Education was the main topic of the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast Saturday morning at Wesley Manor’s Harmony Hall.
The main thrust of the conversation centered around House Bill 1021, which specifies that a school corporation may determine the allocation among its funds of property tax reductions resulting the granting of property tax circuit breaker credits, and House Bill 1003 which deals with school corporation expenditure targets.
Community Schools of Frankfort Superintendent Don DeWeese asked the legislators present for a waiver in order to give the district added protection from tax caps.
“Fifty-three percent of our students are Latino,” said DeWeese, “Schools, like us, are on the edge because of the tax caps. I would like to see a 2.5% increase for all districts.”
DeWeese has also been critical of House Bill 1003 which requires which requires an 85-15 split in funding when it comes to education and operations funding. DeWeese has said that formula could mean the end of bus transportation for the district.
State Senator Jim Buck pointed out that the General Assembly is considering a number of bills to support public school teachers during the current session.
DeWeese responded by saying “Senator, your actions speak louder than your words.”
That statement drew a round of applause from the crowd that was filled with teachers from the Frankfort Education Foundation and other school board representatives such as Community Schools of Frankfort Board President Karen Sutton and current board member Sandy Miller.
Buck repeatedly asked DeWeese who had made such a statement and where did he hear that from. DeWeese did not respond to Buck.
Afterwards, Buck had plenty to say.
“It was very disheartening for me to hear somebody of that caliber in this public forum trying to imply that the legislature doesn’t speak well of education,” said Buck. “I’ve been there a good number of years with many different men and women and I have never ever heard any legislature or legislator speak ill of education.
“I don’t want it to be interpreted that our favorability is based upon how much money we appropriate,” continued Buck. “We are the third ranked state in the nation for funding education. We have been in the top five as long as I can remember.”
Buck was also upset with the media.
“We’re trying to make sense that whatever is in the print media, or for that matter, any of the other media outlets, is reflective accurately of what we’re doing,” said Buck. “It’s becoming distressing to some of us in the legislature. We don’t have any objectives to a bias. But don’t be so overboard to the point that it’s propaganda. We’re just trying to figure out a way that we can get our message to our constituents that’s unfiltered.”