November 06, 2000

Transcript: KSNW-TV 3 Wichita news report (NBC station)
http://www.ksn.com

Community split on school vouchers

Delia Barnet said, "How can you tell someone that the money that they're paying for taxes have to go to a public school. I don't think that's fair."

WICHITA, Kansas, Nov. 6 - Greg Smith goes to private school at Holy Savior Academy, a luxury once out of reach for his mother. Her in-home daycare business doesn't cover the cost of tuition.

"HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK they could attend if they had to pay the whole tuition," said Greg's mother, Yolanda Smith. Greg is one of 15 students who receive scholarships from Holy Savior, but the school still has to turn people away.

Delia Barnett, Holy Savior program administrator, said, "When we cannot offer a scholarship to someone who would like to have a Christian education for their child and who really would like to be here and can't afford it, it is heartbreaking." Students like Adonis Griffith, who attends Brooks Middle Magnet.

Adonis' heart is still at Holy Savior. His mother transferred him there a year ago when he was flunking out of public school. His grades improved but, his mother Christy said, "I couldn't afford it any longer. I've just had another baby and I wasn't able to afford it."

"We don't think it's fair that those with money who can afford to choose have an advantage over those who don't," says Cindy Duckett of CEO Kansas.

If education is the great equalizer, Cindy Duckett wants to make sure all students have access to the school of their choice. She's going through the legal process of setting up scholarships for low-income families.

"It's the low income families that most educators call 'difficult to educate' and that don't have a choice, and they need it more than anyone else and that's where we're trying to target our efforts," said Duckett.

The program would seek private donations to give each student $1,500 to go to the school of their choice. Students on free and reduced lunches would qualify. But the $1,500 is hardly enough to pay for the entire tuition of most private schools.

Holy Savior charges $2,000 a year. Independent School charges $5,400 and Wichita Collegiate tuition is $8,300 a year.

Chip Gramke said, "It would take more money away from a district that's already struggling."

School board member, Chip Gramke believes most parents can't afford to pitch in that extra money. "What they don't understand is, and USD 259 being the poorest district in the state of Kansas, we have students that are coming to school that are struggling just to bring milk money." And he questions, why they would want to? His own kids attend public school.

Gramke said, "I think they get a great education. I wouldn't send them anywhere else." When asked, even if he could send them to private school, he said, "No. If I had a 100% voucher, my kids would go [to public school]. I think they're getting the best education."

"Not all children want to attend private schooling. But for those of us that do, we would like to have the choice," said Smith.

Her kids have scholarships. But for those like Adonis that don't, his mother says, "For his education-wise and his future, we would go back tomorrow. You got the voucher?" Christy Griffith doesn't want to see her son slip through the cracks.

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