Russell County USD 407

Central Administration Office

802 N. Main  Russell, KS 67665  Phone: (785) 483-2173  Fax: (785) 483-2175  Web:

WHAT EXACTLY DOES A SCHOOL SHUTDOWN MEAN

WHAT EXACTLY HAS HAPPENED?

The Ganon Court case regarding school funding continues to dominate the news both at a state level and also at a national level. Once again, the Supreme Court has ruled that the school funding formula is unconstitutional. The court has stated this over and over again. This time however, they have given the Legislature a deadline of June 30, 2016 to craft a school finance bill that the courts believe equitably distributes the funds allocated to public education. If the Legislature does not comply, the courts have ordered all public schools closed effective July1, 2016.

SO WHAT EXACTLY DOES THIS MEAN?

As a school leader, I am very concerned and worried about the impact of an imminent shut down. Currently, there are 67,000 Full Time Equivalentemployees in Kansas’ public schools, which constitute 5% of the non-agricultural work force in Kansas. Equally important, these Kansans educate approximately nine million students Pre K-12th grade. Not only do we educate these students, we feed them, we transport them to school and to school related events, we provide health care for many, we provide counseling services all in the name of developing a future society of well-educated and cared for citizens, who in turn we expect will continue to do the same for generations to come.

At this point, with the given information from the Supreme Court Justices’ decision and the inaction of the Governorto call a special session to address the matter of constitutionally funding public education, both adequately and equitably, school officials, such as myself, are left in a state of limbo and indecisiveness. In the event of a shut down of operations by July 1st, school officials are preparing for the worst-case scenario and praying for the best possible outcome. Although the court has not offered precise guidance on what exactly a shutdown will and will not entail, the guidance that has been issued with the Justices’ unanimous decision has deemed the current school funding law passed by the legislatures and signed into law by Governor Brownback as unconstitutional. Further logic by the Justices’ concludes that an unconstitutional law cannot be enforced and therefore does not exit. Simply put, since school districts’ fiscal year runs from July 1-June 30th, at the close of this fiscal year, June 30th, 2016, school districts are not allowed to spend any money because there is no constitutional funding system provided by the state that authorizes such expenditures.

With no legal funding system, schools cannot meet payroll obligations, schools cannot pay operational expenditures (electricity, water etc…), schools cannot pay creditors/vendors for supplies ordered, goods purchased, contracted labor and so on. The court to date has not offered any other guidance at this point.

If this matter is not resolved on or before June 30th, at the close of business on June 30th, school officials and all employees have been directed to walk out, lock the doors to our facilities and wait. Now, we wait to see if our Governor will call the Legislative body into a special session to address the court order or, if the Legislature will petition the Governor to call a special session.

If a special Legislative session is not called and this matter is not resolved by June 30th, 67,000 public school employees will no longer be employed. Their healthcare will be suspended. This 67,000 includes everyone-Administrators, Teachers, Secretaries, Paraprofessionals, Cooks, Custodians, Bus Drivers, Coaches. Further, schools, including all facilities will remain closed until further notification. This will also include the suspension of any use of facilities including facilities used for summer athletic training and camps, summer food service program, use of the facilities by Recreation Commission or any other outside organization.

The following bulleted list will provide a snapshot of items that will have to be addressed in the event of a shutdown:

  • Unable to hold scheduled board meetings-including July organizational meeting
  • Unpaid Employee Salaries
  • Unpaid Employee health insurance/dental insurance/vision insurance
  • Delayed KPERS payments
  • Delayed fiscal year end accounting and transfer of funds
  • Delayed preparation of budget
  • Delayed review, renewal and issuance of teacher licenses
  • Unpaid bills-many subject to penalty
  • Delayed negotiations
  • Delayed issuance of employee contracts
  • Inability to receive instructional items that have been purchased
  • Delayed hiring of new staff
  • Delayed enrollment
  • Website will not be updated
  • Accumulating mail at the Post Office
  • Disruption in the pick up of diplomas, grade cards, transcripts
  • Delayed mailing of student transcripts to colleges
  • Delayed school bus maintenance and annual inspections
  • Delayed Food Service Application required by Federal law-due July 15th
  • Suspension of summer maintenance for facilities
  • Suspension of summer custodial work
  • Suspension of upkeep of grounds (mowing, spraying)
  • Suspension of Summer Food Service Program
  • Suspension of Summer School Opportunities after July 1, including those services mandated by Federal Law or IDEA
  • Suspension of preparing technology for a new school year
  • Suspension of all Athletic Training and Summer Camps
  • Suspension of any previously scheduled summer events (Cheerleading, Dance, Band, Athletics)
  • Suspension of any use of any USD facility by outside groups including Recreation Commission
  • Possible loss of employees due to fear of not having a job or being able to pay their bills due to unemployment

I am quite sure that I have not even thought of everything that will happen in the event of a shutdown, but as you can see, the potential impact on staff, students’, community and state will be devastating.

SO WHAT IS USD 407 ADMINISTRATION/STAFF AND BOE DOING TO PREPARE?

  • An Administrative Team and Board of Education special meeting will be held, once a shutdown order is made, to review the parameters of the Court order, identify essential personnel and services permitted under the court order, and to organize the work needed to comply with the terms of the order.
  • The Board may be asked to approve the early disbursement of paychecks to hourly employees for hours worked/anticipated prior to July 1.
  • The Board may be asked to authorize the school district to pre-pay health insurance premiums for July and August in order to continue that benefit for employees and assure the timely payment of claims.
  • The Board may be asked to approve early payments of vendors for goods and services already supplied to the school district.
  • Notification will be made to all district vendors regarding the suspension of deliveries, purchases, orders and services until further notice.
  • A communication plan will be developed to inform employees, parents and the community of the impact and effects of a shutdown order, as well as tentative plans to reopen schools as soon as the court order is lifted.
  • Contingencies will be identified and developed for rescheduling enrollment day, the start of the school year, and a revised academic calendar if necessary, and communicated to staff and community.
  • Staff, Students and Community will be apprised of the inability to use facilities after July 1st for summer practices, camps and activities.

SO WHAT CAN I DO AS A CONCERNED STAFF MEMBER/PARENT/CITIZEN?

You are urged to stay informed of what is happening. It is critical that you know and understand the ramifications of this unprecedented situation our state finds itself in. Many decisions hang in the balance right now.Most concerning is the impact this threat will have on our students, staff, parents, community and even our state if nothing is resolved.

Imagine the exponential impact on our economy when 67,000 school employees are unable to pay personal income tax due to a shutdown. Imagine the impact on our economy when 67,000 employees collect unemployment due to not having a monthly salary. Imagine the impact on working parents having to find and pay for unanticipated childcare if schools are shut down. Kansas’ school districts purchase approximately $735 million in services yearly, $657 million supplies, materials and property are purchased annually, and $500 million is paid to our state in debt service. Imagine the far-reaching impact of these dollars not being spent due to shutting down our schools. I would ask you to think on a personal level how the effects of a school shutdown will directly impact you. Finally, I would ask that you communicate this in various ways to your Representative, Senator and Governor.

In closing, the words of well known news anchor, Tom Brokaw, define the importance of public education as he has eloquently stated, “There is a place in America to take a stand: it is public education. It is the underpinning of our cultural and political system. It is the great common ground. Public education after all is the engine that moves us as a society toward a common destiny…It is in public education that the American dream begins to take shape.”

As a citizen, taxpayer, parent, grandparent, educator, please stand with me in fighting for public education and keeping the American dream alive by keeping informed and taking action.

Respectfully Submitted,

Angela Lawrence

Superintendent

“Education is our Business”

Simpson Elementary School
(Grades K - 1)
1323 N. Main
Russell, KS 67665
Ph: (785) 483-6180
Ph: (877) 825-4375
Fx: (785) 483-5459 / Bickerdyke Elementary School
(Grades 2 – 5)
348 N. Maple
Russell, KS 67665
Ph: (785) 483-6066
Ph: (877) 750-8090
Fx: (785) 483-5982 / Ruppenthal Middle School
(Grades 6 – 8)
400 N. Elm
Russell, KS 67665
Ph: (785) 483-3174
Ph: (877) 825-9428
Fx: (785) 483-5386 / Russell High School
(Grades 9 – 12)
565 State Street
Russell, KS
Ph: (785) 483-5631
Ph: (877) 750-8091
Fx: (785) 483-5636