Reporter-News Archives

Thursday, January 29, 1998

Local educators say Clinton proposal unnecessary here

By JONATHAN KRYDER / Abilene Reporter-News

Abilene school district officials say educational initiatives outlined by President Clinton in Wednesday's State of the Union address carry little weight in the Big Country.

In his education endorsement, Clinton outlined several federally funded proposals to better local school districts, including $7.3 billion to hire 100,000 new teachers, and tax credits to pay interest on nearly $22 billion in bonds to finance 5,000 new schools.

His proposals, Clinton said, would create an 18:1 teacher-student ratio nationwide.

"I don't see that we need (those proposals) here," said John Stearns, vice president of the Abilene school board. "I think, locally, we're doing a good job already.

"Our teacher-pupil ratio is pretty favorable here. We have one of the lower ratios in the state."

Last year, the district maintained a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio, down four-tenths from the year before. Last year's state average was 15.5:1.

David Polnick, AISD deputy superintendent for business and finance, however, said the district doesn't balk at state and federal monies.

"That'd be great," Polnick said about Clinton's plan, then checked his response with a word of caution.

"In theory, it's a great idea," he said, "but you have to keep in mind that we're going to pay for it one way or another.

"When you sit down and look at the whole picture ... it's the taxpayers that are going to foot the bill, be it through the local property tax, through the state taxes, or through federal taxes."

Polnick did say that government funding "takes some burden off" local taxpayers and added that, without knowing the details to Clinton's proposals, it is difficult to form an intelligible opinion.

"Until you actually see the plan, you don't know if you even qualify for the aid," he said. "You just have to look at all this in conjunction with other schools. It just depends on your situation.

"Basically, we'll just sit back and see what develops."

As with any government aid, the proposed funding would undoubtedly have strings attached -- "more paperwork," in particular, Stearns said.

"I don't think you have any choice in that," Polnick added. "School finance is in a political arena. It's the legislature that decides all the mandates that go along with the funding."

Federal monies don't reach local schools without first being funneled through state agencies. There, the state may add its own stipulations before passing the funds to the districts.

"That's just the way it is," Polnick said.

Even if Clinton's proposals take effect, local districts may not be required to participate.

"A lot of the federal aid you have to apply for," Polnick said.