School Officials Ask For Funding Formula Changes

INDIANAPOLIS – Superintendents from around the state came to a Senate budget subcommittee Tuesday with a similar message: We need your help.

For some, that meant more state funding – period. For others, it meant changing the way money is distributed to schools to help urban districts. And to yet others, it meant asking to be grandfathered under the current system.

But Sen. Ed Charbonneau, a member of the subcommittee, had a simple response: “What is your answer?”

It was a largely rhetorical question. Members of the subcommittee are trying to balance the needs of urban, rural and suburban districts, which have different problems and are seeking different solutions.

They are working off a House-passed $31.5 billion budget that increases funding for schools by 4.7 percent over the next two years, but reworks the formula that divides that money among districts to reduce the gap between urban districts with the highest per-student funding and suburban districts with the lowest.

The bill increases the base amount per student while reducing the total amount given to at-risk students. And some school officials complained that the House budget changed the way students are determined to be at-risk. The House removed students who qualify for reduced-priced lunches and calculated at-risk based only free lunches.

Chris Himsel, the superintendent of Northwest Allen County Schools in Fort Wayne, said the budget is yet another short-term fix from government rather than a long-term solution. And Himsel said the issues in education aren’t a one size fits all solution and that poverty stricken school districts will suffer because of the House-passed changes.

Those that spoke at the committee weren’t entirely against the bill. Many – including Batesville Superintendent Jim Roberts – supported the school funding. Although he praised lawmakers for moving forward on an important issue, he said that there are alternatives that could be looked at.

The Senate is expected to release its version of the budget later this month.

Adam Lee is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.