Eleven area legislators and candidates vying for office took the Kansas Association of School Boards up on an offer Monday night to learn more about school-finance issues encountered by districts.

“Education is a key issue, but it’s also a controversial one because of changes in education and because of funding,” KASB governmental relations specialist Jim Edwards told the audience.

The KASB held a briefing called “What Every Candidate Should Know about Public Education” at the Lawrence public schools district office. In addition to the legislators and candidates, three Lawrence school board members and a few members of the public attended the meeting.

Edwards touched on several issues, including the lawsuit challenging Kansas’ school-finance formula. The Kansas Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments the week of Aug. 30 on the lawsuit, but a decision isn’t expected until at least mid-October.

Jim Mullins, a Reform Party candidate challenging Mark Buhler for the 2nd District Senate seat, said he expected the school-finance formula would change. He asked Edwards what the KASB would lobby for in terms of a change.

Edwards responded by saying that the KASB doesn’t believe “that where a child lives should impact their education.”

Other candidates in the 2nd District Senate seat race, Republican Don Johnson and Democrat Marci Francisco, also attended the briefing.

Edwards also provided background on the school-finance formula. He gave an overview of what goes into a district budget, and discussed why some educators are saying that funding isn’t adequate.

School funding has increased, Edwards said. But demands also have increased for new programs at the district level either through mandates or needs of the students in the schools, he said.