Special session: glass half full

The 2005 special legislative session: was it a smashing success or just one step forward? The answer is "yes."

First, success. As late as December, some legislators were talking about not even holding a special session to address inadequate school funding. MEA-MFT members communicated our concern to the governor, and he responded by calling a special session at the end of year. Call that Success # 1.

Success # 2: An infusion of $125 million into the teachers and public employees retirement systems. The governor and legislature made a downpayment on fixing these systems.

Success # 3: The new school funding formula specifically allocates dollars for educationally relevant factors as identified by the courts and the legislature itself in the definition of "quality education" it adopted during the 2005 regular legislative session.

These factors include recruitment and retention of quality educators, Indian Education for All, closing the achievement gap, and the education of students at risk.

As a result of the special session's actions, most school districts will see 3-4 percent more in terms of ongoing support.

Some myths you may hear about special session funding
Salaries: Some school districts are saying some of the additional money can't go to staff salaries because it is earmarked for at-risk, Indian Education for All, or other specific purposes.

But while districts will have to show progress in these areas, all the additional ongoing money appropriated in the special session is available for salaries because it all goes to school district general funds. That's good. The Supreme Court specifically identified low salaries as a problem and recruiting/retaining quality staff as a priority.

Enrollment: Some districts say they'll lose state funding because of enrollment declines. While enrollment is still a factor, the special session's Quality Educator Component reduces the adverse impact of falling enrollment on school budgets.

Actual increase: Several folks claim (especially in guest columns in Montana newspapers) that the 2005 Legislature increased spending for k-12 schools by $80 million.

But even with additional state support provided by the special session, ongoing state funding for schools in 2007 will be only about $70 million more than in 2005.

That still sounds like a lot. But adjusted for inflation, the state in 2007 will pay $21 million less for schools' general fund costs than it paid 15 years ago. We still have a way to go.

"Public schools are not done traveling down the adequacy road," said MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver. "The governor and 2007 Legislature must build on the progress made in 2005. First, though, we must acknowledge the achievements of the governor and 2005 Legislature."

See what your school will receive. OPI's initial spreadsheet shows approximate allocations to all Montana districts for Fiscal Year '07 as compared to Fiscal Year 2006.

This spreadsheet will be updated in March following receipt of February's student and fte counts, as well as special education allocation numbers.