Monday, May 12, 2014

Missouri Retired Teachers oppose student transfer bill

The Missouri Retired Teachers Association is asking its members to contact legislators and express their opposition to student transfer legislation which will be voted on during this last week of the legislative session.

The problem, according to a letter sent out by Executive Director Jim Kreider, is the addition of voucher language allowing students to opt to attend private schools with public money.

A portion of the letter is printed below:

Your action is needed regarding the Conference Committee report (CCR) on HCS SCS SB 493 soon to be voted out of committee for House and Senate approval. The original bill, SB 493, as introduced, dealt with the school transfer issue of unaccredited school districts in Saint Louis and Kansas City. NOW the legislation in both the House and Senate versions have been amended to include vouchers and expansion of Charter Schools.

MRTA's Legislative Platform (click here)states MRTA is opposed to Vouchers. Now that SB 509 has become law (major tax cuts for corporations) state revenue will become more and more scarce. Enacting vouchers will take even more funding away from public schools. This is particularly negative since the Foundation Formula is currently $600 million underfunded! Less tax dollars for public schools equals: fewer teachers hired, lower teacher salaries, less contributions to the retirement systems, and could result in bankruptcy which would cause the consolidation of poorer rural school districts. There is also the question of the separation of church and state, vouchers mean tax dollars going to private and parochial schools.

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