Today KASB’s Scott Rothschild tweeted from the Senate Ways and Means hearing on the A&M efficiency consultant’s education recommendations. We found the following tweets quite enlightening. Superintendents and school board members, if you would care to educate Senators Masterson, Melcher, Fitzgerald, Denning and Arpke on budget issues you face, parents of Kansas school children would be grateful. Kansas parents if you are constituents of these Senators, we would also like you to share your experiences and your awareness of the precariousness of the Kansas budget with them.
Rothschild: Masterson, Melcher disagree with A&M statement that there were cuts to schools. A&M amends to mid-year corrections.
Rothschild: Since 09, districts have faced mid-year reductions in funding in 09, 10, 15 and reduced funding from prior years in 10, 11, 12.
Rothschild: Melcher sez school districts can’t spend money fast enough and they want stable funding as long as it increase.
Rothschild: Fitzgerald questions why fear factor over funding: A&M there were interruptions in funding 2 or 3 times in last 5 years.
Rothschild: Masterson sez there has been no interruption in payments to schools since he’s been in the lege.
Rothschild: Denning: behind closed doors everyone I’ve talked to is OK with the block grant.
Rothschild: Arpke sez all conversations he has had with superintendents thankful for two year funding cycle.
ty.masterson@senate.ks.gov, jeff.melcher@senate.ks.gov, steve.fitzgerald@senate.ks.gov, jim.denning@senate.ks.gov, tom.arpke@senate.ks.gov