Letter: Education funding
Due to recent Kansas legislative failure to adequately fund special education, the revenue for special education programs within Leavenworth County will not match the proposed 2001-02 budget. Therefore, for the upcoming school year, a significant number of special education programs within the county will not be funded at the level proposed by the Leavenworth County Special Education Cooperative administrative team.
The six Leavenworth County school district superintendents who comprise the LCSEC advisory board worked hard to maintain funding. District superintendents provided an 8.6 percent increase in funding during the 2000-01 school year.
The legislative failure to act will result in a reduction of special education teaching positions within Leavenworth County schools. The effect of this loss will cause a significant reduction in the level of service available to Leavenworth County students with special needs.
Therefore, due to the loss of anticipated revenue, the new special education positions contained in the proposed budget and most vacant positions will not be filled. Several special education teachers will be reassigned to high-need positions that require certified special education teachers to provide direct instruction to students. Teachers that will be reassigned include those responsible for the instruction and/or facilitation of innovative, exemplary programs. Fortunately, no currently employed teachers or paraeducators will lose their jobs.
Currently, the cooperative serves over 2,100 students with special needs. The number of students with special needs within Leavenworth County has grown by more than 1,100 students during the past 10 years. It is anticipated that the number of students requiring special education services will continue to increase during the 2001-02 school year.
The cooperative administrative team realizes the unfortunate impact this legislative failure will have on children and staff. Together, we sincerely pledge to continue to do our best to meet the needs of children with special needs within Leavenworth County.
We ask for your patience and understanding as we strive to provide federal and state required services on a limited budget. The LCSEC administrative team would ask your assistance by suggesting that you contact your state legislators to express your concern regarding this recent state action.
The cooperative administrative team Lynn Ahrens, Joy Pedego Fairley, Judith Erickson, David Myers, Lynn Enneking and Barbara Freivogel,
Lansing.