Governor's plan receives tepid LEPC response
Beginning with his opening salvo that the "current school finance formula is broken and unsustainable," the governor's policy director, Landon Fulmer, faced an expressed mix of interest, concern, and skepticism over the new Excel in Education school finance plan currently being promoted by Governor Brownback's office. A summary of the Governor's plan, accompanied by a Q&A summary are available on the USA|Kansas website.
A chief concern of the committee was that no district-by-district financial runs have been provided yet that show the specific financial impact on school districts statewide. As committee chairwoman Sen. Jean Schodorf (R-Wichita) said, "The devil is really in the dollars!" Fulmer said he hopes to have that information ready for the State Board meeting next week. The committee asked to be provided with that information as well.
Much of the focus of Fulmer's presentation - and of great interest to LEPC members - was his assertion that no school district will get less funding than they do currently under the governor's proposed plan. He said this concept has changed slightly since he began making this presentation in that there will be what he referred to as a "perpetual hold-harmless" provision in the "baseline per pupil."
Sen. John Vratil (R-Leawood) noted that it appears this formula will cost more and Fulmer responded that was indeed the case. When Vratil asked how the governor planned to raise the necessary revenues, Fulmer answered that the State General Fund is looking better and they anticipate there being enough revenue available to make the transition without raising taxes.
Rep. Steve Huebert (R-Valley Center) said a critique he'd heard of the plan is that it would cause local taxes to increases, although he couldn't understand how that would be. Fulmer stated that "schools would not get less funding under this, but the increased local control will allow them to raise taxes, but some may choose to lower them too."
Upon questioning from Sen. Vratil regarding the operating premium block grant and the at-risk block grant, Fulmer responded that he's now thinking of blending these together. As he's presented to administrators across the state, he said he's come to realize these aren't as separate as they seemed to be when he initially looked at it.
The committee ended with a request for further details, especially the financial printouts, as they become available.
"Atta-boy!" to Doug Powers
Doug Powers, superintendent of Maize USD 226, provided an excellent presentation on the particular challenges of growing school districts, as requested by the committee chairwoman. However, he went much further by providing a look at the common challenges - and potential opportunities - faced by school districts statewide. While he highlighted special grants and programs their district is utilizing to address specific needs in his district, he focused too on the growing impasse between meeting increased outcome/performance expectations and the significant decreases in state/federal funding.
USA|Kansas' lobbyist nearly jumped out of her seat and hugged him, though, when he responded to a question by Sen. Ruth Teichman (R-Anthony) asking what his response was to the governor's office's assertion that the formula is broken and what Doug would recommend regarding the formula: "I basically like what we have now, but would like it to be funded fully...and to keep it equitable." Many, many thanks and kudos to Doug for stating so simply and directly the USA|Kansas legislative position.
