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“As part of an effort to close the gap, millions of dollars are being cut from the budgets of Kansas school districts such as the one where [Beryl] New is the principal. As critics acidly describe it, Brown v. Board of Education has been replaced by ‘Brownback v. boards of education.’ “At stake, school advocates say, is the very principle of equality. For years, the state provided extra funds to the poorest school districts — known as ‘equalization’ money — so that they would have something close to economic parity with wealthier ones. But, as part of his...

“The state cut about $1.6 million in operation and maintenance funds from the district’s current-year budget, which the school board has dealt with through changes such as summer school cancellations and a partial hiring freeze. “Patrons had a chance to weigh in on how they think USD 501 should deal with the next two years of cuts. Administrators distributed a survey for attendees to fill out, and the audience broke into small groups to speak with individual school board members… “’There’s just a lot of hard choices that need to be made,’ said Robert Cathcart, father of two...