Schweitzer to unveil new school fund plan | Billings Gazette

Schweitzer to unveil new school fund plan

Associated Press

HELENA - Gov. Brian Schweitzer plans to unveil a revised school funding plan today that will likely ask lawmakers to spend more money on public schools over the next two years.

Schweitzer's staff declined to release details of the plan Thursday, but confirmed an announcement was planned. Bruce Nelson, the governor's chief of staff, said no decision had been finalized yet on what changes Schweitzer will propose.

Eric Feaver, executive director of the teachers union MEA-MFT, and other education leaders said they understood the plan calls for pumping an estimated $80 million more into public schools over the next two budget years.

The $80 million price tag would be about $23 million more than Schweitzer's initial $57 million school funding proposal, which he made in December before taking office.

More at the Billings Gazette