School Finance Act passes; bill contains $300,000 for mascot replacement

The School Finance Act is headed to the Governor, although not without some last-minute protests from progressive Democrats who argued against the money set aside in the measure for schools that shelled out thousands of dollars to replace mascot symbols.

Senate Bill 287 provides $266 million to cover the State’s share of expenses for the 178 school districts.

That raises the per-pupil funding by eight percent, to $8,076.41. Rural and small rural districts also get a $30 million boost, with 55 percent going to rural districts and 45 percent to small rural districts.

The bill also contains $300,...