EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. -- Eureka Springs is a big tourist destination with a small school district. The Arkansas Education Department classifies the district as wealthy and has told the school system to share its good fortune with other districts because, the state says, it's the law.
The state's share-the-wealth math for local schools scares at least one Eureka Springs School Board member.
“We could be in the red in two years,” said board member Karen Gros.
It angers parents and grandparents who pay property taxes to support the district.
“That would put our teachers $10,000 behind in salaries compared to other districts,” said parent Jim Moyer.
“It’s robbing us to take care of somebody else,” said grandparent Sandy Allison.
Current education funding in Arkansas calls for about $6,000 per student per year. The Eureka Springs district takes in and provides $7,300 per student per year. According to state education officials, that's more than enough and they want more than $842,000 by next May. What worries the superintendent is this is not a one-time payment but an every-year prospect.
