School funding is difficult and complex, and different communities face different challenges. Be conscious of districts that can’t pass bond issues when you hear about rising “unencumbered” balances. Sometimes districts are saving for capital projects. “Although most states help pay for some construction costs, almost half, including Kansas, pay less than 10 percent. “That means that, for the most part, districts in those states are at the mercy of voters to finance capital projects, such as building new schools and making major renovations to existing ones. “Affluent communities with a strong tax base can borrow money and pass bond...
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Editorial re: School Funding
Are your local legislators making inaccurate statements about school funding? If so, please correct them. Thank you Great Bend Tribune for this editorial. “But those harsh comments are not only hard to swallow, they’re off target. Buses are a capital outlay expense. Straub should know that. If she doesn’t, perhaps her party has made a poor decision in asking her to fill that seat. “In a nutshell, here’s some school finance basics: The funds allotted each school district are divvied up into many different buckets, and the money in each bucket can only be spent for what it’s designated...
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Leave a Comment NY Times Article: Silicon Valley in Kansas Schools
We support districts choosing education methods for their local communities, but we are concerned with programs like Summit and the charter school chain Carpe Diem certain legislators tried to push a few years ago. Sitting in front of a laptop for hours isn’t the same as engaging with a teacher and classmates. https://www.nytimes.com/…/silicon-valley-kansas-schools.html Originally posted to Facebook on 04/22/2019/...
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Leave a Comment Our Response to Ron Ryckman in Topeka Capital Journal
Thank you to the Topeka Capital Journal for publishing our response to Rep. Ryckman’s recent op ed which ran in papers throughout the state. Elected officials are entitled to share their perspective, but it’s important to give the public the opportunity to provide omitted information and correct inaccurate statements. The Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle have so far declined to publish our response. “Rep. Ryckman’s concept of how to deal with fiscal uncertainty in the future defies common sense and abdicates his responsibility. His overall theme is that we must ‘help’ our children by avoiding promising them...
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