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Date Posted:
August 7, 2003
Professor: Education funding imbalanced
By KRISTA PIERCE
Item Staff Writer
MANNING — A Clemson University economics professor and researcher wrapped up her testimony Wednesday morning, defending earlier testimony in which she said the state does not appropriate a proportionate share of revenue toward education.
Dr. Holly Hewitt Ulbrich, coordinator of the Community and Economic Development Program at the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs at Clemson, testified that through her years of research and study, she found that the amount of funding appropriated to education by the state’s General Assembly is not balanced with the amount of revenue the state receives.
“Since the amount of budgeted revenue grew about three times as much as the appropriations for education, I would say education received a smaller share,” Ulbrich said during redirect examination by attorney Steve Morrison, hired to represent eight school districts that allege the state does not provide students with a minimally adequate education as defined by the state Supreme Court.
The state’s method of funding education is at the heart of the case, being heard in the Clarendon County Courthouse by 3rd Circuit Judge Thomas Cooper Jr.
Ulbrich said many factors contribute to the rising costs of education, including lower class size mandates, demands for higher qualified teachers, an increasing student population, demands for technology and other economic indicators.
Under cross examination, Attorney Bobby Stepp, who is representing the state, pointed out that the student populations in the plaintiff districts have all decreased over the past 10 years with the exception of Orangeburg 3, where the number of students rose slightly.
Morrison countered by asking Ulbrich whether the per student expenditure should go up if population decreases. Ulbrich agreed, stating that a population decrease should equate to more money per student if the budget stays the same.
After Ulbrich completed her testimony, the plaintiffs called Jerry Pace, a teacher in Marion School District 7, to the stand. David Cilley, a former Marion 7 teacher, was also expected to testify.
Contact Staff Writer Krista Pierce at kristap@theitem.com or 803-774-1272.
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