Funding Impasse May Keep Kansas Schools Closed

The Kansas Supreme Court said Saturday that it would consider keeping schools closed because state legislators had failed to comply with the court’s demand that they spend more money on public schools.

Students are on summer break and are not scheduled to return until August. However, if the Legislature does not resolve the funding issue, the court could keep 445,000 students and 64,000 teachers and staff from returning to the classroom when the school year starts.

The court’s order suggested that it might even block spending on bond payments, leases and other financial obligations.

Saturday marked the 11th day of a legislative special session called by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to try to answer the court’s demand. Legislators worked through the day but adjourned for the holiday weekend without a solution.

Atty. Gen. Phill Kline urged parents not to panic.

“This office will continue to do all within its power that is legal and responsible to ensure that schools open,” Kline said.

He said he was working with State Board of Education members to funnel funds already appropriated to school districts so their distribution could not be blocked.

The order was the latest development in a school finance lawsuit filed in 1999 by parents and administrators who argued that the state did not spend enough money on schools and distributed its aid unfairly.

The court ruled in January that legislators failed to fulfill a constitutional duty to finance a suitable education for every child, then followed with a ruling in June requiring additional money.

The justices ordered legislators to provide an additional $143 million no later than July 1, which they failed to do. The court expects attorneys to appear for a hearing Friday.