STORM2K

240 School Districts File Lawsuit
1/6/2004, Jefferson City (AP)



A group of more than 240 Missouri school districts today filed a long-expected lawsuit, challenging the way the state distributes money to public schools. The Committee for Educational Equality claims the funding formula does not provide enough money for schools and does not
distribute that money fairly.

The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring the school funding formula unconstitutional. Plaintiffs want the state to adopt a new plan, affording each child in Missouri an equal and adequate educational opportunity.

The chairman of the school committee, Tyler Laney of Crane, said the districts believe the filing of the lawsuit will force the Missouri General Assembly to do what lawmakers apparently will NOT
do voluntarily. Laney appeared this morning at a Capitol news conference attended by dozens of school superintendents. The lawsuit was filed
in Cole County Circuit Court by attorney Alex Bartlett.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

It isn't the state Senate or the Legislature blocking the funds...it's our intrepid Governor, Bob "SpongeBob", or "One-Term Bob" Holden.

He refuses to cut unnecessary waste in state spending, while protecting pet projects, unions, etc...and what $$ is going to education is being thrown into the St. Louis and KC schools at the expense of the other 99% of the state (those cities are the Democratic "meal ticket" every two-to-four years).