MNEA Hosts Legislative Forum in Columbia

Teachers union questions legislators on education priorities

By Roger McKinney Columbia Daily Tribune   January 13, 2017

While saying they support public education, state legislators at an education forum Thursday said the state’s budget situation might prevent them from fully funding K-12 education.

The Missouri National Education Association sponsored the forum at Rock Bridge High School, with MNEA Legislative Director Otto Fajen as the moderator. Participating were Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia; Rep. Nate Walker, R-Kirksville; Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch, R-Hallsville; Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia; Rep. Martha Stevens, D-Columbia; Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport; and Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles.

Educators have questions about state funding as lagging revenue continues to crunch the state budget.

A report released Wednesday by the Office of Administration shows state revenue is growing too slowly to meet planned expenditures for fiscal year 2017. Projections show that at the current rate, spending is outpacing revenue in the fiscal year beginning in July by $456 million.

Wood, a retired teacher, sponsored a bill last year placing a 5 percent cap on annual growth to the school funding formula. He said he was making the goal an achievable one.

“The foundation formula is outdated,” Wood said. “I think it’s going to take a lawsuit to fix it.”

Basye said education funding should be a “huge priority,” though he said public schools are not the right fit for all parents.

Rowden said Kansas and Illinois are good examples of how not to run a state government. Rowden said Gov. Eric Greitens potentially offers some new opportunities for education because he comes with a different perspective.

Kendrick said special-interest tax cuts are putting a drain on the state budget.

“Sales tax exemptions and other tax cuts have put us in a difficult situation,” he said.

Stevens said her top priorities are funding the foundation formula and early childhood education, though she was skeptical about whether those would be priorities for the General Assembly.

Stevens said it’s important for teachers to tell legislators what they think about issues.

“You guys are the experts,” Stevens said. “We do need to look to you.”

Kory Kaufman, a member of the Columbia Missouri National Education Association, said he liked that some of the lawmakers acknowledged that teachers are the education experts. He expressed cautious optimism about the legislative session.

“Lip service is easy to give,” he said. “I’m excited to see what action comes from it.”