Missoula County opposes HB 540: Revise high school and elementary school district laws, up for hearing this afternoon, in the House Education Committee.
HB 540 is an attack on local control, forcing high school boundaries to be changed, bypassing the local, duly elected board of trustees. There is already an effective path for boundary changes in place. Also, HB 540 could cause some high school districts to swell beyond their ability to manage incoming students while starving other districts of students and causing their demise or at the very least a weakening of their budget and correspondingly, the program they can offer their remaining students. Some of these boundaries have been in place for over 100 years. The adjustment of boundaries should reside within the power of the local boards of trustees and the registered voters/taxpayers residing within the existing school districts, not with the legislature.
Sent Feb. 24:
ReplyDeleteRepresentative Thane,
Missoula County opposes HB 540: Revise high school and elementary school district laws, up for hearing this afternoon, in the House Education Committee.
HB 540 is an attack on local control, forcing high school boundaries to be changed, bypassing the local, duly elected board of trustees. There is already an effective path for boundary changes in place. Also, HB 540 could cause some high school districts to swell beyond their ability to manage incoming students while starving other districts of students and causing their demise or at the very least a weakening of their budget and correspondingly, the program they can offer their remaining students. Some of these boundaries have been in place for over 100 years. The adjustment of boundaries should reside within the power of the local boards of trustees and the registered voters/taxpayers residing within the existing school districts, not with the legislature.
Please oppose HB 540.