Senator Ferrioli Responds to Lawsuit: Believes Politics has No Place in Classrooms

Senator Ted Ferrioli, a Republican, hails from John Day

(SALEM) - In response to a lawsuit filed today by the Oregon School Funding Defense Foundation, Senator Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day) raised concerns about the political tactics of the plaintiffs saying politics has no place in the classroom.

`It`s too bad the complainants decided to invite the courts into the school funding debates." Ferrioli said. `The courts often deliver unintended consequences, the lower courts decision on Measure 37 being a recent example. Most likely the lawsuit will increase uncertainty, not diminish it".

Senator Ferrioli believes it is the intent of those who filed the lawsuit to bring political pressure to the Legislature but feels it is erroneous to use the courts in such a politically charged manner.

`Is it about class size? Is it about test scores? Is it about the number of students who go on to secondary education? Each of those screens would create a different direction and different outcomes under a court order. No, the courts have no business making these decisions-that is the job of the Legislature", said Ferrioli.

Ferrioli favors stabilizing school funding in Oregon but believes this can be done by the Legislature. During the 2005 Legislative Session, Ferrioli along with other Republican Senators pushed a proposal to dedicate a percentage of income tax revenue to schools. They say their plan would have given the state`s children the certainty they deserve.