Kansas House Education Budget Committee to Discuss HB 2728 to Reorganize (Consolidate) Kansas School Districts Next Year

If a consolidation bill was introduced in the Kansas Legislature that affects Easton Unified School District #449 I said I would inform parents and patrons.  House Bill 2728 was introduced in the House Appropriations Committee to consolidate or reorganize Kansas school districts and would dissolve USD #449.  The act is known as the School Reorganization Act and will create a school district with no less than 10,000 students by January 1, 2011.  Under this act, a commission of eleven individuals, one selected by the Governor, one by the Senate President, one by the Speaker of the House, one by the State Board of Education, four superintendents selected by United School Administrators, and three members selected by the Kansas School Boards Association will determine the boundaries of the school districts.

Under the Act, no school district may have less than 10,000 students.  The purpose of the Act is to reduce unnecessary duplication of programs within and between school districts, improve coordination and reduce costs.  The property of the dissolved school district will become the property of the new consolidated school district under the Act.  The residents of the new school district are required to pay for the bonds and debt of the new school district.

To reduce costs the new consolidated school district shall be served by a regional service center shall provide;

1.   Bulk purchasing of textbooks, supplies and equipment, furniture and other items.

2.   Development of tests and other tools for student evaluation, coordination, data analysis and reporting.

3.   Curriculum development to meet any state, federal or vocational education certification standards.

4.   Professional development and other training.

5.   Administration, coordination and supervision of special education and related services.

6.   Administration and supervision of Title I programs.

7.   Administration and supervision of English language learner programs.

8.   Administration and supervision of student transportation and scheduling thereof.

9.   Purchasing, preparation and delivery of food service to each attendance center.

10.  Administration, purchasing and coordination of custodial services.

11.  Provision of maintenance support and specialty services to attendance centers or other school buildings located within the district.

12.  Payroll processing, benefits administration, accounting and reporting.

13.  Group health insurance negotiation, administration and reporting.

14.  Coordination of charter and diploma completion schools.

15.  Administration and coordination of human resources for licensed and non-licensed personnel.

16.  Purchasing and providing for the sharing between attendance centers, of specialty equipment.

17.  Administration, coordination and support of career and technical education, computer networking and web services.

18.  Compilation, preparation and submission of state and federal reports.

19.  Any other power or duty prescribed by the state board.

20.  Each regional education service center shall impose fees to pay the cost of services provided.

Under the proposed bill, between July 1, 2011 and July 1, 2012, the board of education of each reorganized school district and the superintendent shall develop and implement plans to optimize the use of attendance centers, teachers, staff and other resources within their boundaries.  These plans shall be developed after input from public meetings with citizens, parents, teachers and administrators of the school districts being reorganized.

In Leavenworth County there are six school districts, Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Lansing, Basehor-Linwood, Tonganoxie, and Easton.  The total enrollment in the six school districts is 13,550.  Under House Bill 2728 it is possible Leavenworth County may become one school district.

The bill was introduced by Representative Bill McLeland of Wichita and Dr. Walt Chappell, Kansas State Board of Education from Wichita.  The House Education Budget Committee will conduct a  hearing Thursday, March 11, 2010 in room 159, South in the State Capital at 3:30 p.m.  If you wish to testify for or against the bill you can call 785-296-7681 to request to testify.  You must provide House Committee members copies of your written testimony and you will need 20 copies.  Individuals who testify will have a limited amount of time to speak to the committee.

The bill is co-sponsored by the House Education Budget Committee and the House Appropriation Committee.  If you need additional information, please contact the Easton Board of Education.  If you wish to write or call committee members or your Senator or Representative a list of their names and contact information is provided below.

Charles Coblentz

House Education Budget Committee (Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 3:30 p.m.)