October Board of Ed: update on school finance bill

And we have Wulfson, Johnston, and O'Donnell up for this one
I assume they're just going to talk; there isn't a written backup
Craven: I think this is one of the more complicated parts of the agenda today
Wulfson: both House and Senate have passed major school finance bills that would significantly update the foundation budget
mirroring in large ways the Foundation Budget Review Commission recommendations
"by design" much of the increase of funding in this bill will go to cities, concentrations of English learners and low income students
bills to retain traditional minimum aid, adds another hold harmless provision (for those who would have done better if the formula hadn't changed)
phased in changes in 2021
circuit breaker program will add transportation to what is subject to reimbursement
MSBA borrowing capacity increased
additional studies and work in years ahead
with DoR to report back on local contribution side
tasked with coming up with a new methodology for calculating low income students
"inclusive, but hopefully not burdensome"
study to financing issues related to recovery high schools
asked to staff a commission "of unique problems of our rural schools"
two bills will now go to conference committee which was named yesterday
chairs are co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Education
"have established a clear track record of being able to work together and reach a compromise position"
minor technical corrections in funding bills which DESE is working on
"that part should go smoothly"
have to do with what role the Department and the Commissioner will have in helping to ensure that this new infusion of dollars in improving education for our students
reminder that this bill is "not an appropriation bill"
will be up to the budget each year to implement
all will have to be funded each year
Craven notes that it is not "severable" because it is not a appropriation act; the Governor can either veto, sign it, or amend it, but he has no line item power
Riley: in 1993, "it was a grand bargain...the dollars were going to get X"
"this seems to be a little less restrictive"
original bill "did allow for more oversight as a state"
"we think we'd love to be able to have some oversight, but it's not certainly to the extent that it was in 1993"
Peyser: "I think that's well said."
West: "and we've made that position known as the conference committee convenes"
Riley: "I think they're aware of our position."