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| | Veto override stops virtual charter school
Saturday, Feb 7, 2004 By Doug Thompson Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The Legislature overrode a veto from Gov. Mike Huckabee Friday, an override that will stop expansion of an online charter school that supporters called a major innovation and critics called taxpayer-supported home schooling. Supporters said they will be back at the next regular session, or at a special session if one is called. Huckabee used a line-item veto to strike out a section of Senate Bill 79, a school spending bill. The section declared that any charter school supported by the state had to have a building. That section would put a stop to state-financed expansion plans by the Arkansas Virtual Academy. That academy was started under a federal grant, and now serves at least 350 students throughout Arkansas. Courses are taught by computer with parents' supervision. Lawmakers decided to go ahead with a veto override despite an attorney general's opinion stating that this particular line item veto was probably unconstitutional. Line-item veto authority applies only to specific appropriations, the opinion stated. Overriding the veto would remove the need for a court case, legislative leaders said. Huckabee said the Legislature's removal of support for the virtual academy was "shortsighted" and that the school was "truly futuristic." The academy wants to use the state's charter school law to attempt to gain $5,400 or more per student in state money "for a school with no building, no buses, no library nor any of the other things that money goes to pay for," Sen. Percy Malone, D-Arkadelphia, said during Senate debate. Whatever merit the Arkansas Virtual Charter School may have, the case of supporter was severely undercut by a "director who makes Nick Wilson look like an amateur," Malone said. Wilson is a former state senator who was convicted and sent to federal prison for misuse of state money. Malone went on to criticize the after-hours signing of a contract between the academy and the state Board of Education and said information provided about how many students of the academy were previously home-schooled was misleading. Arkansas Virtual Academy director Randall Greenway did not reply to the allegations on Friday. Malone made his remarks while Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller, husband of one of the Virtual Academy's board members, looked on. Rockefeller presides over the Senate when it is in session. Sen. Paul Miller, D-Melbourne, said the issue was simple when he spoke for the veto override: "Do you believe we should fund home schools with public money? If you believe we should be doing that, don't override this veto." Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, spoke against the override saying that the virtual school was "one of the most innovative programs to come our way." Sen. Shawn Womack, R-Mountain Home, said the program was being punished because it "dared to challenge" the education establishment. The Senate approved the override by a 27-5 vote. The House voted 60-31 for the override. The academy board issued a prepared statement saying it was "extremely disappointed." Along with overriding the governor's veto on SB 79, the House on Friday also voted to override the governor's veto of HB 1034, which would establish the Arkansas Commission for Coordination of Educational Efforts. Huckabee vetoed the measure on Jan. 15, saying it created an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. The House on Friday voted 63-32 to override the veto. The Senate, however, did not take action before both chambers recessed. The Senate can still take action on March 4, when lawmakers will meet again before final adjournment. |
