We hear a lot about local control being an important Kansas value and one legislators say they will work to protect when they are running for office, but as we have watched the events of this week, we wonder if some have forgotten that. Why were the few proponents of SB 171 (moving local elections and making them partisan) allowed the vast majority of time to testify, leaving time for only 2 opponents? Why were proponents of the bill apparently given the opportunity to testify via Skype or phone and not opponents? The hearing was scheduled with little...
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Basehor officials oppose election proposal and funding cuts
“’We serve our community as school board members,’ [Board member Richard Zamora] said. ‘This is not a paid position; we do it because we care about the kids. A big election would potentially require board members to spend a significant amount of money, and moving school board elections to November would increase those costs.’… “It was announced last Thursday that USD 458 would incur a 1.5 percent reduction in its budget effective June 30. This is a decrease of $115,000 dollars for the district, meaning per student resources would be reduced from $3,852 to $3,811. “’Governor Brownback made...
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Leave a Comment School boards and city councils urged to oppose moving elections
“Every local school board, city council and city commission in Kansas should be sending the same message to their legislators that the Lawrence City Commission and school board sent this week. “School Board President Shannon Kimball and Mayor Mike Amyx have sent letters to Kansas legislators opposing a bill that would turn local elections into partisan contests. The switch would be part of a measure that also would move those elections to November in even-numbered years and combine them with state and national races. “Two letters from elected officials in Lawrence are unlikely to put a halt to...
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Leave a Comment New York Times covers Kansas education cuts
Our education shell game is national news. “On Tuesday, after signing the bill that allowed for the cuts and cash transfers to fill this year’s deficit, Mr. Brownback again urged lawmakers to rewrite the formula used to provide aid to the neediest school districts. If the Legislature saves money by doing so, he asserted, it could restore the $28 million in cuts to K-12 public schools that he called for this month. The governor has also asked lawmakers to overhaul the means for financing schools in general.” http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/us/politics/education-is-newest-target-of-kansas-budget-cuts.html?_r=1...
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