KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Monday, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled the state's spending on public schools remains inadequate.
Many candidates for Governor responded to the ruling.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES:
Governor Jeff Colyer:
"When I became Governor earlier this year, I outlined my priorities for a school finance plan. Specifically, one that would keep our schools open, get more money into the classroom and improve student outcomes without raising taxes. And we got it done.
As a doctor, I know it is important to see continuous improvement. We will maintain a sharp focus on sending dollars to the classroom without raising taxes.
I look forward to building upon the work we did together this year to address the remaining issues identified in the ruling."
Secretary of State Kris Kobach:
"As governor I will make sure that 75% of every dollar spent on education goes to the classroom to teach children. We need to stop spending on bloated administration and Taj Mahal buildings. We need to focus on teaching and learning.
The business of funding schools belongs with the representatives of the people--not seven, unelected judges. The Court's Gannon decision today illustrates how the Court is now micromanaging every dollar spent on education even down to calculating adjustments for inflation.
The massive spending increase Gov. Colyer advocated for did nothing to satisfy the unelected judges. They are going to keep demanding more and more spending if we keep caving to them as Colyer did last year.
The Court is acting in a matter that is far outside of its judicial role. The time has come for a constitutional amendment making clear the judiciary of Kansas may not determine education spending amounts."
Jim Barnett:
"I think the Court was correct in approving the funding bill's amount if subject to inflation. Without that proviso, the state fails to meet its constitutional mandate to provide for a suitable education in our state.
The 2018 legislation merely restored funding levels that last were approved as adequate 10 or more years ago. Instead of increasing as inflation increased, school funding levels remained too low as shown by every study commissioned during the period, including two by the legislature itself.
The school funding problem has existed for many years, and was only exacerbated when the Brownback/Colyer failed tax experiment of 2012 drove Kansas further into critical budget deficits, leaving legislators no way to meet their constitutional mandate to adequately educate our youngest citizens.
The time for judicial disparaging has passed. We need a governor who will lead us beyond in-fighting over school funding that has been the hallmark of the governor's office under Brownback and Colyer."
Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer:
"We need more accountability in our education spending. If we don't have leadership in the Governor's office and accountability from the local school districts, we will continuously have costly litigation. This is why my business and management background and experience as a Certified Public Accountant make me the most qualified candidate for Governor.
We need to be more focused on preparing children to be reading ready before entering kindergarten. We also need accountability for achieving K-12 education performance and metrics. In addition, we need schools to align output with the needs of their local business community, by preparing graduating students to fill jobs.
Kansas can do better. We can get more from every tax dollar just as we have done in the last three years in the Insurance Department. As Governor, I will be a champion for education."
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES:
Carl Brewer:
"Today the Kansas Supreme Court has ruled state lawmakers have once again failed to adequately fund our public education system. This was not surprising and was completely avoidable if the legislature followed the recommendations of its own study. Instead, they took the easy way out, deciding to fund schools in a manner that many knew would probably not meet the constitutional standard.
We can't keep treating Kansas students as though they only deserve the bare minimum. Their education is vital to the entire health of our state. Good schools are the building block to creating a successful and dynamic work force, and to creating a welcoming state where people want to live.
But more than that, we have a moral obligation to give our children an education that gives them a chance at a successful future. Our children will enter the national and global workforce finding they lack the skills others have been taught. Kansas candidates for tomorrow's jobs will have been given the bare minimum education.
It's time for Kansas to prioritize our children and their future - our future. To ensure every child gets a fair and adequate education is just the starting point. We need more than just lip service from career Topeka politicians. We need leaders who will stand up to those whose goals result in harming the quality of public schools across our state."
State Senator Laura Kelly:
"We all know that schools are the key to a strong economy and a bright future for our state. I’m grateful for the Court’s work and I respect its decision. We will work together in the coming year to fully fund our schools and give all children the opportunities they deserve.
From my first legislative session, I've fought to fully fund our schools. I supported significant new investments in 2005 and worked to improve early childhood programs. When Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer made the largest cut to our schools in state history - I fought back.
It is critical that we have new leadership in the governor’s office next session - someone with a strong record of standing up for Kansas students, teachers and families. As governor, I will make our schools a top priority again.
Instead of focusing on doing the minimum, we will begin to plan and innovate. We will make sure Kansas has the greatest schools in the nation so our children can be ready for the jobs of the future. It's how our children succeed, and it's how Kansas succeeds."
Joshua Svaty:
"This decision does not change the immediate actions I will focus on as Governor to return long-term stability to our schools. To begin with, we need a Legislature that completes the budget in March instead of May or June. An on-time budget allows school districts to plan for class sizes, course offerings, staffing needs, capital outlay, and summer activities in advance of the new school year. When the Legislature delays the budget until June, schools have no time to adjust.
Administrators cannot 'efficiently and effectively' allocate scarce resources in a way that will make up for insufficient funding for teacher salaries. Low teacher salaries are contributing to a loss of good teachers resulting in a teacher shortage and unhealthy growth in classroom sizes.
We must continue to invest in our public schools if we expect them to be world class. We need to attract young people to the profession of teaching. We must inspire confidence among parents of children both within and outside the state of Kansas. Our schools have historically been a driving reason for families to stay in Kansas or move to this state. We need to make this true once again."
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE:
Greg Orman:
"Today's Kansas Supreme Court decision acknowledges the legislature's efforts to adequately and equitably fund Kansas schools, but the legislature's work remains incomplete. As governor, I will work with the courts and legislators on both sides of the aisle to remedy the remaining adequacy concerns.
Schools are the economic engine of our state, and I want every student, regardless of where they come from or which school they attend, to receive the best education Kansas can provide. Rest assured this issue will be a top priority in my administration."
