Yesterday Governor Parkinson slashed school spending by another $206 per student, or $83 million statewide. We have essentially rolled school funding back five years. I was there when he addressed the press, and I can honestly say that it brought him great pain to deliver the news. He has always been a staunch supporter of our public schools. He admitted that these cuts would decrease the quality of education our students receive.
However, we adamantly disagree with him when he said that school districts should wait on a lawsuit.
If we knew Governor Parkinson was going to be occupying that office for another four years, I might heed that recommendation, but he won’t, and the uncertainty that faces our schools is too great to gamble with the future of 455,000 students.
Here is our case for school districts proceeding with a lawsuit now.
- Many currently serving in the legislature fought tooth and nail against the court ruling and increased spending for schools. They are thrilled with the reductions. They will NOT be looking to reinstate the cuts when the economy improves.
- The record of the legislature for increasing school funding is far from stellar. In fact the only substantial increases have come as a result of a court case.
- Court cases are long and drawn out, the last taking nearly seven years to come to a resolution. If we delay the start of a lawsuit that only increases the number of years our students are deprived of a quality education.
- The protection afforded Kansans for a quality public education comes from the state constitution. Our forefathers drafted Article 6 because they knew that the courts might have to intervene on behalf of students.
- The cost of a lawsuit, while expensive, is cheaper than a generation of workers who have not been adequately prepared to compete in the 21st century global economy.
So over the next few months as school districts begin to announce their cuts, and parents rush to board meetings in opposition, we suggest this message for your local school board: “We understand the position you are in, and we want to work with you to insure the cuts you must make have the least impact on our students. But it is your responsibility to fight for our kids. We have entrusted our children to you at the local level and we want our board to join with other districts and stand together to stand up to a legislature that is flouting constitutional law. If that means filing a lawsuit, we will stand with you.”
