June 21, 2009

PARADES

Old Shawnee Days Parade

My thanks to Marjorie Dillon; Lisa and Brian Humphreys and daughters, Kara and Paige; Leslie Nord; my husband, Jim Quigley; and Kurt Voss for walking in the Old Shawnee Days Parade with me.  Thanks also to Becky White for providing my ride and being my chauffeur.  It was a fast paced parade, especially for those walkers trying to get candy into all the eager hands…we may have to train next year!  It rained on us just before the parade but was sunny for the parade itself.  There was a great turnout with lots of children lining the parade route.

Lenexa 4th of July Parade---More Walkers Needed

If you are in town for the holiday and would like to walk in the parade handing out candy and fans, please reply to this newsletter.  I’ll get back to you with the details.

EDUCATION LEGISLATION 2009

It is difficult to convey the struggles that public education advocates face each year in the legislature.  

First there is the divide between legislators over what constitutes adequate funding, what is the definition of a “suitable” education.  Some embrace the 2005 Montoy v. Kansas decision.  Other legislators continue to resist complying with the court mandated increased funding of public education.  Some point out their district’s achievement scores and awards as signs of an excellent public school system.  Others quote national statistics and argue that increased funding has not resulted in better test scores.  Some point out high efficiency scores and improvements brought about by No Child Left Behind as evidence that the system works.  Others believe the system is broken and increased funding will not correct the problem; they advocate for alternatives like charter schools, vouchers, home schooling, etc.  These are basic philosophical differences that are difficult to bridge.  

Then there are the divides between districts with different needs: urban v. rural, high enrollment v. low, high numbers of at-risk v. low numbers of at-risk, high numbers of special ed v. low numbers of special ed, etc.  The funding formula distributes money based on these factors so districts are in constant competition for dollars by how these factors are weighted in the formula.  It is difficult to gain consensus about what benefits the state as a whole or even to form alliances to pass legislation.

Add limited financial resources to these philosophical and geographic  differences and the discussions become more intense.  K-12 education makes up 51% of the state general fund budget, 28% of the total budget (when you include off budget spending, pass through money, dedicated funding streams, etc.)  Holding education cuts to a minimum means that other agencies and services face larger cuts.  However, while businesses facing a decline are cutting back, demand for education remains steady.  There is no decline in need for education; in fact, we continue to add testing and mandates. 

During our April break, I visited elementary, middle, and high schools in the 17th district.  Spurred by No Child Left Behind requirements, the schools have creatively developed additional support for struggling students.  Changes like before and after school tutoring; Dad involvement programs; and aides, counselors and social workers are some of the additions that help struggling students both academically and with problems from home that influence academic achievement. There was general agreement that those resources are making a difference in student achievement.  The recent cuts to education endanger those additional services.  

We are not putting more money into education for the same service.  Additional money is being used to maximize the potential of all students by providing additional support in and beyond the classroom.

Here is a brief summary of bills from the 2009 session that deal with education.  I supported each of these bills.  If you would like more information about any of these bills, go to www.kslegislature.org and enter the bill number in the Quick Search, Full Text of Bills section.

FUNDING

Rescission Bill (SB 23) reduced the Base Aid Per Student by $33 from $4433 to $4400 (after line item veto of a $66 cut by Governor Sebelius).

Mega (HB 2354) 

In 2010, school districts were to receive an increase of $142M (in special ed, KPERS employee contributions, capital improvements and capital outlay plus  $59 increase to the Base Aid Per Student). Instead the Mega bill further reduced the Base Aid Per Student by another $33 from $4400 to $4367 and reduced special ed funding by 1%.  These losses were offset by $138M in federal stimulus money for general state aid and $53.5M in federal stimulus money for special education.

Omnibus (HB 2372)

There will be no capital outlay funds.  Capital outlay funds are used for the purpose of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, remodeling, additions to, furnishing and equipping of buildings necessary for school district purposes.  This bill made a further 2.75% cut to education equaling another $60 reduction in BSAPP and leaving Base State Aid at $4280.

Total reduction in education funding was $153 in BSAPP from the original funding adopted for 2009.  This 3.5% reduction was fortunately offset in part by the ARRA stimulus funds.  However, stimulus funds were directed to special education and stabilization (to avert cuts and retain teachers and professors, to help support modernization, renovation, and repair of school and college facilities, and to advance essential education reforms to benefit students from early learning through post-secondary education) and, thus earmarked, may not be flexible enough to use to replace BSAPP dollars in 2010 and 2011.  The money placed in the “lock box” in 2008 to fund the $59 increase in BSAPP in 2009 was used to address the budget deficit.  So much for a lock box!!

ADDITIONAL FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS 

These following bills benefit most school districts and help offset the funding decreases in the Mega and Omnibus bills.

Cash Basis Law and Local Option Budgets (SB 84)  Currently when state aid to schools is delayed causing school districts to temporarily exceed their budget, they must file a financial report documenting the violation.  This bill makes an ongoing exception to that law. This bill also allows a school district to continue to calculate their local option funding by using the higher 2009 Base State Aid Per Pupil of $4433 instead of the decreased BSAPP.  This expires in 2012.

 School District Contingency Reserve Fund (SB 161)  This bill raises the limit on the contingency reserve funds that a school district can maintain from 6% to 10%.

 Autism Funding (Omnibus bill HB 2373)  This bill directs the allocation of $50,000 from the Children’s Initiative Fund for training in the diagnosis of autism.  The Children’s Initiative Fund consists of tobacco settlement revenues; $11 M is allocated to early childhood education block grants.

CURRICULUM

Financial Literacy (SB 41)  This bill directs the State Board of Education to develop voluntary standards for personal financial literacy for all grade levels and to include questions on financial literacy on statewide assessments.

Disabilities Education (SB 41)  This bill requires the State Board of Education to establish a time for disability history and awareness within the existing curriculum each year.  Each district is to participate “as deemed appropriate by the district.”

Dyslexia (HCR 5015) This resolution directs the State Board of Education to take specific actions with children with reading disorders.  

COUNTS AND CONSOLIDATION

School District Consolidation (SB 41)  This bill stipulates how state aid from a school district that closes and consolidates with more than one school is allotted.   In situations where a school district disorganizes and the territory of the disorganized district is attached to more than one district, the state financial aid of the disorganized district is allocated to the districts to which the territory of the former district is attached.  The state financial aid would be allocated on the same proportional basis that the assessed valuation of the territory attached to each district bears to the assessed valuation of the entire disorganized district.

Count of students at Atchison Juvenile Correctional Facility (HB 2001)  A student in the custody of SRS (Social and Rehabilitation Services) or JJA (Juvenile Justice Authority) at the residential center and enrolled in the Atchison School District will be counted as two students.

Military Students Second Count Date (HB 2002)  Because of the transient nature of military families, school districts with at least 25 military students are allowed a second date (February 20) to recompute its general fund budget.  Additional students counted on February 20 are added to the September 20 count.

MISCELLANEOUS

Schools for the Deaf and Blind (SB 290)  This bill includes the Schools for the Deaf and Blind under the professional contract negotiations law (how school boards negotiate contracts with teachers).

Epinephrine Administration in Schools (Sub. For HB 2008)  This bill allows any person to administer epinephrine in an emergency situation to a student or member of a school staff under specified conditions. It exempts the person from liability who in good faith and without compensation renders emergency care by administering epinephrine to a student or school staff member at school, on school property, or at a school sponsored event if the person acts as an ordinary and reasonable prudent person would act.  The bill also specifies how an epinephrine kit should be maintained, used, and controlled.

Treatment of Autism (HB 2367)  Known as Kate’s Law, this bill would require health insurance coverage for the treatment of autism.  It did not come before the House for a vote.  It remains in committee for possible action next session.  I support early treatment of autism and expanded coverage for treatment.

JILL’S ACTIVITIES:

• Denim & Dazzle, a fundraiser for the Evergreen Living Innovations, Inc., formerly Friends of Johnson County Nursing Center

• Lenexa Chamber Business Blast and Taste of the Chamber for food and networking with over 68 exhibitors and 500 chamber members.

• Council of Mayors Legislative Wrap-up with legislators from Johnson and Wyandotte County where state and local budgets dominated the discussion

• Overland Park Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Wrap-up and Thank you Luncheon
• Polsinelli-Shughart seminar “Social Networking for Women,” a discussion of the use of Linked-in, Twitter, and Facebook for business development

I’m home until January so contact me with questions or comments at:

jill@jillquigley.com

Home phone:  913-541-9645

Legislative Hotline number:  800-432-3924

Representing you,

Jill Quigley

Representative 17th House District

Lenexa & Shawnee

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