Capitol beats: School finance edition
Check this spot on Sundays for a few quick hits about what’s driving the debate in the Legislature.
Say what?
“Has the other side of the aisle come up with a plan to address inadequacy? Have they offered one? … Have they offered any solutions whatsoever?”
Rep. John Whitmer, R-Wichita, questioning whether Democrats had offered any plans to address a court order on school funding, during a contentious House debate.
“You want to take the position to vote against funding education for children in hopes that they’ll vote Republican? Then continue down that road. We value Kansas schools. We value Kansas teachers. … You, sir, are an ideologist, a politician!”
House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs, D-Kansas City, responding to Whitmer’s comments and breaking a House rule by directly attacking a specific member. He quickly apologized to “the children of Kansas” for losing his temper.
23
That’s the number of school districts that will see an increase in state aid from HB 2655, a school finance bill approved by the Legislature on Thursday. Wichita and all other districts will see no overall funding change.
Trending
Rep. Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe, and Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, the two budget chairs, served as the primary architects of HB 2655, which they say will satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court’s order to fix inequities in school funding. The legislation reshuffles money already allocated to schools. If the court accepts it as a solution, Ryckman and Masterson will get the credit for averting closure of the state’s schools. However, if the court decides the legislation falls short, as many of the bill’s opponents predict, they could attract blame.
The two worked closely together on the legislation, holding hearings with a stenographer in an effort to build a record of evidence for the court. Watching them work conjured images of good cop/bad cop. Ryckman’s comments were cautious and diplomatic. Masterson sometimes stirred controversy, repeatedly making references to the court aiming a gun at the state’s schoolchildren.
News ahead
The bill heads to Gov. Sam Brownback’s desk. He is expected to sign it but has been careful not to say for certain in his public statements so far. The bigger question is whether the court will accept the bill, which changes the way the state calculates equalization aid for property-poor school districts, as a solution to its order for more equitable funding. If it does, school districts will be able to prepare for next school year without the concern of closures. If it doesn’t, the Legislature might have to scramble to craft another bill before the court’s June 30 deadline.
Bryan Lowry
For more legislative news, go to www.kansas.com/politics and follow @BryanLowry3 on Twitter.
This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Capitol beats: School finance edition."