Reminder: Sat. May 28, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. KDP Chair Joan Wagnon will be in Linn County at the La Cygne Public Library Swan Room. 206 Commercial St. Plan to join us!!
Refreshments will be provided.
All Democratic and Independent voters are encouraged to attend this informational gathering.
For more information, please call: 913) 795-4574.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Kansas Democratic Party Chair Discusses Drastic Cuts to Public Schools
Joan Wagnon calls on Governor Brownback and House Leadership to stop shortchanging our kids
TOPEKA, KS - Kansas Democratic Party Chair, Joan Wagnon held a press conference today highlighting the real world impact of cuts to public schools being discussed in the State Legislature. The following are her remarks as prepared for delivery:
I’ve been traveling the state for two months now, and every audience asks , “What is happening to our public schools.” It is very difficult for the ordinary citizen to decipher all the conflicting information coming from this legislative session. They are hearing that programs they care about are slated for reduction or elimination. By next fall when school starts again, many of these cuts will be in place and parents will see the impact on their children.
The results of these cuts generally fall into these categories:
Higher pupil-Teacher ratios
Less face time for students with teachers
Reductions in programs. Schools have already cut 1600 licensed and unlicensed personnel, and more cuts will come with the FY2012 budget. Coaching staff are being cut as well as guidance counselors, arts, music and other programming.
Increased school fees
Reductions in Transportation services
Delaying Purchases
Particularly concerning to me are the budget cuts to the early childhood education programs such as Parents as Teachers, and PreKindergarden. These programs have already seen a 17% reduction in funding, and if the House has its way, more cuts will come. If we want to reduce dropouts and improve reading skills as the Governor has suggested, then kids need to be identified for early assistance. Not funding early childhood education programs solely to preserve an ending balance is unconscionable. The Senate’s approach to lower ending balances has kept some of the more egregious cuts from happening.
The Department of Education provided me some information about the Base State Aid per Pupil and how that has changed over the years since the first formula was instituted.
School Year BSAPP
1992-93 $3,600
2005-06 $4,257* (Statutory BSAPP)
2008-09 $4,400
2009-10 $4,012
2010-11 $3.937
2011-12 $3,780 (Governor’s recommendation)
If we were to fund schools at the statutory requirement of $4,257 it would require an additional $474 million. And when you consider that the sales tax increase enacted in 2010 drops back down in FY2014 to 5.7%, and the transfer to the highway fund will increase, there will be another $308 hole in the State General Fund two years from now that will make it very difficult to increase the BSAPP.
The legislative Division of Post Audit found, ”…a strong association between the amounts districts spend and the outcomes they achieve … a 1.0% increase in district performance outcomes was associated with a 0.83% in spending – almost a one-to-one relationship.” Districts that spent more had better student performance.
Clearly, these numbers tell me Kansas is going in the wrong direction in funding its schools.
Throughout this legislative session, the emphasis has been on economic development and job creation. But, without a strong public school system, all the tax incentives will be meaningless. Certainly, the trend to reducing the tax base through exemptions, credits and outright repeal of tax sources has been a major contributor to the school funding chasm that grows larger each year.
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. These BSAPP numbers don’t leave much room for appreciating our teachers by paying them an adequate wage for the work they do with our children. Kansas ranks 39th in teacher salaries.
Kansans want good public schools. They want the legislature to make education a priority.
It is one thing to decide in a committee to cut this or that; it is quite another to look a child in the eyes and say they can’t participate in a program because their parents can’t afford the fees. Or to look a hardworking, compassionate teacher in the eye and tell them they no longer have a job.
For many rural schools this will be a death knell. They are already pinched as tight as possible and further cuts jeopardize their survival.
Now is the time to contact legislators and express your priorities before these decisions are finalized. As a Democrat Leader in this State I am appalled at the state of funding for public schools. As a former legislator and Secretary of Revenue I understand the fiscal constraints as well as anyone but Governor Brownback and the House Leadership are shortchanging our public schools, and it’s time to stop!
TOPEKA, KS - Kansas Democratic Party Chair, Joan Wagnon held a press conference today highlighting the real world impact of cuts to public schools being discussed in the State Legislature. The following are her remarks as prepared for delivery:
I’ve been traveling the state for two months now, and every audience asks , “What is happening to our public schools.” It is very difficult for the ordinary citizen to decipher all the conflicting information coming from this legislative session. They are hearing that programs they care about are slated for reduction or elimination. By next fall when school starts again, many of these cuts will be in place and parents will see the impact on their children.
The results of these cuts generally fall into these categories:
Higher pupil-Teacher ratios
Less face time for students with teachers
Reductions in programs. Schools have already cut 1600 licensed and unlicensed personnel, and more cuts will come with the FY2012 budget. Coaching staff are being cut as well as guidance counselors, arts, music and other programming.
Increased school fees
Reductions in Transportation services
Delaying Purchases
Particularly concerning to me are the budget cuts to the early childhood education programs such as Parents as Teachers, and PreKindergarden. These programs have already seen a 17% reduction in funding, and if the House has its way, more cuts will come. If we want to reduce dropouts and improve reading skills as the Governor has suggested, then kids need to be identified for early assistance. Not funding early childhood education programs solely to preserve an ending balance is unconscionable. The Senate’s approach to lower ending balances has kept some of the more egregious cuts from happening.
The Department of Education provided me some information about the Base State Aid per Pupil and how that has changed over the years since the first formula was instituted.
School Year BSAPP
1992-93 $3,600
2005-06 $4,257* (Statutory BSAPP)
2008-09 $4,400
2009-10 $4,012
2010-11 $3.937
2011-12 $3,780 (Governor’s recommendation)
If we were to fund schools at the statutory requirement of $4,257 it would require an additional $474 million. And when you consider that the sales tax increase enacted in 2010 drops back down in FY2014 to 5.7%, and the transfer to the highway fund will increase, there will be another $308 hole in the State General Fund two years from now that will make it very difficult to increase the BSAPP.
The legislative Division of Post Audit found, ”…a strong association between the amounts districts spend and the outcomes they achieve … a 1.0% increase in district performance outcomes was associated with a 0.83% in spending – almost a one-to-one relationship.” Districts that spent more had better student performance.
Clearly, these numbers tell me Kansas is going in the wrong direction in funding its schools.
Throughout this legislative session, the emphasis has been on economic development and job creation. But, without a strong public school system, all the tax incentives will be meaningless. Certainly, the trend to reducing the tax base through exemptions, credits and outright repeal of tax sources has been a major contributor to the school funding chasm that grows larger each year.
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. These BSAPP numbers don’t leave much room for appreciating our teachers by paying them an adequate wage for the work they do with our children. Kansas ranks 39th in teacher salaries.
Kansans want good public schools. They want the legislature to make education a priority.
It is one thing to decide in a committee to cut this or that; it is quite another to look a child in the eyes and say they can’t participate in a program because their parents can’t afford the fees. Or to look a hardworking, compassionate teacher in the eye and tell them they no longer have a job.
For many rural schools this will be a death knell. They are already pinched as tight as possible and further cuts jeopardize their survival.
Now is the time to contact legislators and express your priorities before these decisions are finalized. As a Democrat Leader in this State I am appalled at the state of funding for public schools. As a former legislator and Secretary of Revenue I understand the fiscal constraints as well as anyone but Governor Brownback and the House Leadership are shortchanging our public schools, and it’s time to stop!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Central Committee Meeting March 19, 2011
The Linn County Democratic Central Committee will meet on Saturday, March 19 at 2 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Pleasanton Labette Bank office located at 911 Main, on the west entrance of the building.
This meeting will cover planning for an upcoming fundraiser for our county party that is scheduled for a weekend in April.
We will need all hands on deck.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Please note the change of date for this meeting originally scheduled for March 12.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
This meeting will cover planning for an upcoming fundraiser for our county party that is scheduled for a weekend in April.
We will need all hands on deck.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Please note the change of date for this meeting originally scheduled for March 12.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Getting Involved
Yesterday Sam Brownback was sworn in as Governor and a new legislative session began. In the days, weeks, and months ahead we will witness the most extreme government in Kansas history. Our schools, communities, and our entire state will feel the impact.
Today we start to fight back, and we need your help.
Washington Days, our annual convention, will be the first time Democrats have been together since last year's election. It will be held in Topeka on February 25 and 26, 2011, and will be our first opportunity to organize and build a foundation for success in the 2012 elections and beyond.
We are excited to announce this year's Washington Days keynote speaker, Senator Claire McCaskill. We are also excited to welcome back Kathleen Sebelius, who will be our special guest and will introduce Senator McCaskill.
Senator McCaskill and Kathleen Sebelius know what it takes to win elections and defeat Republicans. After their words of wisdom on Friday night, we will spend the weekend organizing and training to strengthen our party. Will you join us?
Fight back at Washington Days: purchase your tickets today! KSDP.org
Our schools, our communities, and our state are now controlled by the most extreme government in Kansas history. We can't afford to wait for even one moment. Help us fight back by attending this year's Washington Days.
Sincerely,
Larry Gates Kansas Democratic Chair
Today we start to fight back, and we need your help.
Washington Days, our annual convention, will be the first time Democrats have been together since last year's election. It will be held in Topeka on February 25 and 26, 2011, and will be our first opportunity to organize and build a foundation for success in the 2012 elections and beyond.
We are excited to announce this year's Washington Days keynote speaker, Senator Claire McCaskill. We are also excited to welcome back Kathleen Sebelius, who will be our special guest and will introduce Senator McCaskill.
Senator McCaskill and Kathleen Sebelius know what it takes to win elections and defeat Republicans. After their words of wisdom on Friday night, we will spend the weekend organizing and training to strengthen our party. Will you join us?
Fight back at Washington Days: purchase your tickets today! KSDP.org
Our schools, our communities, and our state are now controlled by the most extreme government in Kansas history. We can't afford to wait for even one moment. Help us fight back by attending this year's Washington Days.
Sincerely,
Larry Gates Kansas Democratic Chair
Democratic Values
Although Shirley Palmer did not receive the support to continue on as our state legislator we must begin the next two years with a fresh perspective and a new will to continue fighting to elect Democratic representation in our state.
A recent report revealed that 20 states are now controlled by Republican majorities. We have much to do if we hope to continue the cause of making sure that residents in Kansas and fellow Americans are receiving the proper resources for what our state and federal Constitutions mandate: Protecting the welfare of our citizens - every American should have the right to affordable health care coverage. Our seniors have worked hard to receive and maintain benefits through Social Security and Medicaid. Republicans are threatening to reduce those payments that retirees have come to rely on. Seniors who are now receiving a 50 percent discount on prescription drug costs, will once again be paying too much. Parents who have been given the opportunity to add their children to their health care coverage while students are still in college and looking for jobs face losing that ability if the GOP has their way. Those people who now receive coverage face being refused any health care coverage due to preexisting conditions if the GOP have their way in repealing health care reform.
In the first week of Jan. 2011 our national unemployment rate dropped from 9.8 to 9.4 percent and while these numbers are still high and many are still seeking work, experts have made it clear that the economy is on the right track and spending levels have increased. President Obama, has in two short years, taken a monthly job decline of over 700,000 jobs to an increase at its best level since May of 2008, adding hundreds of thousands more jobs.
Here in Kansas we take pride in our high school graduation rates of nearly 80 percent of our youth. Governor Sam Brownback threatens to lower that rate over the next ten years to a mere 30 percent through underfunding our schools and pushing to restructure our state tax system to fund individual vouchers for private (for profit) schools and taking the experience of school years away from our children by allowing a virtual school system to overrun and outsource our school districts. People in rural Kansas take much pride in their schools, a loss of a weekend football game, other sports, musicals, plays, etc., have already been impacted from reduced funding. Further cuts threaten to eliminate these programs all together. Democrats can be proud of the knowledge that our party stands for supporting the betterment of the lives and services provided to our communites. We will continue to fight for funding for not only our schools but our law enforcement, our fire departments, and our county works departments to keep our roads and bridges properly cared for. These sources are what communities thrive on and a lack of funding will weaken our viability as a community we can be proud to call home.
A recent report revealed that 20 states are now controlled by Republican majorities. We have much to do if we hope to continue the cause of making sure that residents in Kansas and fellow Americans are receiving the proper resources for what our state and federal Constitutions mandate: Protecting the welfare of our citizens - every American should have the right to affordable health care coverage. Our seniors have worked hard to receive and maintain benefits through Social Security and Medicaid. Republicans are threatening to reduce those payments that retirees have come to rely on. Seniors who are now receiving a 50 percent discount on prescription drug costs, will once again be paying too much. Parents who have been given the opportunity to add their children to their health care coverage while students are still in college and looking for jobs face losing that ability if the GOP has their way. Those people who now receive coverage face being refused any health care coverage due to preexisting conditions if the GOP have their way in repealing health care reform.
In the first week of Jan. 2011 our national unemployment rate dropped from 9.8 to 9.4 percent and while these numbers are still high and many are still seeking work, experts have made it clear that the economy is on the right track and spending levels have increased. President Obama, has in two short years, taken a monthly job decline of over 700,000 jobs to an increase at its best level since May of 2008, adding hundreds of thousands more jobs.
Here in Kansas we take pride in our high school graduation rates of nearly 80 percent of our youth. Governor Sam Brownback threatens to lower that rate over the next ten years to a mere 30 percent through underfunding our schools and pushing to restructure our state tax system to fund individual vouchers for private (for profit) schools and taking the experience of school years away from our children by allowing a virtual school system to overrun and outsource our school districts. People in rural Kansas take much pride in their schools, a loss of a weekend football game, other sports, musicals, plays, etc., have already been impacted from reduced funding. Further cuts threaten to eliminate these programs all together. Democrats can be proud of the knowledge that our party stands for supporting the betterment of the lives and services provided to our communites. We will continue to fight for funding for not only our schools but our law enforcement, our fire departments, and our county works departments to keep our roads and bridges properly cared for. These sources are what communities thrive on and a lack of funding will weaken our viability as a community we can be proud to call home.
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