How a School Shutdown Could Impact Kansas School Districts
The Argonia School Board discussed the possibility of a school shutdown at its June meeting. The consensus of the board is that we will conduct business as usual until the time we may be ordered by the Kansas Supreme Court to cease operations. There is a lot of work that goes on in schools throughout the summer and we will continue working to prepare for the upcoming 2016-17 school year as long as we are allowed.
The legislature will be back in session on June 23 to try and reach a resolution to the Supreme Court’s finding that Kansas schools are not equitably funded. If the legislature fails to meet this requirement, one option that has been discussed is that the Court would prohibit the State Treasurer from distributing any funds for public education until the issue is resolved, which would effectively shut down Kansas schools. Any order by the Court to close Kansas public schools would most likely be accompanied with guidance from the Court. We assume that schools would have the opportunity to request that essential services and personnel be maintained during a shutdown.
A shutdown in July would impact the work and preparation that goes into getting the buildings ready as well as the budget preparation for the new school year. Some of the activities that could be affected include:
- Summer sports camps
- Parents as Teachers home visits and playgroups
- Special education summer school
- Supply orders
- School bus inspections
- Technology maintenance
- Building and maintenance projects
- Grounds maintenance
- Enrollment
Employees not specifically identified in a shutdown order could be furloughed, without pay. Due to this current crisis, there has already been a delay in the school district budget process for the upcoming school year.
Ultimately, this could delay the start of the new school year. Even if a resolution is reached prior to the scheduled start of school, there would be many things that would need to be completed before the district would be ready for students.
If a shutdown order is issued, a plan will be made to identify the essential personnel and services permitted under the court order, and to organize the work needed to comply with the terms of the order. A communication plan will be developed to inform employees, parents, and the community of the impact and effects of the shutdown order as well as tentative plans to reopen schools as soon as the order is lifted.
If necessary, plans will also be made to reschedule enrollment, the start of the school year, and to revise the 16-17 calendar, and these changes will be communicated to the staff and the community as soon as possible.
This is the time to contact your legislators as they are getting ready to head into the special session on June 23 and convey your thoughts and concerns regarding a possible school shutdown and the impact it will have on your children, your family, our schools, and our community.
State Representative Kyle Hoffman kyle@kylehoffman.net / kyle.hoffman@house.ks.gov
(620) 582-2217-home / (620)635-5844-cell
Senator Steve Abrams steve.abrams@senate.ks.gov / sabrams@hit.net
(785) 296-7381-Topeka / (620) 442-8619-Ark City
