Local group concerned with school funds

Supporters concerned about Monroe County Public Schools’ lack of funding gathered at City Hall on April 10 after a letter to the editor in the Herald-Times and a 1,500-member Facebook group sparked interest.

“We are trying to stimulate the community to understand, as rapidly as possible, what is happening right now, which is major cuts this year and next year,” said Greg Chaffin, a Bloomington High School North counselor.

There’s currently a $5.8-to-6.2-million cut in Monroe County for education this year, he said.

“It looks like we are in for at least two more years of severe cuts,” said Duane Busick, a videographer who co-created the Facebook group and helped organize the rally.

Chaffin said 125 out of 770 Monroe County Community School Corporation teachers may not have jobs next year. The shortened funding has resulted in overcrowded classrooms, the elimination of elementary and middle school librarians and the loss of the outdoor education program at Bradford Woods, he said.

Today, Indiana public schools rely only on state tax, which includes sales tax, income tax and gambling tax. Previously, local property tax was also part of the funding.

State Rep. Jeff Espich, R-82, said property tax is “unfair.”

“Only two-thirds of people pay it because one-third are renters,” he said.

Several months ago, Chaffin wrote a letter to Herald-Times’ to express his concern for the lack of funding. He showed the letter to Busick, who suggested they create a Facebook page, “Support Public Education in Monroe County,” about the issues regarding the lack of appropriate funding for public education.

“The response I got on the page was pretty much overwhelming,” Busick said, adding that it had 1,500 members within one week.

A committee was then developed to plan a rally for the county’s schools. The gathering of more than 800 people included speakers Mayor Mark Kruzan and State Rep. Matt Pierce, 61-D.

“We tried to incorporate as many aspects of the school community as we could,” Busick said, adding that he wanted people to “be involved in the communication that leads to some well-thought-out decisions with what should happen to the school corporation.”

Espich admitted that, as with families, the government needs to cut its spending during recessions.

In 2008, the state government revised its budget, which, among many measures, included a one-cent sales tax increase.

Chaffin said there’s less money available by funding things through sales tax during economic downturns because people don’t spend as much as they did before.

Espich said this may be true but public schools weren’t funded solely through property tax before 2008. Eighty-six percent of operating money, including teachers’ salaries, came from state taxes. The rest came from local property tax.

“I don’t like education being hurt,” Espich said, “but I also don’t like that 15 percent of Hoosiers are out of a job.”