Letters to the editor
Solution for school funding issue
To the Editor:
This article is intended to be informational to the people of Kansas about the present lawsuit brought by lawyers representing a few school districts. Their entire case hangs on a sentence from the Kansas Constitution, Art. 6, para. 6b: "The legislature shall make suitable provision for finance of the educational interests of the State."
This statement assigns responsibility to the legislators to see that it is done, but does not specify an amount of money, nor does it say the legislature has to provide the money from state funds. The constitution is quite the contrary on this matter of funding. The preceding para. 5 gives the local schools the responsibility for maintenance, development, and operation by locally elected boards to be in cooperation with the state board of education and the legislature. Far reaching and full responsibility is assigned to the local board with state board and legislature assigned a position as overseer.
To take the words, "suitable provision for finance" is to get into a debate. People are going to have differing opinions about how much it should cost and where the funding should come from. Some people are homeschooling and turning out well-taught children for a few hundred dollars a year. Children, I might add, who are beating the socks off public school students when it comes to college entrance exams. Or private Christian schools that charge $3,000 to $3,500 a year turning out students who excel in academics and character.
Lawyers, a judge in a lower court, and now the Kansas Supreme Court have all given their opinion. And they intend to force it upon you, the people of Kansas, as the only opinion: that the public schools are underfunded, and the legislature must increase spending for public schools, but have not specified how much. This too is an opinion since no actual figure exists in the constitution that says how much or what percentage of state revenue the legislature must spend on public schools.
Further, lawyers filing this lawsuit have given their opinion that $1 billion more spending is required. They rely heavily upon the A&M study to reinforce their case, a study which does not say that figure either. It is interesting that during the trial, a national survey by "Education Week" confirmed the school system in Kansas is adequately funded and received a B grade on their report.
State data shows that Kansas increased spending per pupil 3.8 percent in 2003-04. In 2004-05, it will increase 10 percent per pupil. Kansas will spend $10,612 per pupil during 2004-05 (Kansas public school data).
The lawyers and Judge Bullock are well aware they have no case other than opinion, very shaky at best. Therefore, in a move of desperation, hoping for credibility, Judge Bullock, in August 2004, opened the lawsuit to outside groups allowing them to file "friend of the court" briefs. This is akin to a "class action lawsuit" and opens the door for anyone who wants a piece of the pie. This allowed it now to become a lawsuit of social, racial, or whatever issues.
Our government failed to monitor this and failed to require that courts shall rule solely on the matter of school funding. We need a government that will say to the lawyers and school districts that have filed the lawsuit: "Prove your case in a court of law and I will direct the legislature to fix it. Fail to prove your case, then shut up and go to work."
I have no doubt there are school districts in Kansas short of money, at the classroom level that is. That is the fault of school boards, many of whom are "yes" members to free spending administrations. Superintendents who fill their staffs and assistants with people getting $60,000, $80,000, even up to $180,000 a year with no accountability and job performance expectation. These are the leeches that feed on the intended classroom teaching money. These unfettered administrators and school boards truly qualify as the abusers of your children.
There are three things we can do. Write and call your elected officials in Topeka. Permission is granted to copy this article and send it to them.
We can call for a constitutional convention, as provided by Art. 14, para. 2, limited only to revision of Art. 3, of the Constitution of the State of Kansas. That the House shall submit to the electors at the next appropriate election, the question: "Shall we abolish the Judicial Branch of the Government of the State of Kansas?"
A third and last option is for citizens to now consider seriously the opening words of the Declaration of Independence: "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands."
In closing, I want to reaffirm that we the people must take back control of our institutions. Listen to these words from William Jennings Bryan: "What right has a little irresponsible oligarchy of self-styled intellectuals to demand control of the schools."
Wake up America!
Anton Epp
Goessel
Rec commission appreciates support
To the Editor:
On behalf of the young people who participate in youth programs offered by the Hillsboro Recreation Commission, we would like to thank all the organizations, businesses, and individuals who participated in the recent Hillsboro American Legion Post #366 Auxiliary Spaghetti Supper and Raffle: Hillsboro American Legion; Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion; Mike and Sue Wadkins; Clayton and Wanda Hamm; Rob, Tina, Dylan, and Cody Delk; John and Delores Dalke; Jamey Dalke; Lori McClinden; Aaron Slater; Angie Slater; Jane Long; Dawn Lampkin; Preston Neufeld; Jim Dalke; Lou's Varsity Sports; McDonald's; Vogt's Hometown Market; and American Family Insurance.
The spaghetti supper and raffle were a complete success! We are absolutely thrilled with the results and the funds that were generated. Money obtained from this event will be used to purchase much needed, new equipment for youth summer programs offered by Hillsboro Recreation Commission.
Sincerely,
Matt Dalke
Director, Hillsboro Recreation Commission
