School Funding
by Terrel Harrison
The 2010 Kansas Legislature Session came to an end on May 11. As Superintendent, I was relieved when the Legislature passed a budget that included an increase in revenue (one percent sales tax). While the tax plan will not replace money Colby Public Schools has lost the past two years, state funding will remain at the $4012 BSAPP for the 2010-11 school year.
Listed below is a brief summary of budget decisions made by the 2010 Kansas Legislature.
Base State Aid Per Pupil – BSAPP will remain at $4,012 for the 2010-11 school year (based upon the same enrollment and weightings as current year).
Local Option Budget – The Local Option Budget (LOB) law was not amended. The state average LOB percentage is 30 percent.
Special Education – Special education categorical aid per teacher is estimated to be $24,000 for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.
Professional Development – There was no funding approved for professional development for the 2010-11 school year.
National Board Certification – There was no funding approved for reimbursing school districts $1,000 per National Board teacher.
Capital Outlay State Aid – There was no funding approved for the 2010-11 school year.
Transportation – School buses may now be operated up to 25 years (was 20 years) from the date of manufacture (SB 300).
The past few years have been a struggle financially for Colby Public Schools. We have experienced a loss in revenue of close to a million dollars due to reduced state funding and declining enrollment. To withstand this funding loss, the district has been forced to make budget cuts. The staff, administrators, and Board of Education strived to make cuts that would not hurt students academically. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep all programs, activities and athletics in place for our students. I commend the Colby Public School staff for taking on more responsibilities each year to ensure our students continue to receive a quality education with the opportunities they need to be successful in life.
Thank you for supporting Colby Public Schools!
