Here’s the block grant perspective from Newton. “So, a reduction during our current year followed by some modest increases, right? Well, yes…if you just look at the totals. The legislature has touted that a benefit of the block grant method is taking off the weightings and allowing districts more flexibility in how they use their funds. This is misleading, however, as paying the KPERS obligation is no more an option for local districts than it has been for the state. In order to get a clearer picture, then, I offer you the same information included above, but minus...
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Block grant bill hits poorer districts harder
The legislature continues to ignore the courts. They took credit for the court-ordered equalization aid during campaign season and appear to be backing out of it now. “Controversial block grants unveiled this week appear to take operational and maintenance funds from most of the state’s poorest school districts, while shielding most of the richest. “An analysis by The Topeka Capital-Journal found that poorer school districts are more likely to see budget cuts next year under the proposal. This is because many of the reductions in the plan are achieved by reducing equalization aid — dollars that those districts...
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Leave a Comment Block grant proposal not simple solution
“It is hard to see much evidence that the new bill will deliver the dollars that districts actually will need to educate their growing student enrollments between now and 2017. GOP lawmakers boasted about restoring a $28 million cut to base aid that Brownback ordered last month, but they neglected to mention that their plan cuts $51 million in other current-year funding. “As the legislation makes its way through committees and to the full chambers of the Legislature, lawmakers and the governor must be certain that it meets, rather than sidesteps, that constitutional mandate. And school district leaders,...
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Leave a Comment Sen Melcher and others choose how to discuss school funding
Our legislators make choices when using numbers about school finance. They can focus on all funding from all sources or focus on operational funding. They can explain the funds include capital projects approved by voters in their communities or not. They can label broad categories of staff who aren’t teachers as “administration” or not. They can mention increasing costs in terms of higher numbers of students in need, or higher technology costs, or inflation or not. How does your legislator talk about funding and why? Sen. Melcher is not the only one in Johnson County talking about school...
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