By Sally Howell 

The Selma Times- Journal 

 

How important is it to you that your local school system has the ability to decide how education tax dollars collected in your community are spent? That’s what is at stake in the Nov. 4 general election.

“Yes on 4” is a coalition of supporters urging Alabamians to vote yes on Amendment 4. The coalition launched this month its campaign, Local Schools Making Local Decisions on Local Spending, on Facebook.com/yeson4.

It’s an initiative the Alabama Association of School Boards, the School Superintendents of Alabama, Alabama Association of School Business Officials and other supporters of quality education stand steadfastly behind. Why? The state’s “pass the buck” approach to mandates with high price tags is not in the best interests of students. Even if passed with the best of intentions, legislation that forces cash-strapped schools to use limited local funding to pay for state mandates is a disservice to schools and students.

Extend to school boards the same state constitutional protection against unfunded mandates that county commissions and municipalities enjoy. School boards should not be without the safeguard Amendment 4 would provide.

Nearly 16 years ago when voters passed Amendment 621, other governmental entities gained relief while our students have been left vulnerable to the effects of high-cost state demands that stick schools with the bill.

Alabama legislators in the recent session unanimously agreed to let voters decide this issue. Legislators have said they want local school leaders to have the latitude to decide how local school dollars are spent.

There is no downside to Amendment 4.

It doesn’t require a funding source and won’t affect taxes. It in no way impacts laws affecting education employee compensation, benefits or due process rights.

Amendment 4 simply requires more than 66 percent of the Alabama Legislature – a two-thirds vote – to pass a law that causes local boards of education to cumulatively spend more than $50,000 in local funds if the state is not going to pay for the increased expense.

Put another way, the Alabama Legislature must get more votes, not just a simple majority, if it hopes to pass laws issuing directives to schools and stick schools with the bill.

On Nov. 4, protect local schools. Vote yes on Amendment 4.