Understanding across-the-board cuts and their impact on Kansas schools

February 4, 2009

Dale Dennis, Assistant Commissioner of Education and the state’s chief expert on school finance, spoke to the Democratic members and answered questions from the caucus on Thursday.  Dennis concentrated on the effects of the 3.4% across the board cuts proposed by Republican Senators and what that would mean for individual school districts.

Dennis told the caucus that the 3.4% cut would actually mean a much larger cut for schools in the last 5 months of the fiscal year.  With about 80% of school district budgets tied up in contractual obligations – many of which are for classroom teachers – districts will be hard pressed to implement the cuts as proposed.  Field trips for students, cleaning classrooms, routine maintenance, textbooks, classroom materials, athletic programs, and other student-related expenses will be on the chopping block for this year if the cuts would have gone through as proposed.  Though it looks as if school districts have been saved for this fiscal year, we must continue this discussion in an effort to protect education in FY 2010.

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