The number of harmful bills impacting education in the legislature right now is stunning. Are they trying to wear out the education advocates? Are they trying to distract us from the fact that they have made no progress on a new school finance formula? Are they “going for broke” in fear that sanity may be restored after the 2016 elections? Are they trying to make us forget that many of the problems facing Kansas public education are caused by underfunding due to our current tax policy? Whatever the reason, we are determined to defend our schools for the sake of our children and our state.

“But educators say the attacks this legislative session feel particularly bitter and contentious…It was standing room only Wednesday for a bill that would consolidate school districts in the state. It was hot, there weren’t enough seats, and the Capitol Police, who rarely leave entrance, were in the room…

“‘It’s just one after another of these, apparently the teachers are the problem with this state,’ says Mark Desetti from the Kansas National Education Association.

“He’s talking about a string of controversial bills that have teachers, school board members and superintendents feeling pummeled.

“In addition to the consolidation bill, there’s legislation that would expand tax credits to attend private or religious schools.

“There’s a plan to create a state board to review local bonds.

“Legislation that would take due process away from community college faculty and another that allows for the prosecution of teachers who use materials that might be sexually suggestive…

“The high tension has come as a bit of a surprise to Rep. Jarrod Ousley, a Democrat from Merriam. This is only his second Legislative session and his first on the Education Committee. A committee that not too long ago might have been a bit boring is now a lightening rod. Ousley pulls out his phone to show 227 unread emails.

“‘Oh, I’m hearing from everybody across the state. My email box, being on the education committee, is overflowing,’ he says…

 

But because this is Kansas, politics is front and center in all education issues and in 2016 all members of the Legislature are up for reelection.

 

“Highland admits the election just might play a role in all of this. ‘There’s always that fear, who knows? I don’t know. You can’t predict those things. I’m not interested in that, and I don’t care.’

“He also suggests that these conservative bills, prosecuting teachers, consolidating school districts, are distractions. “I think the bigger pressure on the Legislature right now is to come up with an actual school funding formula.”

“But no school funding plan has yet been advanced, and that fight could easily dwarf anything seen so far.”

http://kcur.org/post/long-and-contentious-week-education-kansas-legislature#stream/0