By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Governor Matt Blunt took his message of school finance reform to Affton High School in south St. Louis County Thursday.
The Republican governor says school districts that can raise their own funds through sales and income taxes should be able to opt out of the current finance formula. He says that would reduce regulatory costs.
"In exchange for opting out of the formula and not accepting what is today very minimal state assistance, they will be freed up from most state regulation," Blunt said.
Affton is one of those districts that doesn't get much state money.
Superintendent Gay Tompkins says opting out of the formula is something worth considering.
"At this point, we've heard the concept. I'd be interested in hearing the details behind the concept to understand what the implications might be," Tompkins said.
Governor Blunt says legislators must fix the school funding method before courts find it unconstitutional.