Court: Kansas Legislature's level of funding for schools unconstitutional

This is a battle going back to 2004. He--and the Kansas Legislature--chose to ignore the previous court orders, which have the force of law. He can spin all he wants but if intelligent Kansans have anything to say about it, all he should get from that spin is dizzy.

January 12, 2013 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Court: Kansas Legislature's level of funding for schools unconstitutional

See my comment above to Ks. The last time the Legislature thumbed its nose at the Courts over school funding the Court warned the Legislature, made suggestions, offered extensions of time to find a solution, etc., finally the Courts ordered all schools in the State of Kansas closed. BOOM. The Legislature was called back into session and quickly found the money.

January 12, 2013 at 12:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Court: Kansas Legislature's level of funding for schools unconstitutional

They can, and SHOULD, repeal that idiotic tax cut. And I say that as one who will benefit from it. (By the way, the tax cut was for business owners who are not all "privileged" ... although I understand that many are.)

January 12, 2013 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Court: Kansas Legislature's level of funding for schools unconstitutional

In my experience, private schools do a very good job. I've had kids in both. The public school education was MUCH, MUCH better. I experienced private school teachers that couldn't spell (or apparently operate a spell check program), the curriculum (esp. math and science was dumbed down), etc. I would also note that they do not take special needs kids or non-English speakers. Or...notably...kids who cannot pay. And, how is it you think they do more on less. Catholic high school in Johnson County is *roughly* $9,000 a year...the public school formula is between $4,000 and 5,000.

January 12, 2013 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Court: Kansas Legislature's level of funding for schools unconstitutional

KS,
There are several problems with your argument. First, school operating budget money and capital outlay budget money comes from different places and is, by law, spent differently. Thus, a district can have brand new buildings but not have a sufficient operating budget for curriculum aids, teachers, aids, etc. Thus, just looking at the buildings is the wrong approach--you are judging the apples by the bananas.

Second, in the school district I am most familiar with, they have cut down heavily on the administrative jobs. Those were the first things to go, WAY before the missing dollars starting having an impact in the classrooms.

Third, as an attorney, I appreciate your kind thanks. In cases like this (not that I was involved in this one), we work hard to do what we are hired to do. Attorneys do not act without clients. Maybe you feel clever bashing the lawyers. Everyone has fun joking about the lawyers, until you need one.

Finally, what are the Courts going to do? Well, they are likely to do what they did when the Legislature thumbed their noses at the last Kansas school funding court order in 2004. After adequate warnings and sufficient time to find the funding, the Court ordered that all Kansas schools be shut down until there was proper funding. The Legislature then mysteriously found the money. Montoy v. State, No. 99-C-1738, 2004 WL 1094555, at *15 (Kan. Dist. Ct. May 11, 2004).

January 12, 2013 at 12:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )