K-12 funding reforms moving along - Wallace and Probst want feedback

Today and tomorrow the Quality Education Council is meeting to discuss details of where we're at with implementation of the basic ed funding bill passed last session.

Of particular interest, the QEC is looking at Superintendent Randy Dorn's proposal for a new pupil transportation funding system. Currently, the formulas used to dole out transportation money to school districts only account for about two-thirds of the costs resulting in districts having to pony up hundreds of millions of dollars to make up the difference.

The QEC will also look at Dorn's proposed funding values for the "prototype school" model that the Legislature will use to fund basic education. The "prototype school" model is a way of clearly and easily calculating how many teachers, administrators and support staff it takes for, say, a high school with 600 students. The model also outlines what class size the state is funding, how much is going for things such as technology, utilities, textbooks and other costs associated with operating a safe, healthy school.

Dorn estimates that his proposal will require just over $3 billion of additional funding per year.

The QEC will ultimately send their recommendations to the Legislature in the upcoming 2010 session. That's why many legislators are actively seeking feedback about the proposals.

In fact, Vancouver-area residents are encouraged to attend a public meeting tonight and tomorrow night hosted by Reps. Deb Wallace and Tim Probst. The meetings begin at 6:30 and are at York Elementary School. Kathie Durbin at The Columbian has a great overview of what kind of discussion to expect.