Trickle Down: Kansas Schools To Close Early This Year Because Of Republican Tax Cuts For The Wealthy

[Cali_Democrat]

Two school districts in Kansas announced this week that the academic year would end early because they lack sufficient funding to keep the schools open.

Concordia Unified School District will finish up six days early, on May 15, and Twin Valley Unified School District will let students out 12 days early, on May 8, the Associated Press reports.

In March, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) signed a school funding overhaul, which resulted in the state's schools losing a combined $51 million meant to help them finish out the current academic year. Members of the Twin Valley school board cited “the present mid-year, unplanned financial cuts recently signed into law" as a reason for the early shutdown.

The school closures are just the latest in a series of drastic measures that Kansas public services have been forced to take in recent years, as Brownback's radical tax cuts have drained state coffers of much needed revenue. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Kansas cut per-pupil spending by $950 from 2008 to 2014, more than all but two other states. In May 2014, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that school funding levels were unconstitutionally inequitable and ordered the immediate reversal of certain spending cuts.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/03/kansas-schools-funding_n_7001244.html

[RKP5637]

1. Brownback, the true antichrist! n/t

[BlueJazz]

2. "Children, we have a special test on our last day of school this year"

"Which Governor, in what state, is a complete, total idiot?"

[Politicalboi]

3. It's what they voted for

I know not ALL Kansans voted for Brownback, but maybe the reality of this is what is needed to finally show these assholes this is what you get with GOP rule.

[Logical]

5. My idiot neighbors still defend that asshole. But give no details. nt

[Politicalboi]

10. It's hard because they can't see it

And who knows what it will take. They don't care if they have healthcare, they don't want people getting food stamps, unless "they" need them, then it's okay. Take away all that's good for them, but don't you dare take their guns. As a matter of fact, allow all kinds of crazies to carry guns. Maybe Brownback did that so it may help weed out the "undesirables" who need healthcare and food stamps.

[n2doc]

12. He just signed permit less concealed carry for guns into law

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1052545

Yea freedumb!

[Dont call me Shirley]

4. "Heckuva job, brownie..."

[B Calm]

6. It's the republican way to privatize public education. You want your kids to

be educated, put them in a private school.

[QC]

9. BINGO! That's what the whole "education reform" scam is about,

privatizing the public schools.

[SheilaT]

7. It's not just that too many Kansans voted for Brownback,

but much of the rural parts of Kansas -- and these two districts are in rural Kansas -- have long preferred to keep taxes at a minimum to fully funding their schools. I don't know specifically about either of these two districts, but I used to live in Johnson County, KS, the richest and best educated county in that state. We were always happy to vote increased taxes and new bond issues to pay for good schools, and the rest of the state basically threw a hissy-fit over this about twenty-five years ago, and got the legislature to limit the local option for taxes.

There's also a very strong feeling on the part of all of those people out in the rural areas that the kinds of schools they went to in the 1950's or 60's were perfectly good, and they see absolutely no good reason to upgrade technology or the buildings, or even pay for school busses. Which is why they allow 14 year olds to drive in that part of the state.

[hifiguy]

8. Why doesn't this crooked cretin just sign the entire state

over to the Kochs, change his name to Biggus Dickus and be done with it? I am sure that the Kochs will pay for a couple of guys to help him screw his pants on every day.

[JHB]

11. Yeah, but some of its old mansions are finally getting the upkeep they deserve!

Who would want to let this beautiful place get shabby just so the takers can get handouts?

[hollysmom]

13. here the state takes over schools for mismanagement any chance

the feds may take over Kansas for mismanagement - I mean they can't let the state completely fail can they. I don't want to give my money to their rich, so they have to pay their own bills

[n2doc]

14. Hell, his supporters probably think that is great

Put them kids to work! That book larnin' just gets in the way of them earning their keep.