Because of the pandemic, K-12 school districts have seen enormous fluctuations in student counts and as a result they are craving stability and certainty for the near future. Simply stated, my amendment would provide this stability without punishing growing districts. This is what school districts have asked for and this is what we should give to them. I ask that my colleagues support my amendment.
Senator Schmidt’s second statement is as follows:
Thank you to my colleague from the 7th District for her support of this and passion concerning this issue, but we have increased the foundation allowance to give districts more flexibility as well as use the funds for a $20 million increase in mental health. We have also gone back to a 90 percent fall, 10 percent last spring pupil count which will help those districts that have lost students in the past year, and so I’d urge my colleagues to please vote “no” on this amendment.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 81, entitled
A bill to make appropriations for the judiciary for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
Senator Hollier offered the following amendment:
1. Amend page 2, line 20, after “24.0” by striking out “5,021,700” and inserting “5,626,700” and adjusting the subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly.
Senator Chang requested the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered, 1/5 of the members present voting therefor.
The amendment was not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor, as follows: