Senate committee: Schools shouldn’t lose funding over H1N1

School districts whose students missed many school days this year because of the H1N1 flu won’t lose state funding next year under legislation approved by the Senate Education Committee on Thursday.

The main funding formula for districts to receive state education dollars is calculated using average daily attendance.

Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said districts shouldn’t be penalized because of high absences during this “very unusual year.”

So Senate Joint Resolution 7, which Williams sponsored, allows districts to use either its 2007-’08 school year or 2008-’09 numbers, whichever is higher, as part of the calculation. The one-time formula also includes provisions to take into consideration a district’s growth so it’s not penalized in future years.

– Ryan Alessi