Topeka ? The House Education Committee on Friday endorsed a $92 million school finance plan drafted by the chamber’s GOP leaders, as Senate Republicans readied an alternative package.

The House committee’s action came a day after the panel had a hearing and Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, said members should view the plan that he helped draft as a short-term solution — at best. The plan adds state money for programs for poor and minority students, while giving districts some flexibility to raise taxes, he said.

Mays and other GOP leaders expect to debate the plan Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

“This is probably the defining issue of the session,” Mays said.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans planned a Friday news conference to outline their own proposal.

The House GOP plan would allow school districts to increase spending on special-education programs by $40.5 million, but districts would have to reduce or eliminate a property tax break for home owners to get some of the funds.

Kansas currently exempts the first $2,300 of a residential property’s assessed value from the state’s school levy, saving owners $46 a year. The levy is $20 for every $1,000 of a residential property’s assessed value.

In addition, the plan would add about $28.5 million for teacher mentoring, bilingual education and programs for children who are at risk of dropping out of school. That money would come from existing state resources yet to be identified.

Rep. Bill Reardon, D-Kansas City, said the funds for at-risk and bilingual programs, but the other provisions were unacceptable.

“The reliance on property taxes exclusively is a very big mistake,” Reardon said.

The plan is House GOP leaders’ response to Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposal, which would phase in a $304 million increase in school spending over three years, funded by increases in sales, income and property taxes. Her plan has been largely rejected.

In December, a Shawnee County district judge ruled that the state’s school finance formula is constitutionally flawed and gave the governor and legislators until July 1 to fix it. The state has appealed that order to the Kansas Supreme Court.

“We tried not to fly in the face of that decision,” Mays said. “We’re not wanting to do anything that would upset the courts.”

However, he told the committee there are problems with the GOP plan that need addressed, namely with the mechanics of getting the local property taxes to districts in time to be used during the 2004-05 school year.

Opponents testified Thursday that the House GOP plan would broaden an existing gap in funding between the wealthiest and poorest school districts in Kansas.

Derby Superintendent Mike Pomarico, whose district is a member of the statewide Schools for Fair Funding organization, said his school board, like others, would find it difficult to levy more local property taxes. He noted that the courts have ruled that all Kansas children are entitled to a suitable education.

“This suitable education is being determined by where they live,” he said of the House GOP plan.

House GOP school plan is HB 2937.