Voucher initiative receives praise, criticism

Angelique Flores

With financial effects, competition, regulation and accountability at

the crux of the arguments, Proposition 38 -- which would provide private

school vouchers to most children in public schools -- is gathering a

strong base of both supporters and opponents.

The Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach Union High and Huntington Beach

City school districts oppose the measure that would provide family’s with

a $4,000-per-student credit to use at private schools. Ocean View School

District has not yet taken an official position. Voters will be able to

cast their votes in the November election.

“It takes very critical dollars from a pot of money that doesn’t fund

students to the degree that it should be,” said Fountain Valley School

District Supt. Marc Ecker.

The average daily attendance would drop, as would the funds that

public schools receive from the state.”I think it could lead to an

increase in taxes or taking money from health and safety,” said Shirley

Carey, a Huntington Beach City School District trustee. “That money’s got

to come from somewhere.”Proposition supporters disagree that there will

be any unfair financial implications.

“You will not get paid for the students you do not have,” said Jim

Righeimer, a Fountain Valley resident who supports vouchers.

Other supporters argue that the public schools would have more money

per student under this measure.

“For every student who chooses to utilize the voucher, there would be

more money left over for the students who stay within the public

education budget,” said Matthew Harper, a Huntington Beach Union High

School District trustee.

And now that the schools have hit the national average in funding -- a

little more than $8,000 annually per student -- the proposition will keep

that number from dropping, Righeimer said.

The proposition’s supporters also argue that the voucher would give

families who couldn’t otherwise afford it a chance to send their children

to private schools.

“It’s not our district, but other districts in other areas that are

failing their students,” Harper said.

The vouchers will only benefit affluent families, opponents say.

“Four thousand dollars is not enough to help most of the children in

private schools because the tuition is more than that,” Carey said. “It

would help those whose parents could supplement, not the inner-city urban

kid that is being underserved.”

Still, with more viable choices, more competition could arise between

the public and private school systems.”We have one of the best college

education systems in the world because of the private and public

university competition,” Harper said. “We should level out the playing

field here” in elementary and high schools.

However, competition among public schools already exists, Ecker

argues.

Fountain Valley “attracts others from other districts,” Ecker said.

Private schools “want to compete with us who are regulated with less

money? It’s not a fair competition.”

Supporters also argue that just when public schools are held to a

greater accountability, public funds that would raise performance levels

would be taken away and given to schools that don’t have accountability.

Any regulation would have to come from a three-fourths vote from all

eligible voters.

“They don’t want the regulations, but they want the money,” Ecker

said.

Still, both sides agree that regulating a private school would take

away its essence.

“Private schools serve a special purpose,” Carey said. “All of that

will change if you put government money into those schools. You won’t be

able to do things that those schools are uniquely able to do.”

And some private school officials say they couldn’t avoid regulation

if they receive public money.

“There’s always accountability with the use of public funds, and

rightfully so,” said Barrett Luketic, principal of Brethren Christian

High School in Huntington Beach.

Brethren Christian, Liberty Christian School in Huntington Beach and

others will not take a formal position on the measure.

Luketic said he has mixed feelings.

“There’s great opportunity to utilize vouchers to increase enrollment,

raise salaries and improve facilities,” he said.

But he also sees the possibility of tethering the vouchers with

stipulations and conditions that the private schools might not want.

“I’m a strong supporter of private education,” Ecker said. “They do a

great job in many cases and serve a wonderful purpose. This [measure]

undermines the effectiveness and ability of public schools to address the

needs of the students.”

QUESTION

o7 VOUCHER SUPPORTf7 ?

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