Kansas lawmakers suggest shift in power over school funding

Shawnee Mission School District Superintendent Jim Hinson testifies before the House Appropriations Committee, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka.

? Two Republican lawmakers are suggesting that the Kansas Legislature turn the job of determining how state aid to public schools is distributed over to the State Board of Education.

Reps. Gene Suellentrop of Wichita and Marvin Kleeb of Overland Park raised the idea during a House Appropriations Committee hearing on a school funding plan from the panel’s chairman.

The 10-member board would then face the burden of making sure the money is distributed fairly.

The plan is designed to bring the state into compliance with a Kansas Supreme Court order last month saying have been unfairly shorted on their state aid.

The plan would boost overall state spending on schools by nearly $39 million for the 2016-17 school year while shifting dollars among districts. Seventy-nine would still lose funds.