Reopening Riddel boys ranch concerns Wichita school officials

Wichita school district leaders say they’re concerned about a move to reopen Judge Riddel Boys Ranch because it could require a “significant investment” in education programming without guaranteed state funding.

“That decision has an impact on our financial aspects and our budget,” Superintendent John Allison told board members last week.

“That’s a program where staff’s been reassigned, equipment has been used elsewhere in the district after it closed,” Allison said. “It would be an investment on our part to once again start that program.”

The ranch, a juvenile reform facility for boys in western Sedgwick County, closed last summer after county officials said they could no longer afford to subsidize it. Although the ranch is located near Lake Afton in the Goddard school district, state statute requires the Wichita district to provide educational programs there, including diploma and GED classes.

Last month, some Sedgwick County commissioners instructed county staff members to include money in their 2016 spending requests to revive the aging ranch or open a similar reform home.

According to school district officials, the Wichita district spent about $700,000 a year to educate boys at the ranch. The district received double the state per-pupil aid for each student, “but it covered only about half the costs,” said district spokeswoman Susan Arensman.

In addition to teacher and administrative salaries, supplies, technology and other expenses, the district was required to pay mileage to teachers who traveled to the ranch each day.

School board member Lynn Rogers expressed concern that county officials had not approached the district about the possibility of reopening the ranch. At a recent meeting, he directed Allison to provide estimates for how much it would cost to re-establish school programs there.

“I’m more than willing to provide a partnership, but I would like to be a part of that partnership,” Rogers said.

“Many of those kids, if they were in our buildings, would get an education. We want that. But at the same point, it’s a different facility. It’s a long way away. … You’re talking about a significant investment on our part.”

County Commission chairman Richard Ranzau said the county is “still in the planning and decision-making process,” so talks with the school district about reopening the ranch would be premature.

“I’m sure we’re all interested in doing the best things for the kids, and I’m sure we could work something out,” Ranzau said. “If we move forward, then of course staff would contact their staff and work something out.”

District leaders are especially wary about increased costs next year because block grant state funding is based on current enrollment figures. The district is projecting an increase of about 230 students but no increase in per-pupil funding. What’s more, the number of poor, bilingual, special-needs and at-risk students is expected to increase at twice the pace of overall enrollment.

“It does not sound as though, with the condition of the ranch currently, that it would be something immediate,” Allison said. “But it is concerning when you hear those types of discussions, because it has an impact on us.”

This story was originally published June 17, 2015 at 7:37 AM with the headline "Reopening Riddel boys ranch concerns Wichita school officials."