We oppose a constitutional amendment to change the language requiring the legislature to make suitable provision for the funding of public schools. We note that a previous effort to amend the constitution failed in 2016, and that Kansans voted to retain the supreme court justices on the ballot in the 2016 election, which makes Sen. Denning’s statement ring hollow. We would prefer Johnson County’s Rep. Ryckman and Sen. Denning focus on getting adequate resources to Kansas school children instead of wasting time and energy on constitutional amendments.
“In a letter sent to legislative leaders, Ryckman said one purpose of the new committee should be to explore options to ‘reduce or eliminate the perpetual cycle of conflict’ over school finance. He also wrote that the committee should explore how to end the ‘perennial and recurrent’ threat of school closures.
“‘I would like to see what it says,’ Ryckman told reporters when asked if he supports such an amendment. He added that he supports efforts to provide certainty for students and teachers.
Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, R-Overland Park, said voters have elected pro-education lawmakers but the court continues to rule the law unconstitutional.
“‘There’s going to be many solutions, but one solution would be: Let the voters reevaluate what suitable means to them and let them take a vote on it,’ Denning said.”
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article181775481.html
Originally posted on Facebook November 14, 2017