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SB 7 (block grant bill repealing the current school funding formula) passed the Senate 25-14. On roll call the vote was: Yea – (25) (Are they representing you?) Abrams, Arpke, Baumgardner, Bruce, Denning, Donovan, Fitzgerald, Holmes, King, Knox, LaTurner, Lynn, Masterson, Melcher, Olson, Ostmeyer, Petersen, Pilcher-Cook, Powell, Pyle, Smith, Tyson, Wagle, Wilborn, Wolf. Nay – (14) (Thank them)… Bowers, Faust-Goudeau, Francisco, Haley, Hawk, Hensley, Holland, Kelly, Kerschen, Longbine, Love, McGinn, Pettey, Schmidt. Absent and Not Voting O’Donnell...

“Myth #1, Certainty: The bill was sold as an attempt to provide consistency and predictability for school districts but completely ignores how (and why) school finance is practically applied. It locks in spending at the current levels and allows for no variation in growth or loss of student population or other demographic changes. It does not account for rising utility costs, insurance costs or any other unforeseen circumstances. It requires that dwindling reserve funds be depleted and locks in spending at levels already found to be unconstitutionally inadequate. Yes, it is certainty for the legislature in the budget...

Before the primary and general elections last summer and fall we did rosters of legislators and candidates who we believed were true supporters of public education. We also did a “bench for academic ineligibility” for legislators we have found consistently vote against public education interests, whether it’s voting against funding, or voting for policy that would negatively impact our schools. Most of them were re-elected anyway, and every single one of them voted for the block grant bill even though their districts and/or their constituents generally asked them to vote against it. Are any of the following your...