“Ron Traxson, superintendent of USD 398-Peabody Burns offered a different perspective. His district will see a cut in classroom funding of $48,643 this year yet, with only minimal recovery over the next two school years.

“’This block grant is not about helping schools with a new formula, it’s about cutting school funding to meet the state’s shrinking budget,’ Traxson said…

“In his most recent newsletter to constituents, Rep. John Barker, whose district includes northern Marion County, stated: ‘Our schools are receiving more funding this year than last, and the credible proposals currently on the table have schools receiving even more funding for the near future.’

“That may be true if funding for KPERS, the state’s retirement system for public employees, is added to the equation. But KPERS funding is an in-and-out budget item for school districts; exclude that money and it becomes clear that funding for classroom learning is being cut.”

Read more here: https://www.hillsborofreepress.com/news/block-grant-bill-will-reduce-local-school-funding