SENATE DEMOCRATS PROTECT FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Senate Democrats defeat the fourth and final bill attempting to allocate public monies for private schools

AUGUSTA—In a vigorous floor debate, Senate Democrats led the effort defeating a measure that would have allowed municipalities to use tax payer monies to subsidize private or religious schools.

Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond, who also serves on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, led the effort in opposition of the bill on the Senate floor.

“I cannot sanction using public money to support private schools,” said Sen. Alfond of Portland. “We are still not fully funding our public schools so taking any tax payer dollars for use at religious or private schools will only further deplete public schools of much needed funding.”

Sen. Alfond noted that Maine’s public schools remain underfunded by $400 million. According to Maine’s Essential Programs and Services school funding model, the state is obligated to fund K through 12 education at 55% —currently the state is funding at 45%.

LD 250 proposed using municipal general fund money to reimburse all or part of the tuition to parents whose children attend private or religious schools. In a vote of 20 – 13, the Senate voted in favor of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee’s majority report “ought not to pass.”

“Not one town came out in support of this. This effort is being driven by religious schools. And while I understand they are hurting for money it is not up to the tax payers to bail them out. It is a choice to go to a private school. Our public schools are for everyone.”

Senator Alfond was referring to the public hearing in the Education and Cultural Affairs committee in which the only supporters of LD 250 were representatives from religious or parochial schools. The Maine Municipal Association, the leading association representing many of the towns and cities in Maine, also did not support the measure.

There are 179 consolidated school districts in Maine in which multiple communities share a school district. LD 250 could have been caused confusion for those communities if one town supported diverting general fund money to private schools and the other town did not. There was no provision addressing the potential inequality between the towns, leaving less money in the coffers for the consolidated school district.

“Subsidizing private schools with municipal dollars does not strengthen our public schools. I’ve heard some say it creates competition. The only competition it creates is race for money, not quality,” said Senator Elizabeth Schneider of Orono. “If we’re looking to spend money differently, then let’s put money in to professional development for our teachers. They are some of the most dedicated and hard working people in this state. Let’s do all we can to support our public schools.”

The bill will head to the House who will also likely reject the measure.