We don’t believe the block grant bill provides certainty and stability. The funds promised in the bill have yet to be appropriated, operating funds are fixed for 2 years though our student bodies and costs to our districts are not, and there is no indication of what a new formula will look like or whether our legislature can even manage to pass one. The bill also can’t be separated from the fact that the reason they are willing to talk about a new formula is that they can’t fund the one we have with the current revenue stream. That is not certainty, or stability, or meeting the needs of our greatest natural resource, our children.
“‘This is not a (school funding) formula problem,’ Lane said. ‘This is a revenue problem. This is about limiting the money we’re investing in K-12 education.
“’It is disappointing and sad to say we’ve gotten to the point where people think public schools don’t add to our economy.’
“The Kansas City, Kan., district is looking at $2.1 million less in revenue under the block grants this school year that ends July 1, with greater impact likely in the next two years as the district’s needs grow, she said.”
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