Thomas votes against House of Representatives school funding bill

State Representative Roger Thomas voted against the House of Representative's version of a school funding and education reform bill.  Said Thomas, "The biggest problem with the bill is that it fails to address the biggest barriers to student achievement in our schools today. It doesn't give rural schools the resources or flexibility to keep good teachers in the classroom and implement reforms.  It won't help close the achievement gap or do anything to support the rising number of kids in poverty who need support before or after school."  

The House version of school funding set allowable growth at two percent, while the Senate version of school funding set it at four percent.  The House version also tied allowable growth to education reform. The bill now goes over the Senate, where Thomas predicts it will undergo a number of changes.