Blog

Editorial explains differences in school funding figures

We know the reality of budget cuts in our districts, and no claims regarding KPERS funding and other increasing costs can change that. Our legislature doesn’t get to postpone fully funding schools while we wait for the promised economic gain from tax cuts. Lost educational opportunities cannot be reclaimed later. “Brownback told the superintendents that this was the best long-term decision, because if the Kansas economy can grow more, ‘we can fund things.’ But he acknowledged that for school districts, ‘your transition is hard.’ That hard transition and the base aid cuts are why the three-judge panel ruled...
Read more Leave a Comment

Sen. King bill would eliminate aid for school bonds

A bill by Sen. King would underfund bond aid (capital funds) to shift money to underfunded supplemental aid (operating funds). Both types of aid are equalized and designed to help poorer districts. “The Legislature hasn’t funded supplemental aid at the statutory level since the 2008-09 school year.” This article provides a helpful explanation of both types of funding.http://cjonline.com/news/2014-01-28/bill-would-eliminate-aid-new-school-bond-issues...
Read more Leave a Comment

Game On Wall Street Journal Letter to Editor

The Wall Street Journal recently ran an editorial stating that Kansas schools have plenty of funding, that “union activists” are the ones who want more, that the school districts might just waste additional funding and that if the Supreme Court orders more funding, we should quickly change judicial selection. We disagree, and here is our letter. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303947904579339240495815388 Regarding your editorial “Kansas Democracy Lesson” (Jan. 17): Many parents and other Kansans who are not “union activists” are deeply disturbed by cuts to our schools’ operating budgets. Yes, despite what you’ve been told, overall increases in school funding in our state...
Read more Leave a Comment