IN OTHER BUSINESS TODAY (FRIDAY), THE BOARD VOTED TO AMEND THE 2009-2010 WORKING BUDGET TO REFLECT A 3.3 MILLION DOLLAR CUT TO THE STATE S.E.E.K. FUNDING, WHICH WILL BE REPLACED WITH AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT FUNDS. SUPERINTENDENT BRADY LINK AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT RIM WATSON TOLD THE BOARD THE CHANGE IN FUNDING WOULD NOT ALTER ANY PROGRAMS PLANNED FOR STUDENTS.

The Board of Education is feeling stimulated. Have you received your stimulus yet? What this story tells me is that the BoE will be in-debted to Obama for about $3 Million. I would be suspicious of any lesson plans that leave blanks for “praise Obama” sessions. It would have been better to cut whatever was lost when the state removed that S.E.E.K. money and do without. Speaking of doing without… it doesn’t mean taking food from the mouths of babes.

When teachers crank up the computer lab’s air conditioning at Central Elementary School, someone must plop a bucket in the hallway to catch the condensation water that starts falling from the gaping hole in the ceiling.At nearby Fannie Bush Elementary School, dozens of desks are pushed together in classrooms nearly 20 percent smaller than recommended. The 275 students share one set of boys and girls bathrooms. Some classes are held out back in rotting, wind-rattled trailers.

It is unacceptable that some students must go to school in sub-standard conditions. However, we should ask why can’t those school districts afford to build new schools sooner.

Bluegrass Politics

Meanwhile, thousands of children started classes this fall at crumbling, cramped schools. This comes 20 years after the state Supreme Court ruled in a landmark school-funding decision that “students must be given equal educational opportunities, regardless of economic status or place of residence.”

The new Christian County Middle School is expected to cost $22 Million. For that, the new school will have every technological advantage possible. Lesser school districts simply aren’t able to build such a monstrosity. I believe the attitude of equal experiences for everyone bankrupts smaller districts that can’t afford the gadgetry of larger districts. Remove the requirement to be equal and districts might build schools without Internet (SHOCKER!!), but they might have better success focusing on their reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.