KS Association of School Boards Blog Re Next School Finance Formula

Schools tell governor what is needed in next school finance formula

Numerous emails meant to provide input to Gov. Sam Brownback and the Legislature in devising a new school finance formula repeatedly come back to a simple message and a stark warning: It’s the amount of funding that is most important and the future of Kansas is at stake.

After a community meeting hosted by El Dorado USD 490, Superintendent Sue Givens wrote the governor, “I will close by letting you know that the dedication and commitment for K-12 public education was clearly evident in this meeting. Our community stands behind the importance of adequate and equitable funding for our schools in order to meet the increasing demands of the workforce toward economic growth and health Kansas communities.”

In August, Brownback called on Kansans to provide input to himself, education leaders and the Legislature as the state embarks on writing a new school finance formula during the next legislative session to replace the block grant system, which essentially froze the level of K-12 spending.

Since then, numerous local meetings have been held across the state with parents, students, educators and community members to discuss how Kansas should fund public schools and how to respond to Brownback.

Brownback asked that their input be submitted to StudentsFirst@ks.gov by Nov. 30. Additionally, KASB, the Kansas State Department of Education and United School Administrators of Kansas asked school districts to copy their submissions to schoolfundinginput@kasb.org.

In reviewing those submissions sent to KASB so far, the amount of funding is among the top issues on the minds of Kansans. And the level of concern about the next school finance formula is intense.

Tawn Hawes, a kindergarten teacher in Dodge City, sent a short note: “We have 25 kindergarteners in one classroom and if we don’t Put Students First our class sizes will rise and our children, the future, will not succeed to their full potential. Put Students First! The future is in your hands.”

Humboldt USD 258 urged Brownback and legislators to “visit various school districts and visit with the community, teachers, administrators, board member and more importantly, the students.”

Many of the recommendations on school finance call for adequate and equitable funding so that students have an equal opportunity to receive a quality education no matter where they live in Kansas. The emails also suggest a much higher base level for each student and making sure there are additional funds to help students who have special needs.

And many responses noted that the state budget is facing huge problems and suggested repealing the state income tax on certain businesses and looking at other funding sources, such as lottery revenues.

Also high on the list of priorities is for the state to fund full-day kindergarten and expand preschool and career and technical training. And several districts called for eliminating attempts to privatize public education through vouchers of tax credits to private schools.

While there will most likely be calls from some to close small schools in the name of efficiency, there is also a cost to such actions.

Julie Fischer, an elementary school teacher at Prairie Hills USD 113, said Kansas was losing teachers because they were either changing careers, retiring or moving to other states. “These people are amazing teachers and it is a great loss to the students in Kansas that they are no longer teaching in our state,” she said.

She said the uncertainty of funding affects her students. “They often talk about what will happen if our school closes down. We have an excellent school and should not have to worry that it will be closed down because of money,” she said.