Kansas has added a new process to local school finance:
groveling.
At the governor’s direction, the legislature embedded significant
cuts into their block grant edict – one size fits nobody
– for local districts to operate their schools. This cut-a-check
method ignores the various disparities, fluctuations, demographics,
economies and other differences that afflict school
districts across Kansas.
When enrollment shoots up, or property values drop, or
storm damage or equipment failures strike, local officials
must pack up, head to Topeka and beg for money to keep the
classrooms open. In other words, beg.
In early May, representatives of eight school districts
appeared before the State Finance Council, a committee of
high officials run by Gov. Sam Brownback. The districts
were among the first under the new decree to seek extra
funds for unanticipated or unfunded expenses. Among those
districts was Concordia, forced to close early, and where
several staff members donated portions of their salaries to
avoid layoffs.
In another time, enrollment increases and supply shortages
would be covered during the local budget process. But that is
ignored now, with districts forced to make do with whatever
money Topeka decides they can have.
Need more? Come beg for it.
Of the beggar districts at that meeting, three were denied
any extra funding at all. Ark City, North and South Lyon
County were denied funds because Budget Director Shawn
Sullivan said the districts had not exhausted their savings
accounts.
Kansas, a state that once carried the national model in
education finance, has long advocated healthy set-asides for
emergencies; now it forces local administrators to drain their
accounts before they’re allowed to panhandle in Topeka.
And consider this: A committee of geniuses who gave us
an $800 million state budget deficit is passing judgment on
local school spending – a panel led by Brownback, a rightwing
buffoon who views state government as little more than
Arthur Laffer’s supply-side hobby farm. That these people
know anything about budgeting stretches the credulity of
even a moron.
Here is a scenario straight from fantasy land, where the
rubes let clowns run the Fair, shell games and all.
