STATE'S SCHOOLS SEEK MORE STATE MONEY

Cape Girardeau and 50 other Missouri school districts stuck at 1993 state funding levels are looking to a legislative solution for more state money.

The Missouri House of Representatives and Senate are considering legislative changes that could give school districts cost-of-living increases or make money for at-risk student programs available.

Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, is among legislators working for passage of the bill.

On Tuesday the House got an amendment added to the bill with one vote to spare that would provide additional money to hold-harmless schools.

However, the bill's sponsor Rep. D.J. Davis, D-Odessa, put the legislation on the informal calendar while its financial impact is studied. In essence the bill was tabled, and only Scheve can bring it back for consideration.

"We fought real hard yesterday," Kasten said. "Now they are taking a very calculated look at the amendment. They want to make sure it's not too detrimental and the other school district would not lose too much money."

Seven years ago the Missouri Legislature passed sweeping changes in the way public schools are funded. Legislators wanted to give each child an equal education: those from wealthy districts and those from poor districts. As part of that legislation, some schools with a significant local tax base were classified hold harmless. Cape Girardeau and Nell Holcomb districts in Southeast Missouri were among those districts.

The designation was supposed to protect districts from losing state money. These hold-harmless districts would be guaranteed funding at the 1992-93 level.

However, the small number of hold-harmless districts in the states have been stuck at the 1992-93 level while the majority of districts received growing state education dollars.

The proposals being considered in Jefferson City would tie per-pupil funding for these hold-harmless districts to a cost-of-living index. In addition, hold-harmless districts could receive additional money designated for at-risk students.

"This is a step in the right direction," said Steve DelVecchio, business manager for the Cape Girardeau district. "I don't think the intent of Senate Bill 380 was to hurt any school district. That's is just the way it works. Everyone else grew, and we stood still."

Dr. R. Ferrell Ervin, president of Cape Girardeau's Board of Education, agreed. "Hold-harmless schools should receive an increase based on the Consumer Price Index so we are not doubly disadvantaged," he said. "Our state funding stays the same, but costs are continuing to escalate. The math tells you there's less money and more to do."

Like Cape Girardeau, Nell Holcomb school district had been designated hold harmless until November of this school year.

The designation is established through a complicated formula that calculates eligible pupils and assessed value of property in the school district.

Superintendent David Fuemmeler said the district's enrollment increased a little and Nell Holcomb added summer school enrollment. "That was enough to put us out of the hold harmless situation."

As a result, the district was able to collect an additional $40,000 in funding for at-risk students. However, Fuemmeler said he doesn't know what the district's status will be next year. Slight changes in enrollment or tax base could make Nell Holcomb hold harmless again.

"I would like to see the legislation passed," Fuemmeler said. "This is supposed to be a fair distribution, but we've been sitting here since 1992-93 operating on the same dollars."