September 18th Vote Could Affect School Systems
By: Jamiese Price
Updated: September 5, 2012
Educators are encouraged to vote "yes" for amendment one. A vote that will allow the state to borrow a 200 million from the Alabama Trust Fund, a savings account of state oil and gas royalties. The money will provide relief to the general fund.
Educators like Dothan Superintendent Tim Wilder fear that if the voters say no to the amendment the state will take money to from the Education Trust Fund.
"Of course we don't want them dipping in that (Education Trust Fund) because it hurt schools, school systems, and eventually students," said Wilder.
Wilder said education can't stand to be cut again. According to the Alabama Education Association, the Education Trust Fund has been cut five times already and lost $3 billion in funding and more than $12,000 personnel.
"We're okay to absorb any loss we may have. There are some districts out there that are just getting by. This vote could force the legislature to go in to the education trust fund to pay for that Medicaid and that's what we want to stay away from," said Wilder.
Voters will head to the polls on September 18th.
