Last night the gymnasium at Eisenhower Middle School was transformed into a work space for Manhattan residents to voice their concerns regarding state education funding. For the last few months, USD 383 officials have been working on a resolution which will soon be adopted by the board and sent to the state.
The resolution comes after calls from Gov. Brownback’s office for Kansas’ public schools to provide input on a new education funding formula to be drafted in the spring session. Eric Reid, assistant superintendent, has been the driving force behind the district’s resolution with assistance from board member Leah Fliter, who also works for the Kansas Association of School Boards.
At last night’s meeting, Reid passed out index cards to the audience after introducing the district’s resolution. Audience members then gathered in groups to brainstorm their own ideas for the upcoming law. While the district’s resolution calls for a variety of things including base funding centered on enrollment, weighting systems akin to previous formulas, and military-connected funding, audience members were then able to voice their own concerns.
Usha Reddi, NEA representative, said the district should recommend better access to mental health care for students, as mental illness trends upward in USD 383. Dave Colburn, board member, expressed concern regarding Rep. Ron Highland’s proposal to de-fund extracurricular activities.
The board is expected to adopt the resolution at the Nov. 16 meeting. Reid encouraged all in attendance to send personal e-mails of their own recommendations to Gov. Brownback along with all local representatives.
