Local parents, administrators have mixed opinions on vouchers

Until last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the word "voucher" was seldom spoken by local parents and school leaders.

Now, with a decision making them legal, the idea has become a more frequent topic of conversation. And in Southeast Missouri, public and private school administrators have opposite opinions -- private schools say vouchers are needed, but public schools call vouchers harmful.

Tom Essner, a parent of two children at Notre Dame Regional High School, said he would like to see vouchers come to Missouri.

"All the parents we know want to be able to give their children the best education they can," he said. "For our children, Catholic education is very important. It's more than an intellectual thing. For other parents who can't afford to send their children to that kind of school, vouchers would open the door."

Even though the public and private schools see the issue from different angles, there is one thing they agree on: It's unlikely that a voucher system would ever be established in Southeast Missouri because of wording in the Missouri Constitution and the quality of schools in the area.

Sister's doubts

Sister Jane Hosch, superintendent of schools for the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese, acknowledges that it's unlikely her diocese ever will be involved in a voucher program.

"I certainly support the fine public schools in our diocesan area," she said. "However, some of the large urban areas might have parents who would like the option to select a school of their choice for quality schooling of their children."

Ron Anderson, superintendent of the Jackson School District, said, while he doesn't think vouchers will ever become a reality in Southeast Missouri, he thinks they could be harmful to public schools elsewhere.

He said vouchers mean funding is taken from public schools, which leaves taxpayers left to make up the difference.

"What it would do is raise taxes," Anderson said.

Jeff Stack, president of the Charleston School District PTO, said he sees both sides of the issue.

Stack taught for eight years in public education before leaving the profession 10 years ago. He now has two children in the Charleston School District and has another who will enter the district in the next couple of years.

"There are the benefits that certain schools would be able to offer more to students than other schools," he said. "But I worry vouchers would skim off the cream of the crop from some schools. You could end up with some schools that are basically not the leftovers, but just the students whose parents aren't that involved with them."

Spiritual environment

Brother David Anthony Migliorino, principal at Notre Dame, said Catholic school parents are looking for a spiritual environment.

"There are parents who would like to send their children to other schools, but because of finances they can't," Migliorino said. "I don't see that vouchers are going to hurt any schools. I see it as parents have a choice, and I think it makes sense and it is fair for parents to have a choice in a lot of schools."

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

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