State Journal, Frankfort, Sept. 29, 2016
House Democrats call on Bevin to release public school district funds
by Brad Bowman
Even as Gov. Matt Bevin signed a proclamation making Wednesday a day of prayer for Kentucky’s students, House Democrats said they pray Bevin follows the enacted budget bill and bridges the state’s public school funding gaps by releasing $4.64 million to districts.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Appropriations Chairman Rep. Rick Rand, D-Trimble, spoke at a press conference Wednesday at the Capitol Rotunda and called for Bevin to release the funding adjustments as agreed in the budget bill passed in the 2016 legislative session.
For the Frankfort Independent and Franklin County school districts, the total is a little more than $50,000.
Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding for public school districts is based on average student attendance. According to officials, the previous budget bill allowed the governor to shore up any SEEK funding gaps at his discretion, but the new budget bill, House Democrats believe, requires Bevin to the release the funding.
According to a spreadsheet provided by Rand, Frankfort Independent Schools would receive $5,276 in gap adjustment money.
FIS Superintendent Houston Barber said the money would go to literacy resources and materials.
“For us it would be a focus on literacy and creating opportunities for our students to have reading materials that are learner-appropriate,” Barber said. “It would help us get more materials and resources that help our students in comprehension and focus on literacy.”
Franklin County’s adjustment would total $44,943, which Superintendent Chrissy Jones said would make a difference.
“This would certainly be money we can use for students,” Jones said. “If you think of a reduction of approximately $45,000 for the district, this is a teaching position.”
At the press conference, Stumbo said he prays the governor will release the money and avoid another lawsuit.
According to Rand, State Budget Director John Chilton made no mention of the payment to the Department of Education during a committee meeting in August.
Chilton followed up with a letter to Rand stating that Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt had requested the additional $4.6 million in late February, but Bevin denied the request.
A few hours before the press conference, Bevin recorded a YouTube video in the Rotunda criticizing the Democrats’ anticipated message and saying the officials would lie about the facts surrounding state education funding.
Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, spoke at the press conference, saying the state needs to continue its investment in education.
“Our children are our state’s greatest resource,” Graham said. “They deserve the investment in education that we promised them. This is an important issue. Excuses are not acceptable.”