St. Louis Schools Watch (from Susan Turk)
Legislative Watch, Primary Watch and the School Board Election
SB 32
Establishes the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program
March 2, 2017—St. Louis—This bill will come before the senate for a vote on Monday, March 6. The senate is adjourned until 4 p.m. Monday.
SB 32 allows taxpayers to make contributions to educational assistance organizations, not for profits set up to create funds that provide scholarships for private school tuition. Donors will be rewarded with tax credits up to a maximum of $25 million/year. It also allows people statewide to create education savings accounts for k-12 tuition for private schools or for the cost of homeschooling for their own children.
This is not a voucher bill. But it is a strategy that will allow people to lower their tax obligation to the state by letting them use their own money for private or home schooling and exempt it from taxation. It will lower state revenue for the general operating budget starving not just public education but all state services of revenue.
Enabling school choice is one of Governor Greitens’ priorities. This bill is moving swiftly through the legislative process. Unlike a voucher bill, it will not be able to be overturned in the courts because it funnels money to private and parochial schools before it becomes government revenue.
So, please contact your senators and ask them to oppose the bill. But, understand that the Republicans have the votes to pass it and Governor Greitens will sign it. So, what to do?
The senate does have the filibuster option. One tenacious senator with a mighty bladder can talk a bill to death. Ask your senator then not just to vote against, but also to mount a filibuster. It’s our only hope. Oh, and there’s reason for optimism that the new senator for the 4th district on the west side of the city, Jake Hummel, may be more responsive to defending public education than his predecessor was. But whomever represents you, please ask.
The senate does have the filibuster option. One tenacious senator with a mighty bladder can talk a bill to death. Ask your senator then not just to vote against, but also to mount a filibuster. It’s our only hope. Oh, and there’s reason for optimism that the new senator for the 4th district on the west side of the city, Jake Hummel, may be more responsive to defending public education than his predecessor was. But whomever represents you, please ask.
Senator Hummel may be reached at (573) 751-3599 or Jacob.Hummel@senate.mo.gov. If you are represented by
Senator Nasheed you may reach her at (573) 751-4415 or Jamilah.Nasheed@senate.mo.gov. Senator Scott Sifton may be reached at Toll Free: (866) 342-4905. He does not list an email address. If you are represented by another senator, you may locate their contact information at http://wordpress.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=febf37d8c53a262d3cca40d04&id=63ab2339a5&e=3fe73d6d79. By clicking on their photograph you will be directed to their homepage.
It never hurts to ask.
HB 634 *CHARTER SCHOOLS IN EVERY DISTRICT
This bill allows charter schools in every district in the state. It was voted Do Pass out of committee just Thursday, March 2. It is moving swiftly now after being bottled up in committee by rural legislators who are opposed to charter schools in their own districts. It would affect SLPS in that there would now be charter schools not just in the city but also in many districts in St. Louis County. They would be able to charge the tuition of the district they are located in. Clayton’s tuition is nearly $20K. There are other bills this session that would allow students from unaccredited schools in accredited districts to cross district boundaries to attend charter schools. SLPS has about a dozen schools whose students would qualify. If any of these bills pass, they could have a damaging impact on SLPS’s budget. School choice is one of Governor Greitens’ priorities. If this passes, he will sign it. See suggestions for contacting your legislators above. But this bill is in the house. You can find you representative on the house web page http://wordpress.us10.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=febf37d8c53a262d3cca40d04&id=33f214bb83&e=3fe73d6d79 . You can even phone when their offices are closed, i.e., at night or over the weekend and leave a message.
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Calendar
March 14, 2017, Tuesday, Board of Education meeting, regular monthly meeting, 7 p.m., Adams Elementary School, 1311 Tower Grove Avenue, 63110
March 16, 2017, Thursday, SAB meeting, 6 p.m., 801 North 11th Street, room 108
April 4, 2017, School Board Election, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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