LJWorld.com

Topeka — A three-year, $466 million school finance plan won Senate approval Thursday after a four-hour debate that focused more on politics and the Kansas economy than how much aid public schools should receive.

The vote was 24-16. The bill went to the House, where it's expected to go to the Select Committee on School Finance and not be ready for debate until early next week.

House Majority Leader Clay Aurand said the Senate plan probably wouldn't pass his chamber because it was too rich for conservatives, too small for Democrats and didn't have enough provisions for raising local property taxes, a stipulation sought annually by Johnson County representatives.

Aurand, R-Courtland, said debate on the Senate plan wasn't likely until early next week, extending the wrap-up session that began Wednesday several days.

"I don't see it quick, because I don't see this passing," he said. "I don't know the magic number, I really don't."

The House approved its own $633 million package in late March with the backing of a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans. That bill makes substantial increases in base student spending and programs for students at risk of failing, and gives school districts the authority for additional increases in property taxes.

The Senate plan also increases the base state aid that all districts receive, and sets aside additional funds for special education and programs aimed at students at risk of failing in school. The only changes made during Thursday's debate were those requiring school districts to give parents the option of full-day or half-day kindergarten.

Senate supporters argued their package addresses concerns that some senators had in late March when the chamber rejected three other proposals, while also taking steps to satisfy a 2005 Kansas Supreme Court mandate for more spending.

Sen. Roger Reitz said legislators had been too passive on funding schools properly and it took the courage of the plaintiffs in Salina and Dodge City in 1999 to file a lawsuit to get the Statehouse's attention.

"The Supreme Court came out to be the heavy," said Reitz, R-Manhattan. "This is something we ought to do."

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley said the bill addresses for the first time the needs of poor students who struggle to survive, let alone succeed in school.

"This bill is about those kids. It's about time this Legislature step up and help those kids, because they have been left behind for too long," said Hensley, D-Topeka, a teacher for more than 30 years.

But critics suggested the proposal would create financial problems for the state after only a few years, forcing legislators to consider raising taxes or allowing state-owned casinos and slot machines at dog and horse racing tracks.

Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood, said the budget projections legislators reviewed were only guesses as to how much revenue the state will collect in coming years.

"It all depends on the assumptions we make. We can tailor these projections to get any results we want," Vratil said.

Shadowing the debate was some senators' anger over a March 1 conversation between Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, and Justice Lawton Nuss, with a school finance lawsuit still before the court. It occurred during a lunch arranged by Sen. Pete Brungardt, R-Salina, a longtime friend of the justice's, who also was present.

Sen. Jim Barnett, of Emporia, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor, said the bill would bankrupt the state and drive Kansans out of state looking for lower taxes. He also took a swipe at Senate leaders and the Supreme Court, saying senators had lost control over school finance decisions.

"My concern on this issue is about the courts. The courts want to write our law and that's wrong," Barnett said.

He added that he wrongly made the assumption that there was ethical conduct between branches of government, alluding to the conversation between senators and Nuss.

"Evil prevails only when good people are silent," Barnett said.

Details of Senate school finance package

Here are some highlights of the $466 million, three-year school finance plan approved Thursday on a 24-16 vote by the Senate:

¢ Increases the base state aid per pupil by $50 each year, taking it from $4,257 to $4,407 after three years.

¢ Increases funding for programs for student at-risk of failure in school by $101.3 million over three years.

¢ Gives districts an additional $446 for each student at risk of failure who doesn't qualify for free lunches, a cost of $15.4 million.

¢ Gives 35 districts with high concentrations of students at risk of failure a total of $28.3 million.

¢ Lowers the threshold for districts to qualify for additional aid because of large enrollments, a cost of $58.5 million.

¢ Increases funding for special education to cover 95 percent of the excess cost of providing services, a cost of $93 million.

¢ Increases the state's aid to local districts to offset the raising of property taxes, a cost of $60 million.

¢ Spends $15.4 million in 2008-09 school year to help districts create all-day kindergarten.

¢ Requires districts that choose to provide all-day kindergarten to also provide parents the option of a half-day kindergarten.

Note: The Legislature already has approved $50 million of the package in the state's budget for fiscal year 2007, covering approximately $30 million in special education costs and $20 million in local property tax aid.

How they voted

On a 24-16 vote, the Senate approved a three-year, $466 million school finance plan Thursday, sending it to the House.

Of the 30 Republicans, 14 voted "yes" and 16 voted "no." All 10 Democrats voted "yes."

The plan received a "yes" vote from the three Lawrence-area senators:

¢ Roger Pine, R-Lawrence.

¢ Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence.

¢ Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka.