School funding

I recently read false comments claiming that HB 279 rigged the system for the wealthiest Montanans to defund public schools. The bill is a revision of past legislation that helped private and public schools. It revises laws related to the tax credit scholarship program and the innovative educational program.

The scholarship program helps students who would do much better in a private school, but do not have the money for tuition. Many of these students end up being home schooled. The purpose of the school scholarship program is to provide parental and student choice in education. Public schools benefit because they can secure funds for innovative educational programs and technology deficiencies.

Funds for public schools comes from local property taxes and levies which includes parents of students in private schools and home schoolers who own property. Also, the teachers’ union works in Helena to secure public school funds through legislation.

Private schools and home schoolers do help Montana property taxpayers by reducing taxes because the average per pupil spending in Montana public schools is $11,762 per year, which is in the upper 50% of states in national ranking in the amount spent per student (2018 data). Based on this figure, parents of students who attend Stillwater Christian School with approximately 400 students saves the taxpayers $4,704,800 each year.

—Verdell Jackson, Kalispell

Support caregivers

I’m a caregiver for my veteran husband, and I work part-time caring for an older lady. I started doing this work in summer 2019, and have taken care of five clients since then.

In this line of work people come and go, and its hard to find someone to do this work over the long haul. It can be hard work depending on the individual needs of the clients.

The pandemic has stopped us from going out in the community. I am limited in who I work for, and I don’t go out to a lot of places because I’m afraid of spreading COVID to my husband. My husband served oversees in the Vietnam era, but we had to quit going to the VFW hall which we loved. I wear a mask everywhere I go because you don’t know who else they have been in contact with. I’m in a different position because I am older, my kids are grown and I don’t have that many needs. But I feel for the younger girls. They have it worse because they have more mouths to feed and need more hours.

Our agencies are struggling to keep enough caregivers to cover all our clients. Caregivers need a decent wage. For many this is their bread and butter. If they can’t make it they will leave and go elsewhere. Some caregivers travel a whole lot of miles to reach their clients. On the days I work with my lady, I’m making two trips for 60 miles a day just to care for her for 5.5 hours. For others it’s much farther.

We deserve better from our elected leaders. You clapped, now act. Don’t forget about us in HB 632. We need provider rate increases, direct caregiver wage increases, and essential worker bonuses.

—Margaret Fay, Ronan

[Editor’s Note: HB 632, regarding federal stimulus and COVID recovery funds, was signed by Gov. Gianforte on April 30.]

Counterpoints

It appears that the education provided to Andy Hudak (March 25) has failed him. His comments are inaccurate on several accounts.

Firstly, he completely ignores the scientific evidence that proves human life begins at conception and he relegates the argument in favor of HB 337 to the religious beliefs of “ultraconservative Christians.” The DNA present in the fertilized egg is totally and exclusively human, and exclusively unique to that newly conceived “person.” Any fair-minded physician, medical professional or biology professor will admit to that.

Secondly, Mr. Hudak appears to be unfamiliar with the attributes of the God of the Bible, who regards human life to be more precious than anything else, including the emotional trauma of women and men who “choose to make these often gut wrenching choices.” Even the very first unalienable right mentioned in the Declaration of Independence is “life.”

Thirdly, Mr. Hudak appeals to the so-called “constitutional separation of church and state.” No matter how long or how hard you try, you will not find that term or concept in our Constitution. The idea originated in a Jan. 1, 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut assuring them that the Constitution’s authors intended to prohibit the establishment of a state church, such as there was in England. The intent was not to remove religion from the government altogether. Early Supreme Court decisions support this interpretation.

—Michael T. Penner, Kalispell

Vaccine clinics

Thank you to everyone involved in the vaccine effort at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. My wife and I recently received our first and second Covid vaccination shots there. The whole process was run smoothly and professionally. Everyone working at the Grouse Mountain site and at other vaccine clinics and pharmacies here in the Flathead deserves our support and appreciation.

—Cal Sibley, Kalispell