Delay in addressing court ruling could hurt Kansas students, advocates say
School advocates Tuesday urged legislators to address the Kansas Supreme Court decision on equity school funding quickly, saying delay would hurt students across the state.
But key leaders have yet to say if or when they will take up the issue as the last day of the 2016 legislative session and candidate filing deadline approached. Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, said school funding would not be considered this week. Although, Kansas Public Radio this morning reported Gov. Brownback warn Senate leaders if the education issues isn't solve today (June 1) he would be forced to call a special session.
On Friday, the Court ruled that the Legislature's attempt to fix Local Option Budget inequities was unconstitutional and actually increased inequality among districts. The Court, again, gave the Legislature until the last day of the fiscal year, June 30, to fix the inequities or schools would be unable to operate. Here is a link to KASB's legal summary of the decision.
On Tuesday during a Webinar, KASB Executive Director John Heim and others said shutting down schools on July 1 would have a devastating impact on students and the state economy.
"We don't want to panic, but it certainly doesn't hurt to plan for the worst and hope for the best," Heim said. Here is a link to the recorded Webinar and accompanying guide.
Heim urged educators when talking with legislators to avoid blaming and finger-pointing and focus on the goal of ensuring that schools are not disrupted, students are served during the summer and school starts on time in August.
KASB's Associate Director for Advocacy Mark Tallman said, "The quicker this can be solved the better." He said the funding — probably within the $40 million range — to remedy the issue is available within current state ending balances.
Tallman added, "We are about a month away from an unprecedented situation in Kansas."
G.A. Buie, executive director of United School Administrators of Kansas, also urged officials to share with the public the ramifications of shutting down schools, including the effect unpaid employees would have on the state's economy.
The Legislature meets Wednesday for the scheduled official end of the 2016 session. The official end is usually ceremonial, but most legislators are expected to attend because of the school finance ruling, a move by some Republicans to criticize the federal government over transgender student guidance and a possible veto override attempt on a tax bill.
Noon Wednesday also is the deadline to file as a candidate in the Aug. 2Republican and Democratic primaries. Here is a link to KASB’s Election 2016 webpage, which includes links to numerous election sources, including legislative candidate lists.
After the Kansas Supreme Court decision came out last week, Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Sam Brownback criticized the Court but gave no indication how they would respond to the ruling.
The clock is ticking on the June 30 deadline the Court set for the Legislature.
During the KASB Webinar, school administrators raised numerous concerns about what would happen if schools were unable to operate. A link to a list of those questions can be found here.
Administrators said even a brief shutdown would result in cutting services to students, including summertime meals and course studies, delaying budget preparation, jeopardizing employment and federal funds.
All these issues and many more need to be brought to the attention of legislators, education officials said.
But key leaders have yet to say if or when they will take up the issue as the last day of the 2016 legislative session and candidate filing deadline approached. Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, said school funding would not be considered this week. Although, Kansas Public Radio this morning reported Gov. Brownback warn Senate leaders if the education issues isn't solve today (June 1) he would be forced to call a special session.
On Friday, the Court ruled that the Legislature's attempt to fix Local Option Budget inequities was unconstitutional and actually increased inequality among districts. The Court, again, gave the Legislature until the last day of the fiscal year, June 30, to fix the inequities or schools would be unable to operate. Here is a link to KASB's legal summary of the decision.
On Tuesday during a Webinar, KASB Executive Director John Heim and others said shutting down schools on July 1 would have a devastating impact on students and the state economy.
"We don't want to panic, but it certainly doesn't hurt to plan for the worst and hope for the best," Heim said. Here is a link to the recorded Webinar and accompanying guide.
Heim urged educators when talking with legislators to avoid blaming and finger-pointing and focus on the goal of ensuring that schools are not disrupted, students are served during the summer and school starts on time in August.
KASB's Associate Director for Advocacy Mark Tallman said, "The quicker this can be solved the better." He said the funding — probably within the $40 million range — to remedy the issue is available within current state ending balances.
Tallman added, "We are about a month away from an unprecedented situation in Kansas."
G.A. Buie, executive director of United School Administrators of Kansas, also urged officials to share with the public the ramifications of shutting down schools, including the effect unpaid employees would have on the state's economy.
The Legislature meets Wednesday for the scheduled official end of the 2016 session. The official end is usually ceremonial, but most legislators are expected to attend because of the school finance ruling, a move by some Republicans to criticize the federal government over transgender student guidance and a possible veto override attempt on a tax bill.
Noon Wednesday also is the deadline to file as a candidate in the Aug. 2Republican and Democratic primaries. Here is a link to KASB’s Election 2016 webpage, which includes links to numerous election sources, including legislative candidate lists.
After the Kansas Supreme Court decision came out last week, Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Sam Brownback criticized the Court but gave no indication how they would respond to the ruling.
The clock is ticking on the June 30 deadline the Court set for the Legislature.
During the KASB Webinar, school administrators raised numerous concerns about what would happen if schools were unable to operate. A link to a list of those questions can be found here.
Administrators said even a brief shutdown would result in cutting services to students, including summertime meals and course studies, delaying budget preparation, jeopardizing employment and federal funds.
All these issues and many more need to be brought to the attention of legislators, education officials said.
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