School board association thanks legislators

In July, Madison County legislators listened to concerns about school funding in a joint meeting with Madison Board of Education and local educators. (CONTRIBUTED)

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Association of School Boards recently issued an open letter that expressed gratitude to the Alabama State Legislature for work on the 2016 budget.

“Rarely do lawmakers get thanked when things work well. The Rolling Reserve budget process is working, and our state and schools are the better for it. Local school board members can and should thank the Alabama legislature for its foresight and discipline,” the release stated.

For the first time, the state deposited money in the Budget Stabilization Fund, which protects public schools from “proration, the devastating, deep mid-year budget cuts,” the association said. “Education also has repaid, on time, its $437 million line of credit from the state’s Rainy Day Fund.”

The association said $118 million was deposited into the Budget Stabilization Fund, and $22 million was placed into the Advancement and Technology Fund. “In 2016 with this continued focus on fiscal discipline, $22 million can be appropriated, in real time, to be invested in critical, foundational infrastructure, technology and one-time school needs,” the release stated.

Specifically, the association thanked state education budget chairmen Rep. Bill Poole and Sen. Trip Pittman, House Speaker Mike Hubbard and Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh. “They steadfastly worked with school teachers to ensure the Rolling Reserve Act budgeting formula would be given a chance to actually work,” the association said.

During this legislative year, funding intended for education was targeted as a temporary solution for the General Fund shortfall. “The Alabama Association of School Boards recognizes lawmakers will soon be faced with new attempts to raid education dollars and divert them to pay for escalating prison and Medicaid costs,” the release stated.

“Parents, teachers, students and school leaders urge you to keep the commitment to education funding and protect Alabama’s students,” association leaders said. “Lawmakers should take pride knowing their fiscal resolve is working as our state’s best investment to actively reduce the prison and Medicaid populations.”