With one week left to meet a court-imposed deadline, Kansas lawmakers are putting a possible school funding solution on the fast-track.
On Thursday, Republicans unveiled a school funding fix that would cut all school districts’ general state aid by .5 percent. The solution would also redistribute money from other parts of the state’s budget.
Most agree $38 million more would likely satisfy the state Supreme Court’s ruling.
Details of the proposed fix:
- $13 million from cutting school districts’ general state aid by .5 percent
- $2.8 million from the state’s virtual schools fund
- $7.2 million from the state’s k-12 extraordinary needs fund (used to help school districts cope with unforeseen expenses)
- $4.1 million from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (federally-funded welfare program)
- $10.5 million from the state’s tobacco settlement
Under the plan some school districts, including those in Johnson County, would stand to lose thousands. Yet, the superintendents of Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley and Olathe voiced support for the proposal Thursday.
"It’s definitely a compromise for us and we have to understand our time is short. We have less than a week to comply with the court and we have circumstances in this state regarding state revenue that we can’t overcome in a week’s time,” said Blue Valley Superintendent Todd White. "We believe this is a one-year solution to a very short-term issue.”
KCK School District withheld support, warning it might not pass the court’s test.
"We don’t think it’s ready. They need to go back and look for other sources of funding that don’t take out of one of our pockets and stick it out because that does not move it forward,” said David Smith, KCK’s spokesman.
The bill passed out of the Senate Ways and Means committee Thursday with a vote of 9-2.
The Issue
The issue at large is equity, not how much the state is spending on school funding or how much school districts are receiving.
Four school districts, including KCK, sued the state. The districts argue they need more money to educate their students because they cost more to teach. They also argue they would have to pay higher property taxes to match money raised by other districts, such as Johnson County.
This is important because that money, known as local option budgets (LOBs) supplements funding received by the state.
The Timeline
In February, the state Supreme Court agreed. The justices first ruled that unless poorer districts began receiving more money by June 30, public schools would be shut down.
In April, lawmakers passed a bill intending to fix the education funding formula. Brownback signed the bill but last month the court ruled the measure had not solved the problem and reiterated the June 30 deadline.
Two weeks ago, Brownback called for a special session to address school funding. Lawmakers have been trying to decide on a solution ever since.
Parents voice frustrations, hope for solution
Parents 41 Action News spoke to are admittedly frustrated a funding agreement has not formally been reached. Still, they believe it will come before the deadline hits.
"I think we have people in Topeka who know how important it is to get the kids in school on time and to have the doors open July 1," said Brian Geary, who has two children in the Olathe School District.
Geary said his top priorities were making sure schools open on time and that school leaders and lawmakers work together toward a long-term, equitable, plan.
"It seems like so much goes on in a state budget. We always have to wait until the end to get this done. Calling someone's bluff or whatever it may be. As a parent and a citizen of Olathe, if there's a way to work together ... People who represent us in Olathe, please do what's right," said Geary.
Plaintiffs' lawyer responds
One of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs in Gannon v. Kansas says the newest plan is on the fast track to nowhere.
"The court will declare it unconstitutional and order the legislature to either fix it or they'll proceed to close the schools and tell the legislature to fix it," said attorney Alan Rupe. "We'll be back to yet again another special session where the legislature is asked and told to fix the equity."
Rupe equates Kansas House Bill 2001 and Senate Bill 01 to cannibalization.
"They're just taking money away from the schools to give it back to the schools, and it hurts both equity and adequacy," said Rupe.
Rupe's solution is to go back to the previous funding model that's already been deemed constitutional by the Supreme Court before Bloc Grant funding.
"It's just terrible that we're letting those kids drop by the wayside yet again because we don't have the political fortitude to fund our public education," said Rupe.
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Ariel Rothfield can be reached at Ariel.Rothfield@KSHB.com.
Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.
