Public schools the foundation of our nation

I do not understand how state Rep. Quentin Stanerson (who is a public schoolteacher and my representative) can refuse to provide basic funding for 475,000 public school students one week and then turn around and vote to give $207 million of taxpayer money to private and home school children (approximately 40,000 kids statewide).

Public schools are the foundation of our nation and a national treasure. The funding that Stanerson voted to approve (HF 2090) for private schools is equal to a 6.25 percent funding increase for public schools, which by the way is tax relief for local communities. I guess “opportunity” for education is defined by Stanerson to only mean “opportunity” for the few privileged and his allies.

Jeremy Kunz

Mount Vernon