Get A Move on Education (Editorial)

One area in which Arkansas isn’t lacking is education plans.

By the time the Arkansas Supreme Court makes a ruling on the Lake View school funding case, perhaps some consensus among the plans will emerge that will raise the state from its customary bottom ranking.

Arkansans now have recommendations from the governor, from the Arkansas Blue Ribbon Commission and from the State Board Advisory Committee. And, lest we forget, there’s the old Murphy Commission report of years past, which had the bad taste to mention consolidation — still an unspeakable word among politicians and school administrators. One thing all the plans endorse is raising teacher salaries, but none of them suggests how to come up with the money.

We seem to recall that the state couldn’t even meet a modest $3,000 raise that was promised to teachers because of budget shortfalls.

When will someone have the courage to stand up and say that, regardless of how the court rules, Arkansas needs to make a commitment to our youth and our education system and pay for it through broad-based tax increases?

Each of the plans has so many solid proposals that, frankly, we’re tired of the talk and ready for action. State Education Director Ray Simon said 58 of the 72 recommendations by the State Board Advisory Committee would cost little or no money. So get a move on. Why wait? For those recommendations that will cost money — and we know it’s a lot — we need to sooner, not later, look at ways to raise the additional funds.

We understand no politician during election season wants to talk about such things, but we must. While everyone is waiting, another class of students is being deprived of an adequate education.

Yes, there is a risk that none of the plans would meet the requirements the court may decree, but we could be nearer to that goal than we are now.

B>How ’bout those rates?

Maybe it’s our imagination, but it seems like more “help wanted” signs are cropping back up on stores and restaurants. That’s a good omen in a sputtering economic recovery.

The mortgage origination industry probably could use some seasonal help. Recent rates on 15- and 30-year mortgages haven’t been this low since Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

Between historically low interest rates and the still-bumpy stock market, the old homestead seems a more attractive investment than ever.