There’s some inside baseball here but bear with me: Before he left office, Kaine proposed freezing what is called the “local composite index”. This is the formula that is used to determine how state aid is distributed for education. It is adjusted once every 3 years (pretty sure it’s 3) to reflect changing demographics, etc. Of course, our demo’s have gone down significantly since the last adjustment and we were due to get about $3 million more. The incoming administration has elected to affirm this freeze. We’re getting hosed here! When we finally stood to benefit, they change the rules. It ain’t fair and it is really hurting the schools. With our change in demographics, we need that help. Instead, those in Richmond are taking a decsion based on politics and keeping that money in ROVA…. leaving us to twist….again. Wonder if they will give us any leeway on our mandates?
Funding for schools delivered by a long-established formula shouldn’t be a political football. Here’s a good article about it that Randolph sent me.
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