By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
A bill overhauling how Kansas distributes more than $4 billion in aid a year to its public schools has been delivered to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s office. It was drafted by top Republican lawmakers and incorporates Brownback’s proposal to replace the state’s current funding formula with “block grants” for districts based on their current aid.
Local legislators speaking Saturday morning at the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues legislative forum all agreed the current school formula “needs to be fixed.”
“The formula is very complex,” lamented Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell, a member of the Senate Education Committee.
“My 2A and 1A schools are doing a great job managing their funding. But my friends in Johnson and Sedgwick Counties tell me ‘we’re wasting money (in our districts) and it has to stop,'” said Ostmeyer.
The block grant system would remain in place for two years to allow legislators to create a new funding formula.
Rep. Sue Boldra, R-Hays, a member of the House Education Committee, told the crowd at the Ellis County Administrative Center she agrees “the formula is broken when Blue Valley, the richest school district in the state, gets equalization dollars because they’re so large–they get lots of money for that–and our rural schools do not get nearly that much.
“There are schools with a population that is mostly on-line and yet they’re getting 1.05 weighting for those students. Those students don’t take up any space. …They’re never a discipline problem. …Our kindergartners are only 0.50 weighting.
“I’ve been invited to a number of meetings. I really believe I’ll have a seat at the table to help with that (change the funding formula). We are going to do something about it,” she emphasized.
“We’re not going to fix everything, but I hope we do equalize it and can do more for our smaller and rural schools,” Boldra added.
Rep. Travis Couture-Lovelady, R-Palco, voted for the block grant system, what he described as “being left with a bridge that will definitely get us to a new funding formula” or it was just “continue as status quo.”
“There are a lot of good things with the block grants,” Couture-Lovelady said. “It restores the allotments the governor did make. That money is back in there. It restores KPERS money and also, more importantly, it does secure that funding level. We passed the education budget, essentially, going forward. …At least there is some certainty in that for the next three years.”
“I’m with Sue,” said Ostmeyer. “I want to go back and work on the funding formula. There are some of those weightings that you’re never going to get rid of–whether it’s high enrollment, low enrollment, at-risk, transportation–but there are some I think (we can change) to give school districts some flexibility.”
The education block funding bill was presented Friday to Brownback.
He has until March 30 to act, but he’s expected to sign the measure.
Many educators contend the existing formula is sound and adjusts funding for districts quickly as circumstances change. Brownback and other critics say it’s too complex and doesn’t put enough money into classrooms.