Legislature Wraps First Week of Special Session

Lawmakers now have one weeks worth of work in special session behind them. Still ahead of them? The task of crafting a constitutional school funding formula for the state. Thats what the Lakeview school equity verdict says has to happen by the first of January. One reform plan that doesnt include consolidation was supposed to be up for a vote in the full house this week, but sponsor, Rep. Paul Weaver, pulled it back down to committee. He plans to add at least two amendments. One would up starting pay for state teachers to 28 thousand dollars. Another would make schools meet efficiency standards as well as academic standards. He says the bill will be much stronger with those changes. Late this afternoon, House Speaker Herschel Cleveland filed a funding formula proposal hes been working on with several members. In it state dollars follow school staff and schools would be allowed to exist based on how efficient they are.