The Republican-controlled Missouri General Assembly has passed its second bill of the session, a controversial education package.
It probably took some effort to gather votes. The plan passed Thursday on a vote of 82-69, the minimum number of House votes needed for the bill to pass.
Senate Bill 727 would:
• Expand your access to private schools by increasing your income level to qualify for MOScholars Educational Scholarships.
•Allows Boone County to open charter schools.
•Increases the minimum salary for teachers under state law from $25,000 to $40,000 per year, with additional inflation increases in the future.
•Increases the state law minimum teacher salary from $33,000 to $46,000 per year with at least 10 years of experience and a master's degree, with additional inflation increases in the future
• Limiting school days to four days a week and giving small incentives to districts that hold classes five days a week
• Increase the number of teacher recruitment and retention scholarships
• Change how state funding for schools is calculated by including enrollment and attendance in the education funding formula.
Sen. Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) is the bill's sponsor. Rep. Phil Cristofanelli (R-St. Louis) Peters helped pass the bill in the House.
Congressman Phil Cristofanelli (Photo by Tim Bommel, House Communications)
“This is the most substantial investment in public education this state has ever seen,” Cristofanelli said. “This will be a difficult vote for some people, but it will probably be the most important vote ever.”
Rep. Paula Brown (D-Hazelwood) said the bill's price tag is being ignored.
Congresswoman Paula Brown (Photo by Tim Bommel, House Communications)
“We were told last week that we couldn't afford to pay our $14 million bill. We've been told for weeks, 'We can't afford this.' We don't have that luxury. ” But all of a sudden you have $887 million left on hand? Help me with that. Where does the money come from? I love my parents and I love my children. But what we are doing now will only harm all schools, including my private and parochial schools. There's nothing wrong with them. We support homeschoolers. I support public schools. But what we're doing now is a travesty,” Brown said.
Estimates of the bill's fiscal impact predict that, if fully implemented, the bill could cost the state more than $450 million annually.
“Missouri Republican extremists are stealing money from public education and giving it to private institutions,” said House Majority Leader Crystal Quaid (D-Springfield).
“While the voucher expansion is essentially guaranteed, the promise to public schools relies on additional funding that the state does not expect and future lawmakers are not required to provide,” she said. .
Rep. Chad Perkins (R-Bowling Green) said the bill is good for public, private and homeschoolers, as well as teachers and parents.
Rep. Jamie Berger (R-Benton) sponsored the bill.
“When you look at this bill, I think I've been all over the place, too. But I think the amount of money that's going to go into public schools is huge. I think this will help our public schools and our school districts. '' Berger said.
Rep. Adrian Plank, D-Columbia, said the bill would “destroy” his area, which covers Boone County.
“We're getting emails from Harrisburg, Hallsville, Centralia, Ashland. All of these schools understand that if this bill passes for charter schools, money will be taken from them. From them. “You know what happens when you take money? They have to issue more bonds, which means they have to raise taxes. This is just a transfer of taxes to rural communities.” he said.
Congressman David Tyson Smith (Photo by Tim Bommel, House Communications)
Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) called the bill “poison.”
“Our schools are accredited. We don't need this bill,” Smith said. “We're already on a razor's edge economically. Bringing charter schools to Boone County, what this bill specifically does, is going to be devastating for us. It would be terrible for Boone County if even just one charter school were diverted. And what if they did that to us? , they will come for you.”
The bill will be submitted to Gov. Mike Parson, who will decide whether to approve it.
For more information on Senate Bill 727, click here.
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