“I think it sends a clear message…”; Amendment 2 does not pass

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky voters overwhelmingly ‘rejected’ Amendment 2 in this year’s election.

The proposal would have allowed the legislature to spend ‘tax dollars’ on non-public schools.

Bills with similar language were passed by legislators, but tossed out by judges, who said they were unconstitutional, which is why amendment two was brought to voters, to change Kentucky’s constitution.

On Tuesday it was a resounding no for the initiative as every Kentucky county voted ‘against’ the measure.

“I think it sends a clear message, an affirmation, of Kentuckians’ commitment to public education and public schools,” said Tyler Murphy, Chairman of the Fayette County School Board.  “In every corner of our Commonwealth public schools service the bedrock of their community.”

According to experts, about 90 percent of children in Kentucky attend public schools.

Murphy says, if the amendment had passed, public schools would have taken a big hit, financially.

“Already public schools are being asked to do so much more with so much less. We have to now only educate, but support the whole child our students and families both inside and outside the classroom. We have communities for whom public schools are the number one employer, but still struggling to recruit and retain.”

Since the amendment was defeated, Murphy says, “Now our focus needs to be on working together. Having meaningful conversations about how we can protect, promote and strengthen our existing public schools.”