Monday, February 1 there was a hearing on the bill to implement a new procedure for approving school bond projects if there will be state equalization funding. We’re attaching a link to the Dropbox file for this hearing. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gszw4nw44qf33m5/AAA-8zJWHVo2Dd0R4itrdqzka/2016%20SESSION/2016%20MEETINGS/February%201%20Hear%20HB2486%20Bond%20Committee?dl=0...
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KS superintendent shortage looms
Another troubling trend in Kansas. “Since 2011, 162 Kansas superintendents have resigned or retired, according to information provided to the Journal-World by the Kansas School Superintendents’ Association. That means that of the 286 school districts in Kansas, more than half have seen turnover in the superintendent position in the past five years. “Buie said that the increased number of resignations is a combination of several factors — such as people generally staying in positions for shorter amounts of time and large numbers becoming eligible to retire — that exist in many professions. But others are more specific to...
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Leave a Comment Rep. Hineman on three harmful school bills
We share Rep. Hineman’s views on the three bills being heard in the House Education Committee this week. Quoting from his newsletter: Trouble Comes in Threes Representative John Bradford (R-Lansing) recently introduced three bills dealing with education. I touched on HB 2504 in last week’s newsletter. It would force consolidation of rural Kansas school districts and would threaten the existence of many rural schools and communities. I strongly oppose this measure, and I have been reminding my colleagues that following the last round of school consolidations in the 1960s there was a dramatic shift in the legislature, as...
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Leave a Comment Contacting legislators tutorial
It’s time to be contacting legislators. We know some of you already have, but for the rest of you, here’s a tutorial. When you contact a legislator, identify the bill number if possible, that you are a constituent, and how you would like them to vote. You always want to be civil, but explain why you feel the way you do. If you don’t know who your legislator is, go to http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/. For the first part of the session, bills will be in committee, so you want to email all the members of that committee. On our website...
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