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Questions about the impact Gov. Sam Brownback’s school finance proposal again dominated discussion at the Newton USD 373 school board meeting Wednesday.
They still don’t know what the impact will be, but school officials have been looking at exactly what a 5 percent or 10 percent reduction would mean to the district. Wednesday night, they talked about the middle school and high school budgets.
Athletic programs could suffer losses of assistant coaches. Teachers, as well as aides, also could be lost.
Board member Carol Sue Stayrook Hobbs wanted to make sure parents and citizens know about the potential cuts and what it might mean to the schools.
“We need to encourage them (parents) to talk to legislators about funding,” she said, adding that she wanted parents to “understand clearly what we are having to look at here.”
Board member Tim Hodge wondered what other states are doing, and whether other states are doing the same type of thing with school budgets.
“I would like to know if this is normal or if he is going off on his own,” Hodge said.
“I have asked that, and I think the plan is fairly unique,” responded Superintendent
There are 139 pages in the bill, and Jantz noted that there are issues other than funding.
He said there is a proposal to evaluate teachers, tied to student performance.
“There are also caps on carryover funds. There are a number of concerns,” Jantz said.
Schools also get “weighting,” or extra money for at-risk students, and that could go away if the plan is adopted.
Assistant Superintendent Russell Miller has been crunching the numbers and gave the presentation Wednesday.
“It has been a difficult process for everyone. There is very little left to trim without impacting a lot of things,” he said.
Questions about the impact Gov. Sam Brownback’s school finance proposal again dominated discussion at the Newton USD 373 school board meeting Wednesday.
They still don’t know what the impact will be, but school officials have been looking at exactly what a 5 percent or 10 percent reduction would mean to the district. Wednesday night, they talked about the middle school and high school budgets.
Athletic programs could suffer losses of assistant coaches. Teachers, as well as aides, also could be lost.
Board member Carol Sue Stayrook Hobbs wanted to make sure parents and citizens know about the potential cuts and what it might mean to the schools.
“We need to encourage them (parents) to talk to legislators about funding,” she said, adding that she wanted parents to “understand clearly what we are having to look at here.”
Board member Tim Hodge wondered what other states are doing, and whether other states are doing the same type of thing with school budgets.
“I would like to know if this is normal or if he is going off on his own,” Hodge said.
“I have asked that, and I think the plan is fairly unique,” responded Superintendent
There are 139 pages in the bill, and Jantz noted that there are issues other than funding.
He said there is a proposal to evaluate teachers, tied to student performance.
“There are also caps on carryover funds. There are a number of concerns,” Jantz said.
Schools also get “weighting,” or extra money for at-risk students, and that could go away if the plan is adopted.
Assistant Superintendent Russell Miller has been crunching the numbers and gave the presentation Wednesday.
“It has been a difficult process for everyone. There is very little left to trim without impacting a lot of things,” he said.
