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Kansas legislators were convening a special session Thursday to address the state Supreme Court's mandate on education funding and avert a threat that public schools might not reopen next month.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and legislative leaders on Wednesday authorized a record $900 million in temporary borrowing to cover the state's expenses through June 2017. The State Finance Council, which is led by the Republican governor, voted 8-1 to loan the state's main bank account the money from other, idle funds.
Education groups in Kansas oppose proposals to amend the state constitution to prevent the courts from threatening to close schools in funding lawsuits. Representatives of the Kansas Association of School Boards, Game on for Kansas Schools and Kansas Families for Education testified Thursday against proposed amendments during a joint hearing of the state House and Senate Judiciary committees.
Kansas legislators planned to discuss a short-term education funding fix Thursday to satisfy the state Supreme Court while also debating longer-term proposals for curbing the court's power to force school finance changes. The House and Senate Judiciary committees were convening for joint hearings on both issues.
It has only been a few days since a terrorist targeted LGBT people in an Orlando night club, but that isn't stopping Kansas Republicans from pushing anti-gay legislation that would force trans school children to use bathrooms that don't match their gender identity. The Kansas City Star reports state Rep. John Whitmer drafted the legislation, which he may push during a special legislative session in which state lawmakers try and prevent Kansas public schools from closing.
When Gov. Sam Brownback strode out before a bank of television cameras this past week to speak about the special legislative session he had just called to address school finance, he did something he doesn't always do. Brownback, the second-term Republican chief executive, faced withering criticism a year ago for his apparent lack of public engagement as the Statehouse became mired in gridlock over how to solve a gaping budget deficit.
Services for students with disabilities are among the many things Kansas education officials must solve amid the potential threat of school closures on July 1. TOPEKA - Services for students with disabilities are among the many things Kansas education officials must solve amid the potential threat of school closures on July 1. The state's Supreme ... (more)
In this June 1, 2016 file photo, Kansas' Vice President of the Senate Jeff King swings the gavel down to end the 2016 legislative session at the Kansas statehouse in Topeka, Kan. King is drafting a proposed constitutional amendment to prevent Kansas courts from shutting down public schools in lawsuits over education funding.
During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Sam Brownback discusses his frustrations of being forced to call a special session to prevent schools from being closed due to the supreme court's ruling in the Gannon case. During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Sam Brownback discusses his frustrations of being forced to call a special session to prevent schools from being closed due to the supreme court's ruling in the Gannon case.
Gov. Sam Brownback on Wednesday set Thursday, June 23 as the date for the special session to address school finance. Lawmakers will return with limited time to work before running up against a court-imposed deadline to enact a constitutional school funding system.
When Kansas enacted the largest income-tax cut in U.S. state history in 2012, Gov. Sam Brownback called it a first step on the path to eliminating the state's income tax altogether. The hope was that the tax reform would attract people and jobs to Kansas and that this economic growth would generate enough new revenue to pay for the cuts.
Once again, the extremist Republican Kansas Legislature in cahoots with the equally extremist Gov. Sam Brownback has made a dangerously irresponsible decision against public education and our third branch of government. Apparently, it was insufficient to decrease funding for higher education - they now seek to further damage our elementary and secondary school children by defying another Kansas Supreme Court order to give children quality educations by an equitable distribution of funds throughout the state.
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The state's top education official predicted Friday the Legislature and governor will resolve an impasse with the Supreme Court over education funding ahead of a deadline that could result in the closure of schools. Still, Education Commissioner Randy Watson told educators the Kansas State Department of Education will work to provide information to school districts and he acknowledged the fear among teachers and administrators.
Kansas lawmakers on Wednesday did not act on a state Supreme Court order to create a more equitable funding formula for education, leaving open the possibility that public schools across the state are shut down in June. Both chambers of the Republican-controlled legislature adjourned until January on Wednesday afternoon, five days after the state's high court gave lawmakers until June 30 to fix funding disparities between rich and poor districts or face a shutdown of the state's public schools.
The ultraconservatives in charge have sabotaged the state economy, transferred the burden of paying for what's left of state government from businesses and well-off residents to those without resources to pay for anything additional, and without remorse are seeking re-election. How any of them can look at us with a straight face, let alone ask for our votes, is beyond the pale.
A relatively or somewhat, or maybe just not, clever plan by the Kansas Legislature this spring to meet the increasing funding needs of Kansas public schools by shuffling money within the school finance budget law was declared, well, not clever and not constitutional by the Kansas Supreme Court last week.
Matt Riedl, reporter for The Wichita Eagle, recaps the search efforts to find an 11-year-old boy who was swept by high waters in Gypsum Creek shortly before 7:30 p.m. Friday. Rescuers continued to search into Saturday evening.
FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2016 file photo, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback speaks to the legislature in Topeka, Kan. The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday, May 27, 2016, rejected some education funding changes enacted by the Legisla... Fast moving airport security lines at the start of the Memorial Day weekend could bode well for return travelers Monday.