“It is a dangerous time in Kansas. The governor and his legislators, along with special interest groups such as Americans for Prosperity and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce have aligned and consolidated their power in Topeka. Whether it’s the judiciary, individual communities, issues of public interest or matters of individual liberties, this coalition seems bent on forever altering the landscape of Kansas, and those who dare oppose that power block will find their voices legislated into silence. Understandably, it’s not easy for working Kansans to care much about legislation that is complex, boring and specific to one segment...
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Legislators consider ways to comply with Gannon decision on equity
“GOP leaders and House and Senate budget committee members said lawmakers probably won’t increase overall state spending by the full $129 million that the state Department of Education estimates would cover deficiencies in aid to poor school districts. The state could tap its cash reserves to cover all of the extra costs, but half a dozen key Republican legislators said they oppose such a move or don’t think the GOP-dominated Legislature would approve it. They said alternatives include shifting existing funds for public schools around or cutting other parts of the budget. ‘It’s not likely that we just...
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Leave a Comment Legislature usurping local control and lacking transparency
“Rep. Melissa Rooker, a Fairway Republican, said she was disappointed that earlier work in committee on the policy, which would have required parents to opt-out of sex education, was ignored. She said the committee acted quickly to push the changes out with little discussion and votes lined up. ‘It was very well-orchestrated,’ ‘Rooker said. ‘It was well-planned in advance.’” While sex ed is not one of our issues, we are troubled by what this says about how things are to be handled in the House Education Committee and the lack of transparency. Earlier in the session, there was a...
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Leave a Comment Perspective on the Gannon decision from Chanute
“Hardy said USD 413 is hurt by the adequacy question remaining unresolved. Districts are seeing increased costs without an increase in money to meet those costs. At the same time, special education is underfunded as well so the local districts are both making up the shortfalls in regular state aid and special education funding from local funds, Hardy said. School districts had been hoping the base state aid per pupil would be raised closer to the amount it was before the recession budget cuts in 2009. Currently, the base state aid for pupil is $3,838. It was $4,400...
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