“To cope, 62 superintendents are doing double duty. Duane Dorshorst serves as both superintendent and an elementary school principal at the 370-student Oberlin Unified School District 294 in northwestern Kansas.

“’I haven’t been able to give my staff a raise in three years,’ he said. ‘It’s harder to attract people, especially good-quality teachers, when the deficit is already there.’

“A drop in state aid also meant tough choices for Smoky Valley Superintendent Glen Suppes, who froze and then reduced teacher salaries, did away with field trips, required parents to pay a half-day of kindergarten, cut coaches and tightened budgets for supplies. The most difficult decision, he said, involved closing the only elementary school in Marquette this year. Its 65 students are now bused nine miles (14 kilometers) to Lindsborg…

“’Many of the schools are anticipating they will have additional cuts during the year,’ said Suppes. ‘No one can see how the budget is going to balance by next spring.’” http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-11-03/brownback-faces-blowback-as-kansas-tax-cuts-shutter-classrooms#p1