The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1951-01-12
By LEONARD KENFIELD,

cation laws are one of the top de-
agreement among people interested
in good schools that the state should
furnish at least so per cent of the
cost of operating the elementary and
secondary schools. Most groups favor
the state supporting so per cent of
the cost of the foundation program
while Montana Farmers Union and
the Montana Federation of Teachers
are urging state support amounting
to so per cent Of the total costs ex-
Guiding debt funding and transporta-
ton. 1t is strongly felt by the friends
of the public schools that equaliza-
ton of educational opportunity for
Montana children is possible only with
the state bearing at least so per cent
of the cost Wide differences among
the counties and among the school
districts in wealth and income make
more state support necessary.
REDUCE NEED FOR SPECIAL
LEVIES
In years past school administra-
tors and school boards have been
harassed so often by the necessity to
call for special elections to raise
enough money for meeting normal OPP
Grating expenses of the districts. AL
though the number of special levies
has been reduced by the new school
finance law, too many schools yet
faroaA fn 1onanI Tho cYnoiol
levy 20 per cent for the elementary
schools and Is per cent for the high
schools in addition to the amounts
received according to the state foun-
dation schedules where the latter are
not sufficient. These so-called ''cush- |
ion" levies can be made without
vote of the people. Some people seem |
to favor increasing these permissive
levies rather than have the state in |
crease its share. This would weaken |
the equalizing program by throwing |
the burden back on the districts again |
whereas equalization is achieved by |
moving the other way toward more
state support. The Montana Farmers
Union opposes the move to increase
the Cushion" levies at the expense
81 the state support.
DISTRICT AND COUNTY LEVIES
Another way to make for more
of support of education
is to increase the countrywide levies.
Under the present law a fixed ten
mill levy is made for the elementary
schools and another is made for the
high schools Freezing these levies
at this low level is to the advantage
Of the railroads, electric light and gas
and other large property
holders. With ceiling on state sup
port and a ceiling on county support +
the only way badly needed additional {
funds can be obtained is on local /
districts, many of them already heavi- !
" burdened and without utility prop 9
erty. The way to bring greater equali- t
" of support for remote rural dis /
riots as we'll as sufficient funds on /;
which to operate all schools is to +
nave higher county levies, more
,tate support and larger allowances
n the foundation program.
THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM q
There is general agreement among +
hose who have been following school r
lffairs and officials concerned that r
he foundation schedules of payments a
,er pupil are too low. 1t has been g
recommended III many rural r
chools, small high schools and large q
Elementary schools in the cities are n
perating on short budgets because =
f the present foundation program. o
he Montana Farmers Union is urg- +
ng by one of its resolutions adopted O.
t the 1850 convention that the foun- h
alton program be increased. a
CHOOL BUILDINGS a.
The constitutional amendment in CO
reasing the school district debt limit il
rom to 5 per cent of the taxable o.
aluation will help many school dis
5125151S1515159S1595 151525151515151525