An issue that has divided Kansas University’s classified staff in a often-bitter debate is about to resurface in a new arena.

The question is whether KU’s classified staff — including secretaries, janitors and maintenance workers — should leave the state’s civil service system and create a new university-administered program.

Members of KU’s Classified Senate have been pushing for the change, which they say would allow KU to give workers larger salary increases using tuition money, similar to what KU has done for faculty and unclassified staff. Those opposed say civil service provides job security they won’t be guaranteed under a new system.

This month, the Kansas Board of Regents will decide whether to throw its support behind legislation that would allow — but not require — universities to opt out of the civil service system. The regents meet Nov. 17-18.

KU officials asked regents to back the proposal in January, during the 2004 legislative session, but regents said they wanted to study the issue further.

“In large part, when we took it to regents in January, it was pretty radical to them,” said Lindy Eakin, vice provost for administration and finance at KU. “I think it was too radical for them to deal with, and it was late to get it done in the session.”

Eakin says KU, Kansas State University and the University of Colorado currently have a civil service system. Under the system, the Legislature sets pay rates for classified employees. KU administrators are allowed to set their own pay rates for unclassified employees, including faculty.

If the new system were implemented, classified employees would remain in the state’s benefits and retirement system.

The idea of leaving civil service has been discussed by classified leaders for years. Employees voted on the issue in May 2003, with the result ending in a 545-545 tie. A second vote in October 2003 had 623 votes in favor of leaving civil service, with 532 against.

“The point is it would be beneficial to us,” said Kathy Jansen, president of KU’s Classified Senate. “I’m not sure how it would benefit (the state), other than they wouldn’t have to hear us beseech them every year. We see it as something they can do for us.”

Rep. Tom Sloan, a Lawrence Republican, has been a supporter of allowing KU to create a new employee system. Sloan said Friday his support hadn’t changed in the last year, and that he would help push it through the Legislature if asked.

“I think the university appreciates its employees more than the state at large, than the governor and Legislature do,” Sloan said. “It’s an opportunity for university employees to get a better shake.”

But the proposal likely faces vigorous opposition from some corners. The Kansas Association of Public Employees already has voiced opposition to the proposed legislation.

Kathy Coffey, who has helped lead opposition to the civil service pullout on the KU campus, said she expected classified workers who favored civil service to be vocal on the issue.

“We’re not real happy about it, about dumping us and turning us loose,” she said. “It would be like the mess before civil service was enacted. I’m hoping the regents take a good, close look at it and find it’s not to the benefit of the classified staff to do it.”

But Jansen, the Classified Senate president, said she felt the classified employees already had spoken through their votes. At this point, she said, it’s up to regents and legislators to decide what is best.

“It’s kind of beyond us,” she said. “We’ve done all we can at this end.”