Forced School Consolidation Bill Blocked

February 22, 2009

This week the Kansas House successfully defeated a proposal that would have significantly harmed small, rural schools.  Had it passed, House Bill 2103 proposed to reduce funding for school districts with less than 200 square miles and less than 200 students.  The change would have taken effect in the 2011-2012 school year. 

Although the proposal would have resulted in some savings in the State General fund from reduced low enrollment weighting costs, it would have also forced school consolidation.  Small communities revolve around their local schools.  Rural communities are suffering enough in this tough economic climate.  This is not the time to take away their lifeblood by starving small schools out of existence.  As the budget for 2010 is negotiated, small rural districts may look at consolidation as their only choice and will work with neighboring districts to do what is best for all of their students. 

House Bill 2103 was an obvious attempt to force consolidation issues by reducing funding to our smallest schools.  Although every school district will face budget cuts in 2010, singling out a few of our smallest schools for extinction is not the way to go.

The bill was defeated at a final action vote of 71-48.  The same piece of legislation was before the Legislature last year and was defeated at a final action vote of 63-62.

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