Funding major issue for local USD board

Winners of Tuesday's USD 234 Board of Education election agree a major concern facing school boards across Kansas next school year is probable state funding cuts.

Belynda Davenport, who defeated her opponent Jeff Sims for the unexpired position six term, said "the most important issue is the budget."

Davenport said one of the first things she will do is gather all details on the district budget in order to help the board find the best ways to offset reductions in state funding.

"I need to get in there and get all the information," she said. "I definitely think we cannot be losing teachers."

Davenport added she wants to encourage teamwork among board members, teachers and administrators because some "tough decisions" will have to be made.

"All we hear is cut, cut, cut," she said. "If we can find ways to lessen the burden, that would be awesome."

Michelle Hudiburg, who defeated Carrie Allen for the position two seat, echoed Davenport's sentiments, adding she also plans to take a thorough look at the budget situation.

"Definitely the budget," she said. "There will be a lot of cuts coming and hard decisions to make. I need to get in and find out what the damage is going to be, see what our options are."

Jordan Witt, who beat Richard Goldston for the at-large position, said "the main concern is obviously the budget," adding he hopes to learn from other board members and work with them toward solutions.

"Right now, we don't know enough as far as funding from the state," he said. "I want to learn from the current board members about their thoughts and just do the best I can with what we're faced with."

Witt, along with Davenport and Hudiburg, will begin their first terms on the board this summer.

Current board member Justin Meeks, who won a second term Tuesday by defeating his opponent, Jodi Johnson, said he is a "huge advocate of education" and called the school funding issue and its effect on school districts a "crisis."

"I'm a huge advocate of education," he said. "I would call it a crisis. I think the governor and legislature are purposely looking at forcing school boards to raise taxes ... I'm a business owner ... They're trying to make us raise our taxes."

All four winners, as well as three candidates who won spots on the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees, and four who secured seats on the USD 235 Board of Education in Uniontown, will soon be sworn into their posts and begin their terms July 1. Current USD 234 board member Janet Braun ran uncontested, as did current USD 235 board members Jason Sutterby and Michael Shawn Wilkinson, and candidate Matthew Simpson. Sims, who is filling an unexpired term left vacant due to the death of Becky Weddle last year, will remain in office until June 30. Davenport will fill the remaining two years of Weddle's unexpired term, which ends June 30, 2013.