Why can’t the school district use construction money to pay for teacher salaries?

By state law, school districts can’t use other school funds (Debt Service, Transportation, Capital Projects Funds) to pay Education Fund expenses such as salaries. For example, money used to build buildings cannot be used for teacher salaries and instructional supplies. No teaching positions have been lost because of past or current building projects.

These laws also limit creative funding reduction ideas like four-day school weeks, cutting transportation to save teachers, changes in food service, charging parents tuition, and more.