“The leader of Kansas City, Kan., public schools told a three-judge panel Thursday the state’s new block grant funding system harms the district’s ability to educate its students…Cynthia Lane, superintendent for USD 500 in Kansas City, Kan., said Senate Bill 7, which put the block grant system into effect, will decrease the district’s funds by at least $2.6 million. Those cuts will cause the district to hold off on needed maintenance and other programs.

“Those cuts make the district’s situation particularly difficult given its increasing enrollment. She said the district’s enrollment has increased about 500 each year and is on track to do so again next year.

“’We’ve had to reconfigure boiler rooms into classrooms,’ Lane said.

“Chalmers’ cross-examination of Lane grew more combative over time, with the attorney and Lane battling over whether increases to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System should be considered educational spending. Lane contended money to KPERS can’t be spent in the classroom…

“’You’re outlining a picture here that would suggest we have a lot more money, but the issue is KPERS,’ Lane said.

Read more here: http://cjonline.com/news/2015-05-07/kansas-city-kan-schools-leader-tells-judges-funding-has-been-cut-under-new-block