Kentucky House budget includes $100,000 for Religious school

This from C-J:

While House members cut funding for public schools in the budget they passed this week, they were able to find $100,000 for a Christian school in Breathitt County — an appropriation that raises constitutional questions.

The House budget bill appropriates $100,000 in coal-severance tax revenue, through Breathitt County Fiscal Court, for Riverside Christian School to buy instructional materials, improvements and equipment.

Ernie Roberts, Riverside Christian’s administrator, said the 85-student school in Lost Creek has had a hard time raising private funds for badly needed classroom technology.

“There’s lots of training material, especially electronic stuff like ‘smart boards’ that we need,” Roberts said. “This would probably make it possible.”

But Brent McKim, president of the Jefferson County Teachers Association, called the budget provision “a violation of the separation of church and state. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

Beyond the constitutional issue, McKim said it “is reprehensible” to make such an appropriation in a budget that would cut the public school calendar by two days and reduce health-insurance benefits for public school employees...