To burn this would be to destroy the heart of a rich agricultural district.

The ideal answer to the problem would be the merger of rich and poor districts.

Instead, every year the tax base became smaller in the rich districts.

The state's 150 richest districts will get no foundation aid.

The court has ordered the state to equalize spending between rich and poor districts.

"The state calls us a rich district because we don't have any students on the free or reduced-cost lunch program," she said.

The state estimates, however, that the richest 111 districts would generate more than $2,850 for each student.

The lawsuit called for equalizing resources between rich and poor districts.

In education, for instance, private money could widen the gaps between rich and poor districts.

Thus, school spending is equalized in rich and poor districts.