It’s unsettling when a Kansas lawmaker wants to weaken, not strengthen, the word of the law.
That’s the goal of Rep. Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe, in an effort to weasel out of the state’s obligation to provide its children with a “suitable” education. Instead of suitable, Ryckman would prefer the state constitution say public schools should provide an “affordable,” or better yet, “cheap” education.
Last week Ryckman, speaker of the House, requested a committee be formed to study the issue with the goal of having the change be put to voters in the 2018 general election.
Ryckman said changing the state constitution will help eliminate the “perpetual cycle of conflict” lawmakers find themselves in when it comes to school finance.
Well, sure.
Kill the guidelines and it’s open season on accountability.
And who’s to suffer? Our children. Our schools. Our state.
THIS ALL circles back to Gov. Brownback’s infamous tax cuts and the lesson that you can’t starve your way to prosperity.
In just the few months since legislators restored some of the taxes and eliminated the most egregious of tax breaks, the state’s revenues have perked up. October’s numbers were up 12 percent from last year’s. If the trend continues we are projected to reach the revenues of 2013 by 2019.
Yes, really.
Brownback’s tax cuts robbed the state of at least $700 million a year.
Had we kept on track collecting taxes, Kansas would have an additional $2.68 billion in revenue.
So to make up for six years of negligence we’re going to need leapfrog measures, which is why State Supreme Court justices ruled last month that legislators need to put still more into state schools in order to provide a suitable education.
Today, base aid per pupil is $4,006. Ten years ago, it was $4,492. Figure in inflation, and it should be $5,035.
IF RYKMAN’S goal is to reduce spending, then he’ll shortchange education as his justification. But if the benchmark is to provide a suitable education, then there’s no other means than to provide adequate funding.
The ethical difference is stark.
— Susan Lynn
