During the upcoming Kansas legislative session a proposed plan for financing public schools will be debated, and eventually come to a vote.
Current public school financing on the state’s part — far and away the biggest share — is through block grant funding, which does not take into account considerations for equalizing aid among all districts in the state, rich, poor and in-between. Adequacy also is questioned at every turn.
Legislators acted at the 11th hour in a special session in 2015 to approve the funding scheme, proposed by Gov. Sam Brownback. Since 1992, schools had been supported by a funding formula that almost everyone deemed equitable. But when the horrendous income tax cuts of 2012 and 2013 came into effect, the formula was suddenly to blame.
“The only problem with the formula,” Rep. Kent Thompson once groused, “is it is underfunded.”
The formula contained weighting factors that regulated funding for such things as kids at risk, enrollment differences that burdened districts, bilingual needs, special education and transportation.
The rationale behind the formula was to provide students — no matter where they lived or their needs — an equal opportunity for a good education.
Politics also had a role in its design. Legislators from districts that couldn’t compete financially with the Johnson counties of the state found the formula especially acceptable. Johnson County paid an enormous amount in property taxes to keep small schools — physically and educationally — up to snuff.
Another piece of the puzzle that legislators will have to consider is how Kansas Supreme Court justices will rule on a lawsuit that takes issue with current funding. Will the justices, several fresh from retaining their seats in a Nov. 8 referendum, rule as they have previously that the state is not funding public schools adequately, or equitably?
A welcome outcome would be a decision near the start of the legislative session.
THE LONE advantage schools now have is that the composure of the House changed significantly in the November election. A coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans can hold sway, and on certain issues — education funding may be one — a bipartisan effort could override a veto.
What occurs in the Senate is less certain, though comments made by President Susan Wagle, an obvious force in controlling what the senior body does, have been more moderate in recent months.
One thing is sure: Regardless what some who cozy up to Gov. Brownback would have constituents think, schools are not funded nearly well enough. Telltale markers are shortened schedules, teacher layoffs, a downtrend in applicants, curtailment or termination of programs and just general gnashing of teeth by administrators and school board members who, as they should, sweat the small things that are important to students.
Nothing is more important in the greater scheme of things than providing a good, well-rounded education for our kids.
— Bob Johnson
