Brownback Addresses Concerns Over School Funding Bill

Governor Sam Brownback has heard the concerns from teachers about the controversial education bill that takes away what many say is key to their profession, “I think they generally have some accurate points with it but at the end of the day you’re trying to get a bill through the legislative process. Some people are having differing opinions about its impact whether it’s that significant of an impact or if a number of local school districts already provide tenure, so there’s an analysis going on.”

But those that represent teachers have a very different view of the impact of the bill. ”I think it’s a travesty for public education,” said Dave Kirkbride, South Central Kansas KNEA representative. The other questions were about the process adding the amendments to the bill. “There was no openness all this was handled in a clandestine manner even the senators and the representatives did not have a chance to review the bill understand what was in the bill….they were just forced to vote on it.”

Even with those concerns, Brownback is expected to sign it as he supported it during the legislative process. While he does say there could be some changes since he still needs to get his hands on it, he also notes that compromise is a big part of the game. “What you saw is the legislature put another $150 million into K-12, in property tax relief and in the classroom and some folks saying well I don’t like this process I don’t like that piece of it, but at the of the day they did get that done.”