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Kansas budget negotiations leave Derby district watching possible cuts to education grants
Summary
Finance director Pam Kelly told the board the House and Senate differ on HB 2007 and related measures; the House proposed $10 million for special education while the Senate would add none and is proposing cuts to several education programs, which could affect Derby’s grant-funded safety and professional-development dollars.
Pam Kelly, Derby Public Schools director of finance, briefed the board on developments at the Kansas Legislature and how pending bills could affect district revenue and programs.
Kelly said both chambers have passed different versions of the main education funding bill (HB 2007). "The primary differences between the House budget and Senate budget for education funding: the House added $10,000,000 for special education funding; the Senate added no new money for special education," she said. When the two chambers disagree, conference committees meet to reconcile differences.
Kelly told trustees the Senate’s proposal would eliminate several streams the district currently receives or expects: the Safe and Secure grant, professional-development funding, CTE transportation reimbursement, the mentor-teaching program and teacher-excellence grants. She said the current-year deletions in the Senate package would affect the district by roughly $205,000 (as presented to the board). The House proposal, Kelly said, would accept some Senate reductions starting next year rather than retroactively cutting the current year.
Other bills Kelly mentioned include SB2 (Greeley County bond question), SB45 (alternative graduation-rate treatment for students who transfer to homeschooling or nonaccredited private schools), SB114 (ancillary participation for nonpublic students), HB2031 (motorcycle-license reciprocity for driving instructors), HB2033 (approved providers list for at‑risk programs), HB2069 (interstate licensing for school psychologists) and HB2102 (advanced enrollment for military students). She also said SB87, a proposed expansion of the low‑income scholarship tax credit, has not moved and likely lacks traction this session.
Kelly told the board the House and Senate returned to conference-committee work the week of the meeting and that March 28 was the first adjournment target; veto session would be expected to begin April 10. She advised trustees that the situation could change quickly and that staff will continue monitoring conference committee action and report back.
Board members discussed implications for district programs, including whether the district would cover any teacher stipend or mentor expenses if the state eliminates those streams; trustees said they would prioritize absorbing critical items rather than cutting staff positions.
No formal board action was taken on the legislative items at the March 24 meeting.
