The Missouri Senate’s Rebooting Government education work group met on Tuesday of last week and discussed a wide range of ideas designed to save state government money.
However, many of the ideas also would cut state funding to school districts, according to the Missouri School Boards’ Association.
Some of the ideas that were discussed by the group included:
• Capping state funding for hold-harmless districts at twice the amount of the formula calculation.
• Reducing summer school reimbursement.
• Eliminating the requirement that state aid for school districts with an enrollment of 350 students or less not be any less than the amount they received in the 2005-06 school year.
• Eliminating the provision that allows school districts with declining enrollments to calculate their state aid based on their average attendance during the past three years.
• Consolidation of school districts even though research and experience in other states has shown minimal cost savings from consolidation.
• Changing contribution rates for the Public School Retirement System.
In another report, MSBA says Gov. Nixon has announced the release of $7.5 million in previously withheld transportation money for schools for the current fiscal year.
Nixon’s budget chief Linda Luebbering said the release of the money is possible because of improving state cash balances.
