Thursday night the USD 353 Board of Education held its meeting for November.
The most notable item on the agenda was the Schools for Fair Funding. Schools for Fair Funding, Inc. came about in 1997, it consisted of mid to large sized schools around the state.
When formed the coalition set two goals — adequate statewide funding for public schools and equitable distribution of school funding across the districts. On Thursday the school board voted 6-1 to join the efforts of Schools for Fair Funding.
"It appears that from the smallest schools to the largest schools, this is the unifying factor that has never been there before," USD 353 Superintendent Rick Wiess said. Two months ago SFFF had 13 members. As of Friday there are 57 school districts involved in the movement.
"It's an indication that schools are really looking at these budget cuts and considering what their options are and how they can survive this environment," said John Robb, General Counsel for Schools For Fair Funding, Inc.
USD 353 had $23,000 in a contingency fund, The Board of Education voted to put $5,000 of that fund towards the SFFF effort. There are 147,358 students represented by the districts that make up Schools for Fair Funding. Wellington has approximately 1,700 kids in its district.
Also on Friday, SFFF decided not to vote on whether or not to take legal action against the state. Earlier in the decade, Montoya v. State was a landmark fair funding case that saw state funding awarded to all of Kansas Schools even though only a hand full of districts were members of Schools for Fair Funding at the time. Wellington was not a member at that point.
So far the districts have done all they can to keep the budget cuts from affecting the students.
"This time it's not just cutting programs," said Jackie Glasgow, assistant superintendent. "It's looking as if we will even have a school to operate with. The paradigm shift has changed in regards to what the funding could do."
The next step for Wellington — school board will have to approve a resolution to proceed as far as being actively involved in the litigation process if and when it begins. Glasgow said the Wellington district has always done a great job when facing budget cuts, and she also commended the teachers.
"Every cut that has come along, we've learned to make due," Glasgow said. "We've learned to adapt, we've learned to do the best we can with what we've been given."
This round of budget cuts coming down from the state has the potential to be a knock out blow.
"The cuts that are proposed will do damage to education that can't be undone," Robb said. "And I don't think the legislators have figured that out. And I know that parents don't know that yet."
The reason Schools for Fair Funding have decided to hold off on legal action at this point is to let more districts join the coalition. Glasgow also stressed schools aren't going down with out a fight.
"And that is the bottom line, we want our kids to have the best opportunities and the best education and Wellington has great schools as well as our county has great schools."
The key word for this effort is “unity,” SFFF wants to have the strongest voice possible when the time comes to go to court. Glasgow echoed that sentiment.
"It has to be where we have to band together to show that we are unified in our beliefs weather we are a town of 300 or we are a town of 300,000," she said.
Wellington, Kan. —
