Posted on 03/22/2002 6:49:55 AM PST by hsmomx3
State Capitol Senate Democrats defeated Senate Bill 1403 by a 10-15 vote today. Senate Bill 1403 prohibits school district expenditures on campaign literature associated with school officials and allows the State Superintendent to withhold a school districts state aids if the school district violates this act.
The Bill Hill bill would prohibit spending taxpayer funds on promoting school officials within professional associations, as was the case with Deer Valley School District superintendent, Dr. Bill Hill.
Its unconscionable that any legislator would support allowing a school administrator to promote himself using funds earmarked for the classroom, said State Senator Scott Bundgaard, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and author of the legislation. The taxpayers should know who supports kids and whos just kidding.
An amendment was offered to prohibit a school district governing board from spending or approving the use of school district monies to pay, reimburse or forgive any debt owed to the school district, however, it, too, was defeated by Senate Democrats. The Deer Valley Unified School District governing board recently forgave most of a $60,000+ debt owed to the district by the Deer Valley Education Association. Funds for teacher salary increases and classroom supplies were tapped to eliminate the debt.
The claims by Senate Democrats of support for teachers and students ring hollow when they have an opportunity to put more money into the classroom, but choose to support labor unions and administrators instead, said Bundgaard. The Senate Democrats need to reassess their priorities.
Heres how they voted:
NO
Aguirre, Arzberger,Bee,Brown,Gnant,Guenther,Hartley, Jackson Lopez Mitchell Rios Solomon Valadez,Verkamp,Yrun
YES
Bennett,Bundgaard,Cirillo,Daniels,Hamilton,Hellon, Jarrett,Martin,Petersen,Smith
Not Voting
Blanchard,Burns,Cummiskey,Gerard,Richardson
# # #
For more information, contact:
Sen. Scott Bundgaard
602-542-4136
Here in North Carolina, in neighboring Guilford County, the superintendent is paid $25 daily just to put himself in his car and drive from home to work - called "in-county travel." Here in Alamance County, where I live, the superintendent's contract calls for the district to pay his dues in two civic groups. And both these school systems constantly say they need tax hikes.
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