Word On School Lawsuit Mediator To Come

A lawyer involved in a Kansas education funding lawsuit says the parties expect to disclose next week whether they can agree on a mediator for settlement talks.

Newton attorney John Robb confirms the parties hadn’t filed anything with the Kansas Supreme Court on who they’d prefer as mediator by a Friday evening deadline. The high court has ordered mediation.

The court has a conference call on scheduling set for Monday, and Robb said the issue of the mediator should be addressed then.

Robb represents several school districts and parents who sued the state over education funding in 2010.

A lower-court panel ruled in January that legislators must boost the state’s annual spending on public schools by at least $440 million. The state appealed that ruling.