House gets school funding proposal

• By WILL SENTELL
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 17, 2009 - Page: 6A

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Legislation that would freeze basic state aid to public schools at current levels moved within one step of final approval Tuesday when the House Education Committee passed it.

The vote was 12-1. The lone “no” was cast by state Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge.

The proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 17, next faces action on the House floor, where approval is expected.

The measure was passed by the Senate last week 36-2.

The resolution would authorize the state to spend $3.3 billion in basic aid to about 650,000 public-school students statewide.

However, the normal increase in assistance for schools is at least 2.75 percent, which would be $66 million more this year.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which made the budget request, said no such increase was sought this year because of the state’s financial problems.

Dollars for state services are expected to drop by $1.3 billion for the state budget year that begins on July 1.

Penny Dastugue, of Mandeville, and a member of the board, told the committee that school districts will face hardships because of the no-growth package, the first of its kind in at least 12 years.

But Dastugue said public schools are in “pretty good position” compared to higher education, which faces cuts in state aid of up to $219 million.

She also noted schools are set to collect $240 million in special federal funds in the next two years and will have flexibility on how to spend them.

The state aid package is allocated to public schools through a complex formula called the Minimum Foundation Program. It is supposed to help offset inflation, boost teacher salaries and defray other costs.

No state funds are provided for teacher pay raises this year.