Update: this bill was pulled after public outcry. “A bill that would transfer control of school finance from the Kansas Department of Education to the administration has sparked strong opposition from educators, who say it is an attack on public schools. “SB 311, set for a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, would give the governor more direct control over school finance, which is now overseen by the state Board of Education and the state’s commissioner of education… “Under current law, the Legislature and governor approve the K-12 budget and the Department of Education...
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House Ed Committee discusses handling bond projects
“Lawmakers would directly approve or reject school construction bond proposals under legislation put forward Tuesday, March 8th by the leader of the House Education Committee that strips the state Board of Education’s current review power over larger projects…Rep. Ron Highland, R-Wamego, offered an amendment to instead use the Joint Committee on State Building Construction, a body composed exclusively of lawmakers. The panel would have the power to review all school district bonding projects eligible for state aid.” Read more here: http://cjonline.com/news/2016-03-08/kansas-house-committee-debates-legislation-allow-lawmakers-approve-school-bond...
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Leave a Comment Wichita facing increased costs, frozen funding
“Facing cost increases of up to $30 million next school year and no additional state funding, the Wichita school district’s chief financial officer said leaders will have to consider laying off teachers or other personnel. “’We have a big enough hole to fill that we’re probably going to get into staff cuts,’ Jim Freeman said Tuesday.” Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article64769587.html...
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Leave a Comment Legislators want to impeach judges for deciding cases against them
“After being thwarted in their efforts to select state Supreme Court justices more to their liking, conservative Kansas lawmakers have come up with an outrageous plan to make it easier to impeach judges for doing their jobs. “This latest assault on the judiciary smacks of desperation. It reveals legislators’ contempt for the checks and balances essential to a functioning democracy and risks making state government even more dysfunctional. “Senate Bill 439…would expand the legal basis for impeaching state Supreme Court justices and some district judges. “One of those reasons: ‘Attempting to usurp the power of the legislative or...
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