To the Editor:
Thank you Michael Hicks for explaining the housing problem. If the Legislature understands what you have written, it will increase spending for schools and not subsidize builders. Using tax money to pay for business is the wrong use of taxes. Indiana’s legislators want to tout what a high percentage of the state’s budget is spent on education yet it is not enough to pay teachers a living wage for their education and the task they are given to accomplish.
The first act the Legislature could perform is to not pass this new voucher bill. Charter schools are largely owned by a company that is trying to profit by lying to the public that public education is substandard. Charter schools are a choice. People who want that choice should pay for their education. Private education has always cost the buyer. Schools operated by religious organizations would not receive tax dollars that subsidize religious education.
Secondly, the Legislature could improve all Indiana schools by using a system of funding that gives every school corporation the same amount of money for every student. Not basing per-student funding on the taxes of an area would give all students the same quality of education and all teachers the same pay. For example, Medora Community School Corp. has $16,532 per student funding as Franklin-Lapel School Corp. has $7,751 per student.
Equalizing the per-student funding would give all corporations an equal opportunity to supply an equal education. This could make all schools attractive and make all communities more attractive. Thus, the housing market in these communities could be more attractive.
Karen Vaughn
Franklin
