SCHOOLS: Consider the funding facts

After reading Paul Graham’s letter on schools, I had to respond.

Mr. Graham states that schools are responsible for decreased enrollment. Did you know last year’s graduating class earned over $3.2 million in scholarships? Let’s celebrate that success. That achievement is due to strong teachers, statewide curriculum (Idaho.gov), and strong support materials for those content standards. I reviewed excellent materials that were far better than any I had in school.

I have grown weary of public school attacks. I am disgusted with politicians, pundits and media personalities who have targeted schools for their own personal, political and financial gain. The measure of truth is not agreement with your opinion; the measure of truth is factual information from reputable sources.

Are you aware that a change in how schools are funded caused the decrease in school funding? Lawmakers should have to repair the damage this change caused. 

Were you aware that the 2022 State Budget Oversight Committee members noted in meeting minutes that the school funding plan underfunded schools by nearly a billion dollars over the past 20 years? Why? 

Finally, Governor Little promised a school funding increase of over $300 million a year to begin this year (thanks to the many voters who fought for the School Funding Petition Initiative). Schools have not seen any of those funds yet and our representatives already want to take $50 million a year to fund private schools and homeschooling. No accountability was attached to the $5,000 per student annual funds by the representatives. This is basically a giveaway. 

Let’s stop playing politics and fully fund public schools as guaranteed in our constitution.

BARBARA OSTIPWKO

Coeur d’Alene