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Minutes for HB2561 - Committee on K-12 Education Budget
Short Title
Amending the Kansas school equity and enhancement act regarding the transportation weighting.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 8, 2018
Chairperson Patton opened the hearing on HB2561 and introduced Chad Higgins, Superintendent, Maize, who was a proponent for the bill. Mr. Higgins indicated his school district has the highest student density population of all school districts in Kansas, an average annual increase of more than 13 percent. He stated eliminating the practice of setting a minimum level of transportation funding for high-density districts ignores the unique challenges the district contends with and, in Maize, means the potential of another $865,000 being pulled from the general fund and away from teaching and learning. Also, it is hard for the district to fill bus driver positions. (Attachment 17)
Susan Willis, Wichita Public Schools, proponent for this bill, reported that Wichita operates a 3 tier busing system, whereby a single bus will pick up students at an early start location, then pick up another set of students for a later start location, and then again pick up another set of students for an even later start location. All of this work is done to stretch dollars as far as possible. The Legislature needs to look at the transportation shortfall. (Attachment 18)
Also standing in support of HB2561 was Rick Atha, Shawnee Mission School District, third largest district in Kansas. Mr. Atha shared with the Committee that the district transports over 8,800 students each day with over 200 buses. They contract their bus services and each year the cost goes up 3 percent. The transportation funding level needs to be corrected. He presented a table that showed the loss the district faces this year and next. (Attachment 19)
Another proponent, David Smith of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS), brought Dr. Kelli Mather, Chief Operating Officer, as a specialist to assist him. Dr. Mather emphasized that many of the students in the KSKPS district don't have sidewalks which forces them to walk in the street where they are in significant physical danger. The community is bisected by three interstate highways, along with five major transportation arteries. It is critical that the district provide transportation to students whose routes to school are impacted by those hazards. KCKPS spends approximately $6.8 million a year to transport students to and from school, of which $2 million is reimbursed by the state of Kansas. (Attachment 20)
Dan Brungardt, Bonner Springs/Edwardsville, supports HB2561. The transportation density formula is critically important to USD 204 because of its uniqueness of being made up of four different sub-communities with large populations in a small area. Attached are maps and tables to illustrate the district's layout. (Attachment 21)
Speaking in favor of this bill was Mr. Dane Baxa, Community Relations Director of the Goddard Public Schools. He asked the Committee to support HB2561 because US Highway 54/Kellogg Avenue runs directly through the middle of the district and the district needs to offer transportation to all pupils in order to ensure a safe route to school. If HB2561 is not adopted, it is estimated the district would experience a 36% cut in transportation aid and result in forcing cuts to other programs.(Attachment 22)
Written proponent testimony on HB2561 was presented by:
Brett White, Superintendent, Andover. (Attachment 23)
Mark Tallman, Associate Executive Director, KASB. (Attachment 24)
Dr. Todd White, Superintendent, Blue Valley. (Attachment 25)
Dr. Scott McWilliams, Superintendent, Auburn-Washburn. (Attachment 26)
Dr. Steve Noble, Superintendent, Seaman. (Attachment 27)
Frank Harwood, Superintendent, DeSoto. (Attachment 28)
Dr. Wayne Burke, Superintendent, Spring Hill. (Attachment 29), (Attachment 30)
John Allison, Superintendent, Olathe Public Schools. (Attachment 31)
There was no oral or written opponent testimony.
There was no oral neutral testimony. The following conferees provided written only neutral testimony.
Mike O'Neal, Kansas Policy Institute. (Attachment 32)
Sean Tarwater, Kansas House of Representatives. (Attachment 33)
Mary Ann Woirhaye, Parent. (Attachment 34)
Questions were asked by Committee members and answered by conferees.
Chairperson Patton closed the hearing on HB2561 and thanked all who traveled great distances to be here today.
Chairperson Patton announced there would be no meeting on Friday. The next scheduled meeting of the House K-12 Education Budget Committee is Monday, March 12, 2018.
The meeting adjourned at 3:07 p.m.
