This is not no big deal. As parents and teachers, we have seen these cuts and other cuts, yet many politicians act like these are figments of our imaginations.

“Regardless of the contentious political debate, what is clear is that Kansas schools have, since 2009, made drastic cuts to many parts of their operations.

“Many eliminated jobs, cut classroom budgets for teachers to buy supplies and discontinued all or almost all of their field trips, unless paid for by parent-teacher organizations. Some asked parents to supply office paper and cleaning supplies for the schools and their offices.

“Topeka shed scores of veteran teachers, offering them early retirement.

“Wichita closed an alternative school and dropped the number of police officers in its schools.

“Santa Fe Trail restructured its buildings, dropping its community school model in favor of busing more children farther from home.

“Baldwin City closed outlying rural schools.

“In many cases, the cuts baffled and upset parents. School districts like Baldwin City made cuts even as they bought more classroom technology or built new facilities with dollars earmarked by law for those expenses. Baldwin City voters had just approved a bond issue when the recession hit, yet the district couldn’t tap the bonds to pay electricity bills or salaries.

“Today Kansas schools employ about 680 fewer teachers and librarians than before the recession, of about 35,500 total, according to annual tallies from the state education department.”

http://cjonline.com/news/2014-12-31/analysis-schools-and-after-recession