“’I just feel so sad for our state,’ [Rep. Susie] Swanson said, ‘that our system is so upside down that we take talented, qualified, thoughtful people off of important committee because they were told, some of them, ‘You didn’t vote right.’ As for you all in the field of education, that committee now, you have very few friends. I hope in the next election teachers, board members, get out and vote.’ “Deena Horst, a former state representative who now represents north-central Kansas on the Kansas State Board of Education, said she, too, was concerned about the committee assignments....
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Merck displays strong-arm style in purging committees
“Drafting good legislation for Kansas is rarely a priority for Merrick, a Republican from Stilwell. His goal is to squelch knowledgeable, independent voices on an important issue. Merrick has also purged the education committee of legislators who disagree with him and Gov. Sam Brownback on school funding and other matters.” Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article44823459.html...
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Leave a Comment CIF sweep will impact programs
“Not only did the administration misrepresent the immediate impact of the CIF sweep, it appears they maneuvered circumstances to create the appearance of excess funds. In the months prior to last week’s CIF cut, Brownback administration officials requested CIF grantees transition their grant cycle from calendar years to fiscal years. The change left the appearance of surplus funds, but the dollars had already been allocated. It now appears the calendar transition was organized by design – specifically for the purpose of sweeping extra funds later in the fiscal year. By changing the grant cycles after the Legislature passed...
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Leave a Comment Kansas teacher shortage continues
“The teacher shortage in Kansas is getting worse, and it doesn’t look to get better anytime soon. Kansas City, Kan., has been hit hard by the lack of education funding from the state. They are looking to hire dozens of teachers but struggling to find anyone to fill those positions. Kathy Busch is on the Kansas Board of Education and says not only are many teachers leaving Kansas for better pay elsewhere, new teachers just aren’t applying to work here.” Watch the story here: http://fox4kc.com/2015/11/12/kansas-teacher-shortage-continues-to-get-worse/...
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