a formula that would cost more than $900 million to fully implement.

Blunt and Rep. Brian Baker, R-Belton, who was put in charge of the bill in the House, said natural economic growth would generate the money. But the bill’s sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, has said he favors a repeal of loss limits at casinos and an increase in the gross receipts taxes that gambling boats pay.

Included in a slew of proposed changes was an amendment by Rep. Brad Roark, R-Springfield, that would have banned gay-straight alliances and similar clubs in schools.

“I honestly believe Missourians frown upon that lifestyle,” he said.

Rep. Ed Robb, R-Columbia, voted in favor of the amendment.

While it was ultimately approved, the amendment was not added to the bill. Democrats argued the issue had nothing to do with school funding.

“Now if we want to stay all night that’s fine, I can roll with that,” said Rep. Connie Johnson, D-St. Louis City. “But if we’re all concerned about the kids, let’s get about it, be about it.”