The answer to that question unfortunately does not lie in the hands of students, parents, teachers, building administrators, or even department officials; it is in the hands of our elected officials in Topeka.
School Districts across the country are competing for $4.3 billion in federal grant dollars from the “Race to the Top” fund. One of the general selection criteria for the grants is “making education funding a priority.” That criterion just might sink our ship!
Kansas schools have already slashed their staff by 3700 and their budgets by $206 million and we are still short $100 million, which equates to another $150 per student reduction at a minimum before the end of this fiscal year.
We have already cut to the bone, and these new reductions will have an impact on class size, transportation, music programs, sporting programs, and extra-curricular activities. But wait, there’s more.
These and the 2011 impending cuts jeopardize not only our chances of a slice of that $4.3billion pie, but our stimulus dollars already received. The state cannot fall below 2006 funding levels, and we are at .6 of 1% from that magic number right now according to State Senator John Vratil, (R) of Leawood.
Our economic future lies in the hands of those in Topeka. The stimulus dollars saved 2,980 teaching positions and 144 administrative positions in our schools and universities. It allowed schools to continue to increase student achievement and prepare a well-educated workforce, and that is in jeopardy with these looming cuts.
Schools can’t prepare our kids for the future without the resources, it equates to driving your car across country on a ¼ tank of gas – it just won’t work! The question is – will those in Topeka fill up the tank or simply leave our children on the side of the road?
Loading ...