Pictured: CCSD Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau
Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau says he has concerns about the long-term sustainability of the school choice bill signed by the governor earlier this week but notes there are some positives in the legislation for public schools as well. The Students First Act creates education savings accounts (ESA) that provides funds equal to the state’s cost per pupil for that budget year, which equals just under $7,600 in the program’s first year. Once fully implemented, the Students First Act also adds funding to public school districts for students who live in the district but do not attend public school. Berlau says that would be a significant new funding source for CCSD.
The TSS, or Teacher Salary Supplement Fund, is included in those categorical funds. Staff salary and benefits comprise nearly 80 percent of a district’s budget annually. Prior to the Students First Act, public schools received no funding for resident children enrolled in private schools. Berlau says his chief concern is how the bill will impact education funding years down the road.
Berlau says the bill will create an unusual situation in coming years for adjustments to State Supplemental Aid (SSA), as public and private school stakeholders will likely advocate together for more significant increases.
Berlau adds one thing that is staying the same is the fact that Carroll still has two excellent school systems for parents to choose from.
Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republicans at the statehouse had attempted to pass school choice legislation in the previous two legislative sessions, and the third attempt passed quickly, just 15 days after the session’s opening earlier this month.
