Blog

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,...
Read more 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...
Read more Leave a Comment

Education needs stronger champions

We agree with this editorial. We’re doing what we can, but we have also noticed a reluctance on the part of some of our university leaders and our most prominent superintendents to effectively advocate for our students. While they must be respectful and maintain relationships with our legislators, we believe they have an obligation to clearly explain what our students need to legislators and communicate with their communities regarding whether their concerns are being addressed. We are tired of hearing statements indicating this is the best we can expect under the current circumstances while opportunities for our children...
Read more Leave a Comment