School may sue on state funding

Hungry Horse News

Based on what the School District Six Board describes as a "lack of action," members approved a motion Monday in support of again taking legal action against the state if a school funding formula is not approved by Saturday.

"We have been talking too long," said Barb Riley, board vice chair. "They've (the Legislature) seen it coming and done nothing."

The district was the lead plaintiff in a case that resulted in a ruling from the Montana Supreme Court in March that said the current system is unconstitutional because it does not spell out how funding ensures the "basic quality education" guaranteed by Montana's constitution.

The court gave the Legislature until Oct. 1 to show progress on a new system.

The current formula distributes state money primarily on a per-student basis.

A new formula tentatively endorsed by the Quality Schools Interim Committee on Sept. 23 would distribute more state money on a per-school basis.

Superintendent Michael Nicosia was critical of the new formula proposed by members of the Montana Quality Education Coalition.

It calls for paying districts $4,000 for each teacher and other professional staff member.

The proposal would also increase per-student funding for elementary schools and nearly doubling entitlements to elementary schools and adjust high school entitlement for inflation.

Nicosia said the money would be better spent on facilities.

"(The state) needs to give money to start doing things we've needed for years," he said.

An alternative plan that would have resulted in an 8 percent increase in overall school funding was rejected by the panel.

It included a $4,000-per-classroom payment to all school districts, a $10,000-per-school payment, a $250-per-student payment for maintenance and operation costs, and $20 million payment to offset employee health insurance costs.

Nicosia was also critical of this plan because it is based on the current funding formula.

"(The current formula) doesn't work because it's never been funded," he said. "We never said the formula was the problem."

However, Nicosia said, the new approach could work if it were funded properly.

Several board members expressed frustration that the information presented by the Committee was based on inadequate research.

"The information they brought forth was pitiful," said member Dave Cheff.

Nicosia expressed frustration that the Committee and the Legislature had not made attempts to talk with educators.

"It's obvious that no one in that committee wants the input of the education community." he said. "It's OK if they don't like what MQEC did or that the Columbia Falls District led a lawsuit, but you need to sit down with the education community."

The motion Monday night received a unanimous vote. Board members Gail Pauley and Dean Chisholm were absent from the meeting.

"We need to show we're not backing down and we want meaningful results," said Riley after the vote.

In other action, the board also approved the resignation of board member Larry Wilson. Wilson, a longtime board member and former board chair, was filling in on an interim basis.

Jim Henjum was sworn in to fill the vacancy.

Henjum is part owner and president of Schwarz Architecture & Engineering Inc. and has been a resident of the valley for four years.

He has a first-grader in the District and also a 4-year-old.

"It was a reason to help influence my own and other children's educational experiences," he said of joining the board.