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KASB explains cash balances

Over the years, we’ve heard complaints about school districts’ cash balances or reserve funds. Our own experience has been that those lump funds hide specific needs or planned spending and varies throughout the year (i.e., you can look at the funds on one date and see a very high balance because of a planned outlay but if you look at a later date, you would see a very different picture). KASB explains cash balances in this helpful piece. “Each July, Kansas school boards receive reports from their superintendents on the unencumbered cash balance of specific funds as of...
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Lawrence increases property tax, looks at shifting teachers

From our friends at Educate Lawrence, “The legislature’s block grant to Lawrence schools has placed our school district in a stressful financial position. Thanks to our school board for making the difficult decision to increase local property taxes to partially address the $1.2 million budget crisis caused by Governor Brownback and our legislative leaders. Adequately funding our public schools is an investment in economic development, an educated workforce, and our future community leaders.” Read more here: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/aug/10/school-board-approves-property-tax-increase-looks-/...
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Wichita budget tight

“As Wichita school board members got their first detailed look at a proposed budget Monday, a few words kept popping up: Scary. Frightening. Tight. Really tight. “The $648 million budget for 2015-16 – about $35 million less than last year’s budget and $4 million less than last year’s expenditures – cuts some programs and expenses, raises property taxes and freezes teacher pay. “’There isn’t a whole lot, other than people, that we can start cutting after this,’ said board member Sheril Logan. ‘And that scares me.’” Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article30669207.html...
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#SaidNoSchoolEver campaign resonates with us

“There’s a new ad campaign that is sarcastic but funny and reflects something real: many public schools and teachers don’t nearly enough resources. “#SaidNoSchoolEver is being promoted by Hefty, the trash bag company, and the Havas Worldwide Chicago ad agency, with 30-second spots in which teachers say things such as: “I love spending my own money on supplies” “Cutting arts and music programs is worth the savings” “This map — from 1913. Almost all of the states are there.” “More funding for schools? Nah, we’re good.” “The campaign promotes Box Tops for Education, a program that raises money...
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