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I read the guest column by state Sen. Carol Williams, D-Missoula, (March 24) and felt compelled to reply.

I was quite surprised at the lack of understanding of school funding issues expressed by Williams. First of all, funding for schools does not come in a K-12 package. The elementary board in Missoula has its own board, budget and funding allocation. When all-day kindergarten was put into place, the funds came into the elementary budget. Because of this increase in funding, the elementary budget received $400,000 more than was needed to fund all-day kindergarten. Because of this money, the elementary schools were able to absorb the cost increases without cuts. The effect of a

1.9 percent increase in funding was masked by the increases brought on by the all-day kindergarten program.

On the high school side, the lack of understanding and foresight by the Montana Legislature is devastating. Much is made of the “$81.5 million one-time-only to help cover various necessary and unavoidable expenses.” These were priorities set by the Legislature, not local boards. They consisted of constituent-pleasing and politically correct programs that had to be spent in the year they were allocated. Some could be spent over several years, but the issue is that they did not apply to the base. The base is that sum that we are guaranteed from year to year from the state n that, as a trustee, I can count on to build the yearly budget. One-time-only money is always appreciated, but should not be confused with funds needed to build an ongoing budget.

Missoula high schools have been hit with a double whammy. We just learned that the state superintendent of schools is now giving the Title 1 allocation to K-12 as a whole, and not separated into K-8 and 9-12. Because it is a total allocation, and the need is great in the elementary grades, all of the funds are going to be used by the elementary district before they can be spent in the high schools. The effect is that the high schools have lost Title 1 services. At Big Sky High School, 100 students will not have that special help they need in math and science.

The second part of the whammy is that the Legislature increased the base by only

1.9 percent. Steps and lanes for high school teachers alone is 5 percent a year. The final figures are still being worked out, but the effect is a cut of teachers, staff and administrators. Our high schools are going to look different and not for the better.

I am very distressed when, as a trustee, I am called a “competing interest.” Those who believe they are “committed to adequately funding our public education system” should go back to school and learn how schools are funded, accept the results of what they have done and stop blaming those in the trenches who are trying to help children.

James H. Sadler is a high school trustee for Missoula County Public Schools.

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