Public Policy Advocates

Deborah DeLisle, the Director of the Department of Education, testified before the Senate Finance Committee today.  (The Director’s written testimony can be found here.)  She spoke at length about the Governor’s proposed school funding reforms, as well as new proposals in regards to curriculum, wellness and other areas.  Afterwards, the Senators asked questions, mostly in regards to the new school funding system and how it would work going forward.  Many had concerns about the change from 180 school days to 200 days, and the elimination of calamity days in order to begin the process of lengthening the school year immediately. 
 
Senator Mark Wagoner focused his questioning on how much of the state’s aid would come out of GRF, and how much would come from Federal Stimulus dollars.  His concern was that in the next biennium, when the Federal Stimulus dollars are gone, there would be a structural deficit in state aid to schools.  Following this line of questioning, the Director provided GRF data and Federal Stimulus contributions that determined that state aid from GRF is $7.168 billion in FY 2009,  $6.418 billion in FY 2010, and $6.432 billion in FY 2011. The Senator then reiterated his concern that this would create a massive structural deficit for schools beginning in FY 2012.