“Wichita schools would see about $4.8 million less this school year under the Republican-backed school finance bill unveiled this week than under the current school funding plan, according to the Kansas Department of Education…Mark Tallman, associate executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards, explained the situation to school officials from around the state in a webinar Friday. “’The budget you adopted based on current law … that formula is changed in the bill, so you will not get as much as you were expecting and it’s that reduced amount that is going forward,’ Tallman said… “’It...
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KS revenues still problematic
School funding is related to state revenue this point, and it’s not looking good. “Here’s the bottom line that everyone should remember: If FY 2015 revenue actually does grow enough to equal the current revenue estimate, then the FY 2016 budget hole is only, yes only, $650 million ($1.1 billion if the ending balance law is followed). If revenue does not meet projections, the budget gap is that much bigger. “Kansas has a budget crisis brought on by unprecedented and unaffordable tax cuts causing a dramatic drop in revenue. Meeting the FY 2015 revenue ‘expectations’ does not even...
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Leave a Comment Why the current formula works
While we sort through the details of the block grant proposal for funding our schools, we’d like to share a post from our friends at Mainstream outlining the current formula and how it works. We note that the block grant is being proposed as a temporary measure while the legislature works out a new formula, and we believe efforts to “reform” the formula are really efforts to create new funding system based on what Kansas can afford based on little or no income tax rather than what Kansas children need. Is that what you want for your children?...
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Leave a Comment Kensinger confronts teacher about reference to governor
This story makes us think about the importance of due process for teachers and the tendency to bully in those in authority right now. “A high-profile lobbyist and former chief of staff to Gov. Sam Brownback confronted a teacher Monday about a reference she made to the governor. “Witnesses called David Kensinger’s behavior “badgering” and “hostile” and described Topeka Unified School District 501 teacher Jenay Weekly’s conduct as professional…Teachers who witnessed the confrontation said Weekly was visibly shaken afterward and added that Kensinger had made them feel uncomfortable.” Read more here: http://cjonline.com/news/2015-03-05/lobbyist-confronts-topeka-teacher-accuses-her-disrespecting-governor...
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