A House committee's leader has outlined a new proposal for giving the state more oversight of local public school construction projects.
Education Committee Chairman Ron Highland said Tuesday that his panel will vote on his proposal Friday. It would have a joint legislative committee review projects before voters in local school districts decide whether to authorize bonds for them.
The state helps poorer school districts pay off such debt, and costs have climbed, frustrating Republicans who control the Legislature.
The committee started with a bill that would create a new state board to review school construction projects. But Highland said some lawmakers questioned the idea and noted that the work could be done by an existing legislative committee.
Critics see such measures as an attack on local control of schools.
