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District court panel rules funding unconstitutional

“Kansas’ controversial new school finance law and the cuts it made to state aid for poorer school districts are unconstitutional, a panel of judges ruled Friday, [June 26, 2015] ordering lawmakers just wrapping up a record-long legislative session to inject more money into public schools… “Though the state had argued that its support for schools continues to rise annually, the judges dismissed the idea that the state’s increased pension spending — which school districts can’t touch for their own daily operating needs — absolves it of any responsibility to increase other types of school funding. “The block grant...
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Disconnect between BV citizens and legislators

“And I would bet the vast majority of people who live in Blue Valley think their legislators are strong proponents of public schools. That’s probably because few actually follow the voting patterns in Topeka. “There is a total disconnect between the majority of citizens and those who represent them. “The massive changes that are whipsawing Kansans — — are occurring while the uninformed wonder how in the world this all could have happened. “Perhaps things have gotten so bad, alas, the majority may decide to finally tune in.” Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/steve-rose/article25006756.html?fb_action_ids=926795197363711&fb_action_types=og.comments&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B991831214170044%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.comments%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D...
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School funding facts from the Garden City superintendent

I was very disappointed to hear of Governor Brownback’s comments on Tuesday which singled out Garden City Public Schools for requesting “extraordinary needs” funds from the State Finance Council in May. Governor Brownback asserts that a budget crisis exists in Garden City. Governor Brownback’s actions including a mid-year reduction of over $375,000 in state aid to Garden City during the 2014-15 school-year and the conversion of a 23 year-old school finance system to a block grant funding system which unfairly locks in funding at current levels and doesn’t account for changes in enrollment or student demographics are creating...
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