In narrow vote, Missouri Legislature passes controversial education package

By Alisa Nelson

MISSOURINET – The Republican-controlled Missouri Legislature has passed its second bill of the session – a controversial education package.

Gathering the votes likely took some whipping. The plan passed Thursday by a vote of 82-69, with 82 being the minimum number of House votes required to pass a bill.

Senate Bill 727 would:

•Expand access to private schooling by increasing the income level to qualify for MOScholars education scholarships

•Allow Boone County to open charter schools

•Increase the minimum teacher salary in state statute from $25,000 to $40,000 annually, with additional inflationary increases down the road

•Boost the minimum teacher salary in state statute for at least ten years of experience and a master’s degree from $33,000 to $46,000 annually, with additional inflationary increases down the road

•Restrict four-day school weeks, with a small incentive to districts who hold classes five days a week

•Boosts the number of teacher recruitment and retention scholarships

•Changes how state aid to schools is calculated by including enrollment and attendance into the formula used to fund education

Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, is the bill sponsor. Rep. Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, led the bill through the House.

“This is the most substantive investment in public education that this state has ever seen,” said Christofanelli. “This is going to be a hard vote for some people but it’s also probably going to be the most important vote you ever take.”

Rep. Paula Brown, D-Hazelwood, said the price tag of the bill is being ignored.

“Last week, we got told we couldn’t afford a $14 million bill. We’ve been told for weeks, ‘we can’t afford this; we can’t afford that.’ But all of a sudden, we’ve got a cool 887 million laying around? Help me out with that. Where are we getting the money? I love parents, I love kids. But the stuff we’re doing right now is just going to hurt all of them, including my private and parochial schools. I have no issues with them. I support homeschoolers. I support public schools. But what we are doing right now is a travesty,” said Brown.

An estimate on the bill’s fiscal impact projects the measure could cost the state more than $450 million annually when fully in place.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, said “extreme Missouri Republicans are stealing money from public education to give to private institutions.”

“While the voucher expansion is essentially guaranteed, the promises to public schools depend on additional funding the state isn’t expected to have and future lawmakers aren’t required to provide,” she said.

Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Bowling Green, said the bill is good for public, private, and home schools, as well as teachers and parents.

Rep. Jamie Burger, R-Benton, backed the bill.

“I think when we look at this bill, I’ve been all over the place, too. But I think the amount of money that’s going into public schools is a vast amount of money. I think it’s going to help our public schools and our districts,” said Burger.

Rep. Adrian Plank, D-Columbia, said the bill would “destroy” his area, which covers Boone County.

“I’ve got emails from Harrisburg, Hallsville, Centralia, Ashland. All these schools understand that if this bill comes through with charter schools, it’s going to take money from them. You know what happens when it takes money from them? They’ve got to do more bond issues, which means they’ve got to raise their taxes. This is just a tax transfer to rural communities,” said Plank.

Rep. David Tyson Smith, D-Columbia, called the bill “poison.”

“Our schools are accredited. We don’t need this bill,” said Smith. “We are hanging on by a razor’s edge financially already. You bring charter schools into Boone County, which is what this bill specifically does, it’s going to be devastating for us. Just one charter school – any funds diverted – is going to be horrific for Boone County. Today it’s Boone. And what, is Springfield next? And if they do it to us, they’re coming for you.”

The bill heads to Gov. Mike Parson, who will decide whether to approve or reject it.

For more information about Senate Bill 727, click here.