June school funding delayed; huge cuts next year

As the end of the fiscal year approaches, Kansas school districts are scrambling to absorb more than recent huge funding cuts. They are also developing responses to the catastrophic losses expected in fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
    And while the Dodge City school district hasn't made definite plans for future cuts that are predicted to be nothing short of astronomical, the district has discussed the possibility of suing the state.    
     When USD 443 officials met with other representatives of Schools for Fair Funding in Salina two weeks ago, the main topic of discussion was Montoy v. Kansas, the state Supreme Court case that found the state's school finance formulas unconstitutional.
    "We discussed whether re-opening Montoy was a possibility," said attorney John Robb, who, with his colleague Alan Rupe, represented the schools in the landmark case. "We think it's clear that the Legislature has violated the constitution. We've watched carefully throughout the (legislative) session, and until two weeks ago, the school districts held the long-term view that all of the cuts had been made. They were prepared to handle those cuts."
    Robb said that things changed when the state's May revenue went down $100 million. Further, the Legislature's 2010 Commission predicted a $586 million education shortfall in 2011 and a staggering gap of $896 million in 2012.
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Reach Claire O'Brien at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at claire.obrien@dodgeglobe.com.