Kansas school
districts facing increasing enrollment, decreasing property values and frozen
state levels of funding are appealing to state leaders for an additional $15.1
million, which is nearly 23 percent more than what has been set aside in a
special fund.
districts facing increasing enrollment, decreasing property values and frozen
state levels of funding are appealing to state leaders for an additional $15.1
million, which is nearly 23 percent more than what has been set aside in a
special fund.
Monday was the
deadline for school districts to submit applications for extraordinary needs
funding under the new block grant school finance law.
deadline for school districts to submit applications for extraordinary needs
funding under the new block grant school finance law.
Those applications
will be considered Monday, Aug. 24 by the State Finance Council, which is
headed by Gov. Sam Brownback and includes legislative leaders.
will be considered Monday, Aug. 24 by the State Finance Council, which is
headed by Gov. Sam Brownback and includes legislative leaders.
The State Finance
Council can grant the funds, reject them or modify the amount. The applications
for additional assistance cover districts that enroll about one-third of the
public school students in Kansas.
Council can grant the funds, reject them or modify the amount. The applications
for additional assistance cover districts that enroll about one-third of the
public school students in Kansas.
Brownback and top
Republican legislators repealed the former school finance formula, which
provided funding on a per pupil basis, and replaced it with a two-year block
grant that essentially froze the level of state operating funds available to
schools. Since then, a three-judge panel has declared the law unconstitutional.
That decision has been appealed by the state to the Kansas Supreme Court.
Republican legislators repealed the former school finance formula, which
provided funding on a per pupil basis, and replaced it with a two-year block
grant that essentially froze the level of state operating funds available to
schools. Since then, a three-judge panel has declared the law unconstitutional.
That decision has been appealed by the state to the Kansas Supreme Court.
The block grant law
also reduced state aid for all districts by 0.4 percent dollars to set up an
Extraordinary Needs Fund. In reviewing a district’s application for payment
from the fund, the State Finance Council must consider any extraordinary
increase in enrollment, or decrease in the district’s assessed valuation or any
other unforeseen circumstances impacting a district’s finances.
also reduced state aid for all districts by 0.4 percent dollars to set up an
Extraordinary Needs Fund. In reviewing a district’s application for payment
from the fund, the State Finance Council must consider any extraordinary
increase in enrollment, or decrease in the district’s assessed valuation or any
other unforeseen circumstances impacting a district’s finances.
Nineteen school
districts are seeking $8.6 million, mostly for increases in enrollment totaling
1,745 students.
districts are seeking $8.6 million, mostly for increases in enrollment totaling
1,745 students.
Kansas City USD 500
is seeing the largest pupil increase with an estimated 507 students, while
Brewster USD 313 is seeing the largest percentage increase in enrollment, from
111 students to 125 students, for an increase of 12.6 percent.
is seeing the largest pupil increase with an estimated 507 students, while
Brewster USD 313 is seeing the largest percentage increase in enrollment, from
111 students to 125 students, for an increase of 12.6 percent.
Twenty-two school
districts are seeking a total of $6.5 million because of property tax loss,
mostly due to falling oil and gas prices that have decreased property
valuations.
districts are seeking a total of $6.5 million because of property tax loss,
mostly due to falling oil and gas prices that have decreased property
valuations.
Satanta USD 507 lost
50 percent of its assessed valuation, while Plainville USD 270 lost 47 percent.
Many of the other districts lost in the 20 percent to 40 percent range.
50 percent of its assessed valuation, while Plainville USD 270 lost 47 percent.
Many of the other districts lost in the 20 percent to 40 percent range.
Wichita USD 259, the
state’s largest district, is seeking nearly $1 million because of special
circumstances. Officials there said they expect an increase in refugee students
from Asia and Africa of more than 200 students.
state’s largest district, is seeking nearly $1 million because of special
circumstances. Officials there said they expect an increase in refugee students
from Asia and Africa of more than 200 students.
Few of these students
speak English and many have missed several years of school and have been traumatized
by unrest in their home countries, officials said.
speak English and many have missed several years of school and have been traumatized
by unrest in their home countries, officials said.
Three districts —
Garden City USD 457, Hoisington USD 431 and South Haven USD 509 — submitted
applications for additional funds because of both enrollment and loss of
property values.
Garden City USD 457, Hoisington USD 431 and South Haven USD 509 — submitted
applications for additional funds because of both enrollment and loss of
property values.
Earlier this year during the first round of
requests for additional dollars in the Extraordinary Need Fund, the State
Finance Council approved less than half of the requested funding — $478,000 out
of $1.2
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