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PITTSBURG —
State and local educators had strong opinions over the recent budget proposal put forth by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.
The budget, announced on Thursday, includes shaving $232 off the base state aid per pupil for all districts across the state.
It left local education officials scratching their heads, wondering: What else?
“We have cut, we have reorganized and we have done everything we have been asked to do,” said USD 250 Superintendent Destry Brown. “I don’t know what else we can do that won’t affect student learning.”
Under the governor’s plan, Pittsburg’s school district would stand to lose close to $1 million in 2012, when the per-pupil base aid cut would take effect.
In fiscal year 2012, under the governor’s plan, the base state aid would drop from $4,012 to $3,780.
The budget proposal did include increases to offset Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS), special education and debt payments for capital projects. In testimony to the House Appropriation and Senate Ways and Means committees, Brownback’s Policy Director Landon Fulmer said that those increases would bring the total state spending, per student, to $4,743 in 2012, from $4,549 in 2011.
“It is becoming more and more insurmountable,” said USD 248 Superintendent Gary Snawder. “Things like cutting programs, shortening the school year and taking dreams from kids are things that we may have to experience.”
Snawder said that Girard has lost close to $800,000 in state budget cuts since 2008 and the newest proposed budget would leave the district with $400,000 less in state aid.
In Frontenac, Superintendent Dale Slagle said that the governor’s proposal would cut USD 249 by almost $250,000. He said that dollar figure is equal to about seven teachers.
However, no administrator suggested that cutting staff positions were in the mix to balance out the suggested cuts from the state.
“I’m not saying that we would cut seven teachers, but it is equal to that,” Slagle said. “This can be a game-changer, I just hope it’s not a game-ender.”
With regards to higher education, Brownback’s plan calls for an additional $10 million in funding targeting research programs.
Kansas Board of Regents Chairman Gary Sherrer said that he was pleased that there were no proposed cuts to the system’s base budget.
“Because the details of implementation are vitally important, we’re currently analyzing the details of the Governor’”s recommendations, which the Board will discuss during its meeting next week,” Sherrer said.
State and local educators had strong opinions over the recent budget proposal put forth by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.
The budget, announced on Thursday, includes shaving $232 off the base state aid per pupil for all districts across the state.
It left local education officials scratching their heads, wondering: What else?
“We have cut, we have reorganized and we have done everything we have been asked to do,” said USD 250 Superintendent Destry Brown. “I don’t know what else we can do that won’t affect student learning.”
Under the governor’s plan, Pittsburg’s school district would stand to lose close to $1 million in 2012, when the per-pupil base aid cut would take effect.
In fiscal year 2012, under the governor’s plan, the base state aid would drop from $4,012 to $3,780.
The budget proposal did include increases to offset Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS), special education and debt payments for capital projects. In testimony to the House Appropriation and Senate Ways and Means committees, Brownback’s Policy Director Landon Fulmer said that those increases would bring the total state spending, per student, to $4,743 in 2012, from $4,549 in 2011.
“It is becoming more and more insurmountable,” said USD 248 Superintendent Gary Snawder. “Things like cutting programs, shortening the school year and taking dreams from kids are things that we may have to experience.”
Snawder said that Girard has lost close to $800,000 in state budget cuts since 2008 and the newest proposed budget would leave the district with $400,000 less in state aid.
In Frontenac, Superintendent Dale Slagle said that the governor’s proposal would cut USD 249 by almost $250,000. He said that dollar figure is equal to about seven teachers.
However, no administrator suggested that cutting staff positions were in the mix to balance out the suggested cuts from the state.
“I’m not saying that we would cut seven teachers, but it is equal to that,” Slagle said. “This can be a game-changer, I just hope it’s not a game-ender.”
With regards to higher education, Brownback’s plan calls for an additional $10 million in funding targeting research programs.
Kansas Board of Regents Chairman Gary Sherrer said that he was pleased that there were no proposed cuts to the system’s base budget.
“Because the details of implementation are vitally important, we’re currently analyzing the details of the Governor’”s recommendations, which the Board will discuss during its meeting next week,” Sherrer said.
As for lawmakers, some were terse in accusing Brownback of already deviating from his State of the State address — given on Wednesday — in which he said he was “committed to protecting public schools.”
“The budget proposal he presented today will force school boards all across Kansas to close schools, lay off teachers and increase class sizes,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat.
Educators were quick to dismiss the claim that increasing the funding to KPERS and capital project debt payment would do anything to help with the current budget strains felt by school districts across the state.
“It has nothing to do with what goes on in the classroom,” Brown said. “It just props up KPERS and we would never see any of that.”
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140
