The Chairman of the legislative Committee on Education is expressing concerns over Governor Bob Holden’s support for a lawsuit against the funding formula for schools.The 243 school districts that are part of the lawsuit claim the current funding formula is inadequate and inequitable. And, Governor Holden is supporting the districts, at least as far as adequacy is concerned. He wants the Legislature to take steps to increase funding to public schools. Senator Charlie Shields of St. Joseph chairs the legislative Committee on Education, which is looking to make improvements to the funding formula. He’s baffled by the Governor’s support for the suit, calling the Governor’s decision to support the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the state “absolutely absurd.” Shields says that while the Governor is saying a great deal about improving adequacy through tax increases, he has said little about perceived inequalities. Shields believes the Governor’s position is political and not in the long term interests of the state.