Posted on Sat, Nov. 14, 2009

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No decision on school funding litigation

BY LORI YOUNT

The Wichita Eagle

NEWTON — Leaders from about 60 school districts made no decision Friday about whether to sue the state over education funding.

Most of the discussion by members of the Schools for Fair Funding coalition was in a one-hour session that was closed to media and other spectators.

"They're being very deliberate about this and taking it seriously," said John Robb, lead attorney for the coalition.

"They want to get more folks on board."

In July, Schools for Fair Funding had 13 member districts. By Friday's meeting in Newton, 57 districts representing almost 150,000 students were signed up and paying the $2-per-student fee for membership, Robb said.

Several more districts are considering joining, and he said they were allowed to sit in on the closed session.

Maize superintendent Doug Powers and a representative from Andover were present although their districts aren't members.

Schools receive $215 less per student than they did this time last school year, and Robb said schools statewide expect about $100 million in cuts by the end of the month as state leaders try to make up for losses in tax revenue.

A successful lawsuit against the state resulted in an influx in school funding for the past few years.

Wichita school board members voted Monday to join the coalition.

Superintendent John Allison said Friday's meeting gave him a chance to hear views from other districts. He said it's too early to tell whether school districts would decide to take legal action.

"We have to look long-term at the estimates — currently and what the hole is in the next two years," Allison said, adding Wichita faces losing more money per-student because of the urban district's high number of at-risk students.

Schools for Fair Funding members decided to meet again Dec. 18 in Salina.

Reach Lori Yount at 316-268-6269 or lyount@wichitaeagle.com.

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