Other school districts across the state should follow the Lawrence school board’s example of spelling out the reality of proposed state cuts in education funding.

It’s heartening to see the widespread support of Lawrence residents for their public schools.

Lawrence school administrators and school board members have been courageous in identifying cuts that would be necessary if predicted state funding cuts come to pass. Instead of shaking their heads and saying, “Oh, things will be bad,” they have illustrated their point by examining their budget and telling the public specifically where cuts probably would be made.

If school boards across the state were conducting a similar process, it’s hard to image that legislators wouldn’t begin to change their tune about education funding. In fact, state universities might gain support by identifying specific examples of what programs and services would be cut if more funding isn’t found for higher education.

Both universities and K-12 schools may have to search outside of the Kansas Legislature for money to maintain their services. Universities, of course, are considering drastic tuition increases. Tuition at state universities in Kansas is low compared with similar schools in other states, but there is a limit to how much universities can raise just through tuition increases.

K-12 school officials also are getting creative, as illustrated by a meeting in Lawrence on Wednesday of city, county and school officials. Although the state limits how much the school district can raise in local tax revenue, the city and county have more leeway. For instance, could a tax levy provide additional revenue for the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, which could, in turn, take more responsibility for nursing services in the public schools? Such strategies may be necessary to maintain services in local schools.

The down side to talk of tuition increases and creative financing of K-12 schools is that it has the effect of lessening the pressure on state lawmakers to do the right thing for education in Kansas. It’s too easy for them to approve substandard funding for state universities based on the belief those schools can make up the shortfall with tuition increases. Diverting city and county tax revenue to offset state budget cuts for K-12 education allows anti-tax legislators to preserve the fiction that they are only forcing school districts to “trim the fat” in their budgets.

At the beginning of the current legislative session, the governor said he would rather the Kansas Board of Regents put off any discussion of tuition hikes until after the Legislature concludes its work. Local officials were wise not to put any money on the table at their discussions on Wednesday, instead deciding to meet again after the legislative session to reassess the situation.

School boards and higher education leaders across the state should hold legislators accountable for the decisions they are considering by explaining to Kansas residents the real effect budget cuts will have on education in the state. Too many state legislators continue to contend that they hear no support for tax increases from their constituents. If those constituents are confronted with the hard reality of those budget cuts, perhaps legislators will begin to hear a different message from the people who elected them.