Uniontown schools look at possible cuts

By Jason E. Silvers

Fort Scott Tribune

UNIONTOWN -- USD 235 faces budget cuts the next couple of years after recent proposed solutions by state leaders to reduce the state deficit.

Last week, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced a proposed plan to cut about $186 million in state debt by June 30, a plan that included a proposal to reduce state aid per pupil by $22 -- from $4,433 to $4,411 -- for the 2008-09 school year.

Earlier this week, in response to Sebelius' proposal, the Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee endorsed a $302 million proposal to fix the state's budget deficit by implementing a 3.4 percent across-the-board funding cut. That plan, which passed after an 8-5 vote in the committee, includes an elimination of $100 million in promised state aid to public schools this year. The bill also includes most of Sebelius' suggested cuts.

Wednesday, the Senate amended the proposed across-the-board cuts, outlining a plan which drastically reduced the negative impact on Kansas schools correcting the state's deficit would have.

While the legislature and the governor look for ways to fix the current state budget woes, USD 235 Superintendent Randy Rockhold said his small school district is preparing for a potential loss of more than $200,000 the next two years under proposed plans by state leaders. But Rockhold and other district administrators across the state ultimately aren't sure about budget cuts until they are made.

"It is virtually impossible to come to any conclusions on what the legislative session will produce," Rockhold said.

Sebelius' proposal, combined with a recent decline in district enrollment, will result in a $91,129 decrease in the district budget this year, and a $112,295 loss for the 2009-10 school year, he said.

Despite these projected losses, Rockhold said he hopes lawmakers avoid major cuts in K-12 education funding to address a potential $1 billion shortfall in the state budget by 2010; cuts that would affect 295 school districts statewide.

"We feel confident that our representative and senator will fight hard to preserve the needed funding for schools," he said. "The increased revenue we have received over the past few years has resulted in unprecedented achievement gains, and we truly believe there are avenues available to address the budget issues without significant reductions to education. Our children deserve quality learning opportunities and cuts will reduce the quality of opportunities we can provide."

Sebelius' original plan is to reduce state aid per student by $22 to $4,433 this school year, and also halt an increase of $165 million promised to schools in a three-year $466 million school finance bill passed by lawmakers in 2006. Kansas school districts may soon be forced to borrow money to cover expenses and impose property taxes to pay off the debt.

If Sebelius' plan is approved, USD 234 would receive $4,411 per student this year, which amounts to a $60,000 reduction in funding. A proposed reduction of $66 per student during the 2009-10 school year would create a $176,000 loss of funds, USD 234 Business Manager Alan Drake said in a Jan. 22 Tribune story.

Drake also said that Sebelius' proposal does not include extra money for increased enrollment across the state, and enrollment figures in her proposal are not valid since many districts, including USD 234, experienced increases in enrollment in 2008. Higher enrollment could make it easier for the district to absorb any cuts this year, Drake said.

While total head count enrollment in USD 235 is down slightly this year, a small increase (4.5) in the district's full-time equivalency enrollment could mean positive news next year for his district, Rockhold said.

"There is hope our enrollment will stay up and we will reap the benefit of these additional students during the 09-10 school year," he said.

USD 235 currently maintains an enrollment of 461 students and operates on a $4.1 million general fund budget.

Fiscal year 2010 could bring even worse times as the state faces a possible $1 billion shortfall next year, and possible cuts that would exceed this year's reductions. Kansas spends about $3.8 billion each year on its public schools.