“’I do appreciate the fact that you’re looking at maybe giving us $55,000,’ [Dan Brungardt, superintendent of Bonner Springs] said, ‘but I would like to point out that’s only an additional $3,000 once you take away the deduction for the fund.’ “Brungardt said the state subtracted more than $52,000 in general state aid from USD 204’s budget this year to contribute to the emergency aid pool. “The $3,000, he said, would be the actual new money USD 204 would receive to serve 39 new students. That is $76 per student… “Cory Gibson, superintendent of the 2,800-student Valley Center...
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Schools for Fair Funding responds to governor’s email
The Communications Director for Governor Sam Brownback sent an e-mail “Our Schools,” on Friday, August 28th. Below is a response from John Robb, Attorney, Schools for Fair Funding. Governor Sam Brownback continues to preach that the sun is shining in Kansas regardless of the facts. It appears that he would continue to say this during a hurricane. He denigrates the actions of 286 locally elected school boards who have been forced to cut classroom spending for our children. He calls their action “bombastic talk.” He claims credit for facility upgrades around the state which were due to bond...
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Leave a Comment Governor’s office email abrasive and misleading
August 28th, Governor Brownback’s office sent out an email indicating that there is nothing wrong with Kansas school funding, that editorial boards and union leaders are engaging in “bombastic talk” and spreading a “false narrative” that our schools “are starving due to lack of funding.” He then focused on new buildings (paid for with funding that can’t be used for classroom operations and at least partially funded by local bond issues), praises teachers and mentions raises in teacher pay for a few districts and technology roll-outs in others. When discussing the block grants, the governor failed to mention...
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Leave a Comment Double standard on financial support
“Brownback’s camp didn’t force those businesses to outline how their tax savings would create jobs (the governor’s economic pipe dream.) School districts, meanwhile, had to grovel for aid from a fund created with dollars stripped from their K-12 state funding. “Sadly, it’s all part of the plot to undermine public schools and encourage privatized education, per the wishes of the Koch brothers-supported Kansas Chamber, Kansas Policy Institute and other so-called ‘free market’ advocates. “The self-serving quest is hurting good public schools and the people they serve. Voters should keep it in mind when state lawmakers beholden to anti-public...
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