“We would offer that had the Kansas Legislature and governor been interested in honoring the funding levels they established and wrote into law, USD 489 would not be experiencing a fiscal crisis. Responding to a Supreme Court finding they weren’t adequately supporting K-12 public education in 2006, lawmakers had promised to increase gradually the base state aid per pupil to $4,492. They never got there. Aid peaked at $4,400 in 2009 and has dropped to $3,838.
If the Hays district was paid $4,492 in BSAPP this school year, there would have been an additional $2.9 million to run operations. But legislators were more interested in giving tax breaks to corporations and wealthy individuals, and now don’t have the money to provide the suitable education required by the Kansas Constitution.
As the Supreme Court once again ruled against the Legislature last week, those dollars still could emerge. But USD 489 can’t hold its breath that Topeka will honor its obligation. Not in the current political climate.
Instead, Katt and the board must find $1.3 million in reductions for next year’s budget. The angst running rampant at all the schools is understandable.” http://hdnews.net/opinion/editorials/editorial031214-edit