State Funding for our School
Dear Kansas School District Administrator:
We are a Lawrence group that formed to save our local schools from closing as a result of the current budget crisis. Along with other Kansans who have made their voices heard in Topeka, we realize that the root of K-12 budgetary problems lies at the state level. We have written the letter below in an effort to mobilize even more Kansans to ask the legislature to provide the K-12 funding needed. Would you please consider forwarding this letter to parents in your school district? Would you please consider writing your own letter to your state senator and representative?
Thank you for your time and help.
Daisy Wakefield, parent of a first grader at Sunset Hill Elementary School
Lawrence KS
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April 20, 2010
Dear Neighbor,
The state is projecting a $510 million shortfall in the coming year’s budget. As a result, school boards all over Kansas are facing the same impossible task; how to cut millions of dollars from their budgets without harming our children’s education. With over 50% of the state’s annual budget slated for funding K-12 education, even small state budget cuts can have negative K-12 consequences. But the degree of the shortfall means that we will be facing very deep K-12 cuts unless the Kansas State Legislature acts to fill this gap.
The legislature goes back into session on April 28th to discuss the budget. They have the power to stop cutting school budgets and social services that have already been hit hard. They have the power to raise more funds to support public schools, but they need to hear from you why a strong system of public education matters. They need to hear how the cuts they’ve already made have diminished your children’s educational opportunities.
Your school district, or part of it, is in the legislative district of Bob Brookens (201 Meadow Lane, Marion 66661; Brookens70@sbcglobal.net). Please write to him this week and please consider saying the following:
• We can't sustain further cuts to K-12 education - and then provide some specific examples of how bad the cuts have or will affect your children and schools.
• I hope you will support a tax increase.
• I am looking for a candidate to support in the next election who will fund our public schools.
• Sign it "a patron of USD (your school district)"
If you have an area newspaper(s), then please write a letter to the editor. Legislators in Topeka really do read letters to the editor from all over the state. Make your voice heard.
In Lawrence, we’ve already had to cut $5.5 million from our school district’s budget for next year and we will have to cut more if theKansas State Legislature does not act. So far, programs have been cut, class sizes raised, and many teachers and staff are receiving pink slips this week. These cuts will hurt our kids and their teachers in concrete ways; additional cuts will only make it worse. We know your district is dealing with the same problems, or even ones more severe.
We only want the best possible opportunities for our families and for the future of the state. Surely our legislators want that too. The more Kansans they hear from, the greater the likelihood that they will respond. Please write now.
Sincerely,
Save Our Neighborhood Schools
Lawrence, KS
