FOR SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHOSE STATE FUNDING IS FROZEN, THE TERM IS 'HOLD HELPLESS'

Cape Girardeau school superintendent Dan Steska was in Jefferson City last week testifying before a special House committee looking into the plight of the 52 school districts that are designated "hold harmless" under the formula for distributing state aid to local schools. This "hold harmless" category, Steska says, could better be termed "hold helpless." We agree.

Districts in this category have been severely penalized under the formula. Class sizes have grown, course offerings dropped and salaries frozen.

A coalition of hold-harmless districts has been formed to lobby for changes. A former chief of staff to Gov. Mel Carnahan has been hired as lobbyist for the group. Bipartisan support for relatively minor changes in the formula is building. We wish Steska and the other hold-helpless districts well in this crucial effort.