Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Story last updated at 11:18 AM on Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Reaction from area school leaders
None of the Eastern Jackson County public school superintendents support the tax credits, but leaders of two prominent private schools in the area are enthusiastic about their potential.
Many public school superintendents worry that tax credit or voucher programs would become a way for wealthy families to use public tax dollars to send their children to private school. Others are concerned that even with vouchers, low-income families would still not be able to afford privates-school tuition.
FORT OSAGE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY EWING - "You can call it the proverbial 'opening of Pandora's Box, ... If you do something like school vouchers, it opens up the opportunity for it to happen elsewhere. I would like to think that there is a better solution to solving these issues than vouchers."
"I think any public school person whether you are a parent, staff member or member of the board of education should be concerned about any process that diverts state money from the public schools. The proponents say, 'well its only $40 million.' Well $40 million is still a significant amount of money."
LEE'S SUMMIT SUPERINTENDENT DAVID McGEHEE - "I am a proponent of allowing parents to control their child's education. They (parents) can choose to educate their children privately or at home, but it is still the obligation of the community to fund the local public schools and the education for those children who remain."
INDEPENDENCE SUPERINTENDENT JIM HINSON - "Unless (the tuition assistance) is the full amount for tuition and transportation, I don't think it addresses the issues the legislature wants it to. Vouchers are not usually for the full amount needed. Families would have a difficult time making up the difference."
ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TRUDY JONAS - "I think it would be great to pass a voucher issue because it would give people choice. It would help people who cannot afford a Catholic-school education. Our biggest problem is helping people without the means to choose Catholic education. We don't want to be just for the elite."
Jonas said vouchers would help schools like St. Mary's attract students from low-income families. She said many private schools have scholarships or financial aid available to help make up the difference.
TRI-CITY CHRISITIAN SCHOOL PRESIDENT CARL HERBSTER - "Parents have the right to send their child to the school of their choice without being financially discriminated against. In other words, they're paying their taxes and should be allowed to take those tax dollars and spend them at whatever educational institution they would choose."
-- Kelly Evenson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reaction from state legislators in area
State legislators from Eastern Jackson County are widely divided. Most are not against finding a way to help students in struggling school districts such as St. Louis or Kansas City. It is the idea of taking public funds and allowing those funds to be used for private education that has them divided.
REP. PAUL LEVOTA (D-Independence) - "I think it is a scheme to take money away from the public school system. Whenever you take resources from the public schools, the community is hurt, The state needs to figure out what the problems are rather than taking money away from it."
REP. BRIAN YATES (R- Lee's Summit) - "I am strong advocate for public schools and do not support any proposal that would take away those resources. Both the Kansas City and St. Louis school districts have serious issues. Children are not receiving the best education they can. That issue needs to be addressed, but I am against school vouchers."
He sees better options, such as changing how major metro school boards are selected. Yates said he believes board members should be elected at-large instead of by sub-district - the current system in Kansas City and St. Louis.
"It would make members more accountable than they are now. Instead of only looking at their regions or they schools they represent, they would be looking at the district as a whole. They would be looking to the betterment of the entire school district."
SEN. MATT BATLE (R-Lee's Summit) - Bartle is not in favor of vouchers because of the potential impact on private schools. "In states where vouchers are permitted, control (over the private schools) follows that. If you want a voucher system then you are turning all of the private schools to public schools and then people don't have the choice."
Currently, private or parochial schools are not held to the same requirements as pubic schools in areas such as assessment testing, open meetings laws or auditing requirements.
REP. GARY DUSENBURG (R-Blue Springs) - Dusenberg in general is against school vouchers for private education. However, he believes exceptions should be made.
"I think there could be some situations in which vouchers would be good. For instance in poor school districts, there could be some children who would do better in a different environment. I believe there are some unique situations in which vouchers would be good. However, I am a huge supporter of public education, so it would have to be decided on a case-by-case basis."
REP. BRYAN PRATT (R-Blue Springs) - "I do not support vouchers, but think the legislature has to do something about the kids in unaccredited or provisional accreditation school districts. We cannot turn our backs on these kids. Everything is on the table while we are trying to figure out how best to take care of these kids."
REP. RAY SALVA (D-Independence) - "My parents sent three kids to parochial schools and paid for it. I sent my kids to parochial school and paid for it. I don't believe that taxpayers should pay if parents decide to send their kids to parochial schools."
SEN. VICTOR CALLAHAN (D-Independence) - Callahan, who is leading an effort to remove schools in western Independence from the Kansas City School District, is against vouchers as they have been presented in the past. However, he is open to any plan that would help families in western Independence and Sugar Creek leave the Kansas City School District.
"One problem with vouchers in the past is that only the wealthy could afford them. If a voucher plan was presented, could the people in western Independence afford it? ...
"People have no need for vouchers in the Independence School District or in the Blue Springs School District. But if there was some element of school choice to get the people of western Independence out of the Kansas City School District, I would certainly take a long look at it."
REP. WILL KRAUS (R-Raytown) -"I think as long as Kansas City and St. Louis remain without full accreditation, solutions will be provided....
"What can we do to get the Kansas City School District fully accredited? If some don't like the voucher idea, then let's go from a different angle. We need to think about the kids and what we can do to get kids a quality education
This is great info to know.
ReplyDelete