Dear Tori,
I am writing to inform your readers about Senate Study Bill 1065 that allows “scholarships” for individual student choice of schools. These funds can be used for homeschooling with the funds going directly to the parents, charter schools, or private schools, all which allows tax payer dollars to leave Greene County Schools. Per pupil cost for Greene County is $7000. Ten students using this choice eliminates an experienced teacher.
There are no safeguards or requirements placed on homeschoolers. The local elected school board has no oversight. Many of your readers will recall the death in 2017 of Sabrina Ray of Perry who died of malnourishment. She was being home schooled, and while Department of Human Services did not complete the necessary oversight, had she been in school her teachers would have intervened.
In my opinion these tax dollars collected from Greene County residents should remain in our community. Education budgets are very tight, and when a school needs to consolidate with others the community loses. Parents don’t want to live where their children are bussed away from the community. Businesses lose. It becomes a downward spiral for a town’s livelihood. Think about Greene County Schools not having Friday night football, or basketball. No Homecoming parades. The education systems are an integral part of our town.
I have notified my State Representative Phillip Thompson and Senator Jesse Green to vote against this bill and hope that other persons will also.
Mary Weaver, Rippey
