‘This is about taking money from public schools and giving it to private schools’

BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

A question on the ballot in November will ask voters whether to amend Kentucky’s constitution to allow the  Legislature to redirect public tax dollars from public schools to private schools. The Martin County Board of Education discussed this contentious Amendment 2 during a meeting on Monday at the Central Office.

“This is about taking money from public schools,” Superintendent Larry James said. “We want to vote ‘no.’ That’s our position. We need all of our community to know that we all need to vote ‘no’ on this. Make sure you read the question and understand what they’re asking.”

James emphasized that the Board of Education will continue to raise awareness about Amendment 2 over the coming months.

“We’ll be talking about it this month and in September and October,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get the word out and educate everyone.”

James provided the board with detailed information about the proposed amendment, explaining that it seeks to create exceptions within seven sections of the Kentucky Constitution to allow public funds to support private schools and other private education providers. He pointed out that these private institutions are not subject to the same oversight, standards or transparency as public schools in Kentucky.

“When Kentuckians go to the polls Nov. 5 to vote for federal, state and local candidates, they will also see two constitutional amendment questions. Amendment 2 poses the question of allowing public funds for private schools.”

The ballot language reads as follows:

“To give parents choices in educational opportunities for their children, are you in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?

“The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools. The General Assembly may exercise this authority by law, Sections 59, 60, 171, 183, 184, 186, and 189 of this Constitution notwithstanding.”

“Voting ‘no’ on Amendment 2 means that you believe public tax dollars are for public schools, schools that must serve the needs of every student who enters its doors,” James stated.

District 1 board member Mickey McCoy expressed concern over the motivations behind the amendment, especially from legislators representing rural areas.

“This will hurt rural communities the most,” McCoy said, noting that he had seen maps showing that many counties without private schools are predominantly in rural areas.

McCoy also urged voters to hold their representatives accountable.

“Ask your representatives and senators how they voted on this issue. If they say, ‘I didn’t vote for it; I just voted to put it on the ballot,’ that’s not enough to earn my vote. It’s robbing the public good,” he said.

McCoy used a hypothetical scenario to illustrate his frustration: “Imagine I live on a hollow with a dangerous curve, and I want a guardrail installed. So I’m against some of the guardrails being put on the Mountain Parkway because they are straight, and I want that section of guardrail to go to my hollow. …It’s just idiotic. I don’t know what’s becoming of the legislators in Kentucky who are supporting things like this.”

District 5 board member Kathleen Price added that private schools have the right to reject students.

James pointed out that even though Martin County currently has no private or charter school, the district would still lose funding to support private schools elsewhere in the state. He cited a report from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KyPolicy) detailing the potential impact on the district.

“If Kentucky establishes a Florida-style voucher program, which means spending 30% of what the state spends on public schools to support private school vouchers, this is what could happen specifically in Martin County: 17% budget reduced, about 40 educator jobs cut, and lose about $4.4 million in funding,” James stated.

Meanwhile, the average income for a family with children in private schools under such a voucher program is $148,400. Those families would receive a coupon from the state worth thousands. 

“If people want private schools, God bless them, they ought to pay for them. If you want that and you can afford it, do it by all means,” said James. “We’re all products of public schools. We need to vote ‘no’ on Amendment 2.”