On February 3rd, a hearing was held on a bill that would consolidate multiple districts in Kansas.
“Opponents of a measure that would consolidate school districts packed a House committee meeting Wednesday, offering impassioned testimony against it.
“Rep. John Bradford, R-Lansing, defended his bill against critics, saying it wouldn’t lead to the effects that patrons of rural and small districts fear.
“’It does not close schools, it does not affect teachers, nor does it fire principals,’ Bradford said. ‘It does not sell school buses, it does not change any boundaries except by the State Board, it does not affect any students, it does not kill any mascots, it does not affect the football teams and it does not increase any time that students ride the school buses.’
“But the audience burst into applause when a board member from a small western Kansas district — the 113-student Palco USD 269 — suggested Bradford was wrong, rattling his list back at him and declaring every one of the effects would come to pass.”
Read more here: http://cjonline.com/news/2016-02-03/kansas-school-district-consolidation-hearing-draws-impassioned-pleas
The bill was withdrawn after the Chair of the House Education Committee said he received over 600 emails opposing it. Here’s a tweet from KSU Government Relations:
We do have the ability to stop harmful legislation. Keep those contacts up!