Mayfield School Board Opposes Bill to Expand Voucher Program

The Board of Education passed a resolution Wednesday opposing House Bill 136, which would expand the state's school voucher program.

School board member George Hughes said the bill would take the program beyond areas where schools are failing and families could have an income up to $95,000 to apply for a voucher. It would also be available for students already enrolled in private schools.

"Of course, all of that money is then siphoned away from the local school districts," he said.

Hughes said state officials have responded to criticism by backing off on parts of the bill. There had been a stipulation that money leftover could be used for college purposes, for example.

"Personally, and as a board, we feel this should not happen at all," Hughes said.

The bill would create a situation in which private schools would have their choice of students and "we would be losing money and probably be left with a lot of students they don't want," he added. "It just isn't a good thing."

According to Hughes, about 700 students living in the district would be eligible for vouchers. If 420 received them, that would eat up all of the $2.5 million in annual assistance Mayfield schools receives from the state, he said.