Schools Slapped with Budget Realities

Schools Slapped with Budget Realities

Topic Author: Melissa Brunner

Posted: 3:30 PM Mar 11, 2010

Replies Posted: 10 comments

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by Melissa Brunner

The reality of tight budget times slapped Kansas City, Missouri school district patrons square in the face. Their school board voted Wednesday night to close 26 of their 61 schools as part of cost-cutting maneuvers.

I'm not familiar with the KCMO situation, so I can't judge whether it's warranted or not. I do know many other districts are struggling with similar discussions on school closures and it remains to be seen whether Topeka's USD 501 will move forward with a dramatic downsizing of its own.

In just the past couple months, we saw the Kaw Valley district vote to close the Emmett school, North Lyon County vote to close Admire and Jefferson West vote to close Ozawkie.

In January, we detailed reports from a USD 501 advisory committee that looked at school closings and consolidations, in the most extreme case reducing the number of elementary schools from 21 to 12. Here's a link to that story: http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/80856027.html In January, it might have seemed far-fetched to think they'd close 9 schools. With the KCMO decision, maybe it's not.

If the state budget picture doesn't get better, schools will face tougher decisions than they already have. Couple that with federal stimulus dollars that go away. As one school official described it recently, they're standing at the edge of a cliff hoping they don't fall off.

How worried are you about school closings? Is it necessarily a bad thing for districts to downsize? Or maybe you believe this whole budget crisis fear is overblown? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

by just me but Location: topeka on Mar 16, 2010 at 12:58 PM

Yes the school system has been broke for years and desperately needs an overhaul to provide better educated citizens for the future but I really think we should cut all foreign aid moneies to isreali, africa,ect., and put that "aid" money back into our "ailing schools", (prolly come up with a couple billion $)if the U.S. has money left over then and only then, should we be provideing non- emergencey aid. Hey they all hate us anyway, so we dont have anything to lose do we? Make it Happen. WE can all look back 10 years with 20/20 vision and see what went wrong, where, and WE should be able to fix and learn from it, Not repeat it!

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by Bob Location: Topeka on Mar 15, 2010 at 12:21 PM

These are very difficult decisions, but school district consolidations, after full study, should proceed "with all deliberate speed" (to borrow a phrase from the United States Supreme Court in 1954)

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by Ranee Location: Kansas on Mar 13, 2010 at 07:16 PM

As a teacher, I would like for the people in Topeka and Washington making these decisions to WAKE UP. IF these consolidations/budget cuts/program eliminations are necessary, then we can't continue to expect the same result from our student's performance. Making AYP in a school where the classroom size is doubling while support staff is being cut in half is impossible. People need to wake up and figure out how important education is, and how everything else in the community and in our future falls apart when we neglect the needs of our schools. We are on our way down a long dangerous road and I regret that we, as teachers and parents, are forced to live with the poor decision making skills of those in power.

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by Greg Location: Topeka on Mar 12, 2010 at 11:46 AM

There really hasn't been that much local control for quite some time so that is a poor reason to not consolidate. One district per county would cut a lot of administrative dollars and might save some teachers jobs. There are at least 5 districts in Shawnee County. That is 5 school boards, 5 superintendants, 5 staffs for the superintendant and so forth. I would rather br paying teachers than all thsoe administrators.

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by Kirk Location: Council Grove on Mar 12, 2010 at 11:26 AM

My daughter is a para in a southeast county school district. Just after the first of the year they went to a 4 day school week and lenghtened the school day by about 30 minutes and having the option of using the fifth day as a weather make-up day if needed. This has saved the district costs on running buses, providing meals and utilities. The other side is working families now need to find child care for an entire day. This may not be the best answer, but, it seems to be working for them.

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by Lois Location: Topeka on Mar 12, 2010 at 10:26 AM

I don't remember the reason for all the unification that went on during the 60's and early 70's. I do remember the 'fight for my school' that went on in many of the districts. At first the State tried to allow the schools do it on their own, and if that didn't come about, then they forced the issue. The biggest problem for a lot of them was the competition between so many of the area schools and had been for years. There was one situation up north where several years after the consolidation, I talked with some of the high school students and asked how it was going. Her reply was, " We kids get along fine, it's the parents that are still causing the only problems we have' and so it may be in these situations too. Nobody likes these things, but if it is best for the children to get better education, and especially now with the new standard learning programs that is to go into effect this coming fall, it may be the only way to go.

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by steve Location: wisconsin on Mar 12, 2010 at 06:51 AM

The Kansas City MO closing received national attention. School budget cuts have been going on for the past couple years. It seems the root cause for the budget shortfalls, at least in Wisconsin, is not the districts but government. They make manidates which the districts must abide by without consideration of finances. Then they turn around and give schools less money each year to cover expenses. I don't know what the answer is but larger classes may be counter prodcutive to the no child left behind act.

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by Carrie Location: Osage City on Mar 11, 2010 at 06:05 PM

I am currently a teacher and all these cuts are very scary. We are one of the schools that could possibly have to consolidate with another district. Our chilren should be our first priority, since they are our future. I don't think that making our schools bigger is the answer.

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by Eric Location: Topeka on Mar 11, 2010 at 03:57 PM

Downsizing may be appropriate but not in all cases. My own opinion is that in 501's case, they could possibly benefit from some downsizing, but some administrative restructuring also needs to be considered. Consolidation also makes sense in some cases but not all for smaller districts - and that shouldn't be mandated by law but decided by the will of the citizens in any districts involved. The more local control of schools, the better.

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by Bruce Location: many places on Mar 11, 2010 at 03:52 PM

I spent 41 years in public education. Some of these years were in very small schools. I've heard the saying, "if you close the school you will kill the town". It is my observation if the town they school won't be closed." There are districts all over the state that should be forced to consolidate. They won't do it on there own as mental boundaries are too hard to melt.

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