Welcome to the tenth edition of Ronnie’s Report – a regular update for the 2008 Legislative Session. I will hit the highlights of the Legislature and point out issues that may affect us in District 24.

Town Hall Meeting next weekend
Our next “Town Hall” Meeting will be at Lucky Brewgrille, 5401 Johnson Drive in Mission on this Saturday, April 26, from 8:30 to 9:30 AM. We will provide complimentary coffee and pastries. Come hear what has happened in this session and be a part of the discussion.

Session update
Wednesday, April 30, we will return for the omnibus bill and veto session. No one is quite sure how long that session will last. Usually the veto session is only 3-4 days. However, we have so much that is left to do no one is sure how to project. Some have suggested it could take 6-8 days.

The budget committees will return beginning April 21 to work on the final omnibus budget bill. A number of issues of interest are still to be resolved at the veto session.

Among the issues that were not finalized during the regular session are: immigration reform; annexation; crime bills, the Gardner Hub intermodal facility and the Holcomb coal-fired power plant.

Education Update
I have not spent much time this year on the subject of education in my news letters, so I will focus this issue mostly on an Education Update.

There is only one school finance bill remaining for the veto session. SB 521 is the bill that includes the $59 base state aid per pupil in the fourth year of the school finance plan as well as changes to the special education funding. I will try to keep you informed on this one.

Special Education
A Legislative Post Audit revealed some school districts were receiving over 200 percent the excess costs for special education while Shawnee Mission was second from the last with 64 percent. Other Johnson County School districts also were funded disproportionately. We had hoped the 2008 legislature would address the inequity issue. Unfortunately, it does not appear they will. Here is how it went:

The House and Senate were both presented with special education language and the bills that were passed on to the Education conference committee. At the end of the regular session, both a Senate bill (SB 620) and a House bill (SB 531) addressed 4th year funding for school finance and changes to the special education formula. The differences in the two bills will be worked out when we return on April 30.

Senate Bill 531, which passed the House, changed the special education funding formula to redistribute the state replacement of lost Medicaid funding to a headcount basis in the 2008-2009 school year. The bill also contains $37 million for a $59 per pupil base state aid per pupil (BSAPP) in the 4th year of the school finance plan.

In the last few days of the session, the leaders of House and Senate Education committees met to work out differences between the two bills. The conference committee on this bill and they will agree with the House Bill, making only the Medicaid change AND implementing that change in the 2007-2008 school year which means districts such as SMSD will have to adjust special education funding in the current year.

Virtually all the Johnson County legislators were unsatisfied with the resolution of this school finance issue related to special education. Just as was the case with the three-year school finance plan, school finance policy is being set with little or no input regarding the needs of our Johnson County schools and Shawnee Mission in particular. We protested and voiced our opposition to the bill.

I do not often sign to an “explanation of vote,” but I had to this time. (An explanation of vote allows a legislator to place his reasoning for a yea or nay vote in the official record.) Here is my explanation, which was signed by most of my Johnson County colleagues:

MR. SPEAKER: We vote no on SB 531. This bill does not address the inequities in funding that our schools suffer in Johnson County. A school funding formula that pays some school districts much more than 100% of actual costs while denying adequate funding to others should be amended. We have for so long argued and voted for more money for all Kansas schools although Johnson County continues to be number 269 out of 298 in per pupil funding. We can no long support a flawed funding formula.

Education legislation that I support, but has NOT passed
There are a number of bills that would address the specific needs of our Shawnee Mission School District. However, at the conclusion of the regular session, none of the legislation has passed. There actually has not been a great deal of education legislation passed this year. The next session in 2009 promises to begin a more thorough discussion of school finance.

SB 455 High Enrollment Adjustment
The bill would reduce the rate of “low enrollment districts” by one pupil for each two dollars added in Base State Aid Per Pupil (BSAPP). This legislation would begin the process of creating more equity in per pupil state spending. Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley school districts both testified in support of the bill.

SB 532 Non-proficient at-risk and regular at-risk
This measure requires districts to be compensated for non-proficient at-risk students at the same rate as regular at-risk students. The costs of implementing the bill is large according to the Department of Education, $71 million, but that large cost only further demonstrates the costs for providing at risk services to these students who are in fact at-risk due to non-proficiency, not just because of family income status.

All Day Kindergarten
These bills support state-funded all day kindergarten, SB 345 and SB 405 (four year phase in and begin phase in with high at-risk schools). I do believe the state should be obligated to pay the costs of all day kindergarten. I have voted for the measure as it has been offered several times in the last two years as a floor amendment, but it was defeated every time. I do not support mandatory kindergarten attendance. Parents should make that decision.

Other legislation of interest still alive for Omnibus Session:
There are a number of bills that are still in the House or the Senate, either as bills or as conference committee reports. They may be considered during the Omnibus bill when we go back for the veto session.

Education Bills of Interest That Have Passed
Here are some bills that I may have already talked about in previous reports, but this will serve as an update.

Third Year Funding
The annual budget bill has passed and been sent to the Governor. It includes $168 million to fund the third year of the three-year school finance plan.

Math and Science Academy
SB 404 passed and is on the way to the Governor. Last year, we established the Kansas Academy of Math and Science (KAMS) for specialized education programs at Fort Hayes State University. This year, the legislature returned to address some funding and other details. The bill dealt with the procedure for selecting the pupils which would have a total of 80 students in its two classes.

School Safety
SB 470 is on the way to the Governor. SB 470 concerns school safety and requiring notification of law enforcement and department of motor vehicles if drug or weapons violations on school property. Dept of Vehicles can revoke license and the bill includes administrative hearing procedures related to the offense and appeals.

Concurrent Enrollment
Approved by Governor, this measure addresses the growing number of high school students earning college credits. This bill will allow high school sophomores to participate in concurrent enrollment. Previous law allowed only juniors and seniors and gifted freshmen and sophomores.

Bills Probably Dead

Second Count
SB 459 allows a second enrollment count on February 20. A school district would be eligible for this second count as long as the number of students enrolled in the district on February 20 was at least 25 students or 1.0 percent greater than the count on the preceding September 20. Any increased enrollment on February 20 would be counted as half and added to the September 20 enrollment count. This figure would be used in calculating the school district’s general fund budget. Any additional funding resulting from the February 20 count would be in addition to amounts appropriated from the State General Fund for general state aid for FY 2008.

Cost of Living Weighting HB 2885
The bill would increase the COLA from 5 to 8 percent and require the funding be used for teachers’ salaries. The bill was debated in late February and did not have sufficient votes to pass. I would support this.

School District Lobbying
HB 2775 would require school district to report expenses for lobbying purposes once per year, including lobbyist compensation, and contributions to associations that may engage in any lobbying.

Healthy Weight Program
SB 528 The school healthy weight program permits school districts to establish a healthy weight education program and apply for a grant of state funding from the State Board of Ed. The State Board would be required to adopt rules and regulations for the program, including establishing standards and criteria for evaluating and approving programs and grant applications.

Other District 24 news

A Park For All Outdoor playgrounds provide all of us a place to take a break from our daily routine. However, playgrounds are usually designed for young, healthy kids. Only rarely do you find parks and playgrounds that serve the entire community - all ages, and all abilities.

In the city of Mission is a wonderful project on which many residents have been working tirelessly, called “A Park For All.” This group is a not-for-profit corporation that was organized by interested community volunteers in 2006 to build a barrier-free, outdoor recreation environment for all people, of all abilities and ages at 6022 Lamar in the City of Mission. The goal for A Park For All is not to simply create a place for those with disabilities to play, but one where all community members are invited to play together.

Fund raising is underway and a tax credit application will be submitted to the State of Kansas, Department of Commerce on May 1. David Shepard, one of the project’s leaders and a Mission City Councilmember, told me that receiving additional letters of support from the community would be extremely beneficial for the tax credit application and of gaining favorable opinions from the Secretary of Commerce.

I am joining the effort to enlist more people to write a letter demonstrating our interest and support of our community’s new destination, intergenerational park. I have written my best letter, and now, I am asking you to write yours. Together, we can get this approval and see the park a reality. District 24 will be the first in the State to have an asset like this. For more information: www.aparkforall.org

Here is a sample letter; please cut, paste and adjust the content to fit your vernacular.

April 21, 2008

Mr. David Shepard
Board Chair
A Park For All, Inc.
5960 Dearborn, Suite 200
Mission, Kansas 66202

Dear Dave:

Thank you for keeping me updated on A Park For All’s progress toward the goal of building a barrier-free park at 6022 Lamar in the City of Mission that will serve all people, of all ages and all abilities.

I am so pleased to learn that the Park will serve an intergenerational constituency and that this park will be the very first of its kind to be completed in the greater Kansas City metropolitan community.

I am very supportive of this Park project and know that you and the other Board of Directors and volunteers will be successful in securing the necessary funding to build the park.

I wish you well and look forward to continued updates on A Park For All’s progress.

Sincerely,

(Insert your name and address here)

After you have written your letter, send it to:

Wendy Doyle
Support Kansas City
5960 Dearborn, Suite 200
Mission, KS 66208

You can also send it via e-mail to wendyd@supportkc.org. The deadline is April 28.

District 24 Legislative Survey – last call
You are still welcome to participate in my legislative survey regarding issues coming this session. I have posted several questions in an on-line survey that you may take through my website. This may be the last call for your input.

If you have a few minutes, please go to: www.RonnieMetsker.com and look for the button on the left that says “Constituent Survey.”

I have lived in District 24 for over 50 years, and truly believe it is not what I think, but what you think that matters. This is the essence of representation. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing from you.

Please feel free to forward this e-mail to others you know.