St. Ignatius educators fear loss of Impact Aid

ST IGNATIUS—St. Ignatius Superintendent Tim Skinner is wondering where the school's funding will come from in 2008 if proposed legislation that would affect Impact Aid is approved.

"Devastating" is how Tim Skinner described the effect on the school district's budget.

"Forty-one million in Impact Aid is dispersed to 60-some schools. It will be a drop in the bucket for some but devastating to us," he said. "We still have to pay the bills. Right now we are using our general fund for salary. Impact Aid pays for everything else — the fuel bill, electric, sports, summer programs. You can't cut any of the essentials out so you take it from the general fund and that will cut teachers and other activities."

Impact Aid was created by Congress to supplement school revenue lost by the tax-exempt status of federal property. Schools on the Flathead Indian Reservation qualify for Impact Aid, although the amount varies from district to district, depending on how much of the district is affected by Tribal land.

Superintendents around the county are lobbying hard to make sure Impact Aid isn't affected, Skinner said.

Skinner reported that Missoula Representative Holly Raiser said it was way too early to get excited about this but that legislators and school officials should work to keep it out of legislation.

"I'll do whatever it takes to stop this. It's grounds for a lawsuit. I have been speculating that this could happen. They'll trash our schools to put money in the pot," Skinner commented before the meeting. "There will be controversy stirred by my comments but I can't let 25 years go down the toilet."

Skinner said the funds were invaluable in helping the district keep up with other districts that receive more money from their local tax base.

"This area has 80 percent poverty and we have turned out great students. We are using that money well to close the achievement gap," he said.

The district is also gearing up to become a tobacco free school, per the new state law that goes into effect Saturday, Oct. 1. It prohibits tobacco and tobacco products on school property at any time. Violators will be fined $25-100.

The school will put a notice about the law in flyers at athletic events, and signs will soon be posted around the school.