Answer this multiple-choice question that came directly from a 13-question survey from the organization Americans for Prosperity to candidates for the Kansas Legislature:
Which of the following do you believe most accurately reflects your view of K-12 spending?
A. School districts operate very efficiently and make good use of taxpayer money.
B. School districts are pretty efficient but there might be a little room for improvement.
C. Aggressive, independent efficiency studies should be immediately implemented to identify best practices and find ways to achieve required outcomes at more efficient costs.
The correct answers are (A) or (B), but (C) is an erroneous, loaded question for conservatives that is precisely what AFP was looking for in determining whom to endorse for this week’s primary election.
One such candidate who was wholeheartedly endorsed was state Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook of Shawnee. She not only bold-faced (C) as her answer, but she went on to say in boldface type: “Parents, teachers, and taxpayers should have a transparent system so they know how much money is being spent in each school and school district.”
This is hogwash.
How much is being spent by local school districts is of public record. Nothing is hidden.
It is the negative attitude toward public schools which is frightening.
This matters, because — unless I am mistaken, which I hope I am — conservatives were likely to take over the state Senate in Tuesday’s primary election. (The election results came in after 913 went to press.)
Even if I am wrong, with drastic tax cuts already in place, K-12 education funding is on the ropes, in order to balance the budget.
Whispering in the ear of legislators is the AFP, the front organization for ultra-conservatives Charles and David Koch of Wichita, with a combined net worth of $50 billion, making them among the wealthiest individuals in America. When they speak, plenty of conservatives listen.
Their attitudes about public education matter, a whole, whole lot.
In the same survey, there was another question regarding K-12 education, but it did not ask for an opinion. Rather, it asked for “facts.”
The question was: How much does the state of Kansas spend on K-12 education, and how has that changed over the last 10 years?
Mary Pilcher-Cook’s answer came right out of the conservative propaganda. She answered, “In the last ten years, from 2001 to 2011, FTE (full-time equivalent) enrollment increased by about 1.8 percent and state spending for education increased about 38 percent…”
Here are the facts, according to the Kansas Association for School Boards:
First, inflation during these 10 years was 30 percent.
Second, over half of the increased operating budgets went for special education and at-risk student support, as well as bilingual programs, vocational education and transportation.
Third, the retirement fund increased from $82 million to $341 million, mostly because the Legislature increased the rate of contributions for school employees, due to past underfunding of KPERS (the retirement fund.)
Fourth, expenditures for construction and improvements of school buildings almost doubled from $511 million to about $937 million, due to local bond issues that were passed by voters.
In other words, any increased expenditures were not wasted. Some was a result of inflation costs, some were mandated, and some were a result of the vote of the people.
Beware AFP and all conservatives who want to slash funding of public schools, Already next year, school districts will receive $562 less per student than they did in 2009. And the Legislature and governor have only just begun cutting.
| Special to The Star
Duke Fawcett
9 months, 2 weeks agoToo much corruption in these districts. when you have the people in charge getting kickbacks for books they “choose”, it’s just the tip of the iceberg
Bill Mccwiliams
9 months, 2 weeks agoDoes that mean my property taxes will be lower?
Kevin Miller
9 months, 2 weeks agoRose, you have such an irrational fear of conservatives it borders on a phobia. All conservatives want is an education system that is better than the failing one we have now. Throwing more money at education is what liberals and moderates have done for years and look where we are now. American education is trailing the world and slipping further every year. I think you need a reality check and stop attacking the only group who will ever fix this problem.
Charles Purvis
9 months, 2 weeks agoFor starters, no one is even talking about ‘slashing’ school funding, even though it is at an absurdly high $9500+ per student. Do people like Rose honestly believe that is not enough? Compare it to surrounding states and see where Kansas ranks.
Michael Middleton
9 months, 2 weeks agoBeware liberal columnists who manipulate data in order to promote their agenda. First off, spending per student is down $40 per student statewide from the 2011 school year to the 2012 school year. That’s a fact, which considering the recession is not bad. And Charles, the current spending per pupil is $12,226 per pupil. It hasn’t been $9500 in 7 years. All of this information is easily available on Kansasopengov.org
Melissa Bower
9 months, 2 weeks agoI’ve actually covered schools in Kansas as a reporter for almost 10 years, and there are a lot of sides to this issue. It isn’t just about slashing budgets, it’s about a shift in education toward more accountability and the necessity to use technology so that children are better prepared to enter the workplace - and of course that also means more money spent. NCLB was implemented by a conservative Pres. George W. Bush, and it requires schools to spend more money. If you’re concerned about how your school district is spending money, I would encourage you to sit through a school board meeting or talk to your board members and find out what can be done.
One narrative hidden in Rose’ ideology is that of propaganda tools being disguised as informational tools. That part I definitely agree with. There are a lot of misrepresenting websites out there that try to look like news websites, but are actually run by conservative or liberal interests. There is a big difference between journalists who have to fight their own biases like myself and politicians who start a news site with the purpose of pushing his or her own agenda. There is a place for politicians and even the Koch family to share their information with us, but please be honest about your intentions.
Kansas Conni
9 months, 2 weeks agoThe propaganda tools noted by Melissa Bowers truly fascinate me and I’ve attempted some research but found it very difficult to find “trails”. Based on a small study of a group of people I know, I felt the propaganda might be targeting churches and religious organizations as there was a common theme spoken from the people in that group. Interesting but could not verify.
John W Mack Jr.
9 months, 2 weeks agoAll you so-called “conservatives” have invited the Krazy Koch Klan to control the state of Kansas, much as they have in other states, and you will soon learn to regret it. Their sole intent is to lay waste to the public school system and drive everyone in turn to private or charter schools they they own and control. Once the students are attending them, they will be subjected to the typical “christian” propaganda that they want to substitute for education. Gone will be the good old days of teaching real science.
I am sure y’all think I am crazy, and some of you are thinking “Yeah, I am all for that!” Either way, it will come to pass.
James Nelson
9 months, 2 weeks agoGet the facts:
http://thekansascitian.blogspot.com/2012/08/rose-tries-to-defend-his-love-of.html
Dave Trabert
9 months, 2 weeks agoSteve,
It’s quite telling that your basis for saying schools operate very efficiently and spending has only kept up with inflation is a lobbying group that advocates for more spending rather that actual figures from the Dept. of Education of the state budget office.
Here are the facts according to official government data for the period 2001 to 2011:
—Inflation was 24.2% (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Midwest Urban Cities)
—FTE enrollment increased 1.8% (KSDE)
—Taxpayer support of public education increased 55.8%; state aid +37.6%, federal +155.4% and local +67%. (KSDE)
—2012 is expected to be a record-setting year for taxpayer support of public education, at $5.672 billion (KSDE)
Here are a few more facts that, like those listed above, are not generally known to the public and are routinely denied by education officials.
—$402 million more in state and local aid was not spent between 2005 and 2011 but was used to increase operating cash reserves (KSDE)
—Instruction spending per-pupil increased 84% between 1999 and 2011 (KSDE) while inflation was up only 32% (BLS)
—Taxpayer support of public education in Kansas increased from $3.1 billion in 1998 to $5.6 billion in 2011 (KSDE) yet student proficiency levels are well below 50% (US Dept. of Ed.)
Telling parents the inconvenient truth is not attacking schools, teachers or anyone else. It is giving them the facts they need to make fully informed decisions about what needs to be done to improve public education.
Charles Purvis
9 months, 2 weeks ago$12,226?? It’s even worse than I thought. But we have ‘slashed’ $40 out of that!
Thanks, Michael Middleton for enlightening me.
Melissa Bower
9 months, 2 weeks agoJust another note, when you look at “spending per pupil” you have to understand that is not a figure that your local school district uses when it plans its annual budget, which is always public information. I think the most recent figure is $3,838 per pupil, which school districts receive from the state. That number is increased when a child has special needs or is from a low income family (research has shown these children are specifically at-risk). The BSAPP typically goes into a general fund.
And please, go visit your local school district if you are really passionate about this. I think we can all agree that blind cuts to education funding won’t do anyone any good - it’s a complicated situation you need to understand it before you assume you can improve it.
Dave Trabert
9 months, 2 weeks agoMelissa - You are only talking about the base aid per-pupil, which just a portion of what schools receive from the state. The expected total aid per-pupil for 2012 was $12,454…of which $6,931 came from state taxpayers. And yes, districts do use all aid dollars when preparing their budget.
Matthew Beaven
9 months, 2 weeks agoAt $12,000 of tax dollars spent per child, a very average JOCO family with three children would cost tax payers $36,000+ per year. Imagine taking $36,000 out of your income every year for 18 years — can you live on the rest? There are more efficient ways to educate with equal or better results. The Kansas model for public schools is an out-dated dinosaur that hurts our children, hurts our economy, and leaves us behind.
Steve Baska
9 months, 2 weeks agoWouldn’t it have been nice if this column had presented both sides of this important issue, instead of being yet another one-sided attack on conservatives?
Cynthia Daugherty
9 months, 1 week agoFood for thought: One student for 1 year at KU = $18,764 One student for 1 year at K-State = $17,175 One student for 1 year at St. James Academy = $8,150 (in parish) One student for 1 year in KS public schools = over $12,000 Where is the money going? Kansas taxpayers have a right to know and the School Board of Education and KNEA has an OBLIGATION to provide FULL disclosures. We can easily determine where their funds go during elections, because of FULL disclosure required by Kansas law ($25,000 directly, plus $34,000 channeled through 22 affiliate PACs just for State Senate races).