Asumag 1738 Wichita Public Schools Logo
Asumag 1738 Wichita Public Schools Logo
Asumag 1738 Wichita Public Schools Logo
Asumag 1738 Wichita Public Schools Logo
Asumag 1738 Wichita Public Schools Logo

Wichita district looks at millions of dollars in potential cuts

March 22, 2016
The largest district in Kansas weighs its options amid education funding uncertainties in the state.

Faced with rising costs and few signs that the state legislature will provide the funding needed to maintain programs, the Wichita (Kan.) school board has begun looking at millions of dollars in potential budget cuts for 2016-17.

The district, the largest in Kansas, estimates that its costs will increase next school year by $16 million to $30 million, and the chances of getting additional aid from the state are uncertain.

The Kansas legislature is trying to devise a school funding formula that satisfies a state Supreme Court order to fix funding inequities, but lawmakers in Topeka have yet to settle on a solution.

“Nothing on this list is good for kids,"  says Wichita Superintendent John Allison. "Until something is fixed in Topeka, this is our reality."

The cuts discussed could have a significant effect on the quality of education.

“This budget year, 88 percent of our operating budget is devoted to student and school expenditures," Allison says."We are very limited on where we can make cuts to balance the budget that don’t have direct impact on students and schools."

Chief Financial Officer Jim Freeman presented the board with a wide-ranging list of money-saving options, such as closing some schools; changing to a four-day week; restricting out-of-district enrollment; curtailing spending on supplies and equipment; cutting transportation costs; reducing fine arts and athletic programs; outsourcing custodial operations; reducing the number of teachers and librarians; eliminating all-day kindergarten and non-special-education prekindergarten; reducing the curriculum and instruction staff; eliminating coaching positions, nurses, school resource officers and counselors.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...