Blog

Northeast Johnson County elected officials and education advocates shared their thoughts on the governor’s proposals, including his suggestion that the school finance formula be rewritten and his assertion that the state’s budget crisis is being fueled by education spending. Here’s what they had to say: Rep. Melissa Rooker (R), District 25: Many felt that the State of the State address on Thursday night was light on details and lacking in new ideas, however I was floored by a new storyline that emerged. The governor blamed the state’s fiscal crisis on the most vulnerable students in our state. By...

“The ranking minority member on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, said it’s clearly a significant cut in school funding, potentially more than $100 million. “She said it appears the budget writers essentially froze school revenues at the current level while requiring local districts to pick up pension expenses. “In addition, she said it appeared part of the plan redefines some local property tax money as part of the state’s contribution to education. “The state is essentially telling school districts ‘we’re going to give you back your own money and make you pay for...

Sen. Pres. Susan Wagle says K-12 funding is killing the budget. We think irresponsible tax policy is killing public education. “‘A crisis is an opportunity,” [Wagle] said. ‘We have three cost drivers that are really killing our budget. One is K-12 formula. One is the KPERS (state pension system) debt. And the other is increases in Medicaid. And I believe he wants to structurally address those issues in his second term.’…During the speech, more than 100 teachers lined the entry hall to the House chamber, holding their hands up in a symbolic raising of hands for school children…Johnson...