Dear <Legislators Name Here>:
I am writing to you regarding proposed open enrollment legislation that will affect our local schools. This legislation would allow students to attend any public school in the state, regardless of where they may live. I am opposed to this proposal as a school district resident and a taxpayer. There are several pieces of legislation on statewide open enrollment and open enrollment for students from unaccredited school districts in the Legislature this year.
Open enrollment has the potential to cause many more problems than it solves. Funding is critical. Local taxes make up 90 percent of the funding for the Webster Groves School District. Very little comes from the state. It's unclear how a district receiving students will be compensated. It would not be fair to ask local taxpayers to shoulder an even greater burden for operating our public schools. On the other side of the coin, the cost to districts losing students could be devastating if they must pay. The loss of even a few students could have a terrible effect on a small school district.
The legislation currently doesn't allow districts any discretion on how many students to accept. This would mean the end of local control for public schools. Our district prides itself - and pays taxes to provide - small class sizes because we believe that contributes to excellence in education. Open enrollment means we would lose this point of pride if we have no control of how many students enroll. Who would decide maximum class sizes?
Who will pay the costs of special education? In St. Louis County, taxpayers fund the Special School District. Who will reimburse the Special School District for students who enter county schools from other counties? Or will the Special School District - and St. Louis County taxpayers - be responsible for those costs?
Beyond those issues, there are several other troubling possibilities including the potential for resegregation of students and the possible creation of sports "super power" districts that will be recruiting athletes statewide.
Property taxes are the WGSD's primary source of revenue. We pay those taxes - and voted to increase them last year - to support our schools and students. Without funding and little discretion over how many additional students might enroll here, our district could be stretched to its limits, stealing the focus away from what is most important to us - educating our children.
I oppose this legislation, which removes local control from our school district. If the state pushes forward with these changes, at a minimum it ought to ensure that local districts have discretion on how many children they accept from outside their borders and how any such program would operate.
Thank you for your consideration.
Gov. Jay Nixon
P.O.Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102
e-mail form: http://governor.mo.gov/contact/
Sen. Eric Schmitt
201 W. Capitol
Room 323
Jefferson City, MO 65101
eschmitt@senate.mo.gov
Sen. John Lamping
201 W. Capitol
Room 226
Jefferson City, MO 65101
e-mail form: http://www.senate.mo.gov/webmail/mail_form.aspx
Rep. Jeanne Kirkton
201 W. Capitol
Room 135BC
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Jeanne.Kirkton@house.mo.gov
Rep. John Diehl
201 W. Capitol
Room 309
Jefferson City, MO 65101
John.Diehl@house.mo.gov
