Tyson: ‘Tread lightly’ with education

Public education and its funding has been a cumbersome topic, said Kansas Sen. Caryn Tyson.
Tyson, District 12, spoke with Humboldt community members on Friday about plans for Kansas education. Currently, a decision to request legislators to increase funding for pre-K and K-12 schools awaits in the Kansas Supreme Court.
“We need to be very cautious and tread lightly when it comes to education,” Tyson said.
On Jan. 13, the Kansas State Legislature will begin its annual session and school funding will be on the top of the to-do list.
Tyson, who lives near Parker in rural Linn County, said the bigger districts and smaller districts should be equal when it comes to funding.
“It’s not rural against urban districts,” she said. “All students deserve a quality education.”
Tyson said she did not vote to increase K-12 funding last year. State funding for schools has dropped from $4,400 per pupil in 2009 to $3,838 in 2013.
Tyson was critical of a school district “in my own backyard,” which recently spent more than $1 million on an athletic stadium. Although building the stadium established storm shelters for students, Tyson was critical of their decision to spend money on an athletic venue.
“We need to spend that money wisely and get those funds to the classroom and to our teachers,” she said.
Schools are restricted to spending their capital outlay funds on buildings, not on teacher and other staff salaries, which is the responsibility of the Legislature.
The senator said she would like to focus more on where funds are going instead of adding more.
“The question isn’t ‘Do we need more money?’ but ‘How are we spending the money we already have?’” Tyson said.
An increase in funding to support career and technical education programs was approved last year. Tyson supported this increase.

THIS past session Common Core was brought to the attention of the Senate and House. School districts USD 257 and 258 have integrated Common Core into their curriculums. Senate members voted to put limits on Common Core, while the House defeated the bill.
“Many feel that Common Core is seen by the federal government as a back door of getting control of local education of our children,” Tyson said.
She voted against Common Core curriculum.
Besides working on education, Tyson said she will continue working on taxes. Last year she was promoted to Senate Tax Committee chairman.
The senator is optimistic for the upcoming session.
“I work with great people on both sides of the aisle,” she said. “I think everyone is working for what they think is best for the state but no one agrees on what is best.”