Kansas State School for the Deaf asks Legislature to restore language-assessment funding, boost teacher pay and fund campus repairs

The Committee on K‑12 Education Budget reviewed the Kansas State School for the Deaf's budget request on Jan. 26, hearing that a recently applied 1.5% state general fund (SGF) operating lapse has curtailed early language assessments and worsened staffing shortages.

"The governor's recommendation was released this morning," said Jennifer Light, KLRD senior fiscal analyst, noting members would receive fuller budget breakdowns before tomorrow's recommendations. Light walked the committee through FY2026 and FY2027 requests and special-committee changes, including supplemental and enhancement requests that would require a committee motion to restore.

Superintendent Lou Anne Barron told the committee the school's Language Assessment Program (LAP), enacted by the Legislature in 2017, is "a critical assessment program" that supports language milestones from birth through age 8. Barron said the 1.5% lapse "meant that 47 children could not receive services," and characterized the request to restore the lapse as necessary to maintain—and expand—outreach services statewide.

Barron said KSSD faces staffing shortages tied to pay differences with nearby USD 233 (Olathe). The school seeks a $6,000-per-teacher increase and an additional 2.5% in FY27, combined with adding six instructional days (from 181 to 187) to bring starting teacher pay toward a $50,000 minimum and improve recruitment. "These requests are not expansions for convenience sake. They are targeted investments in the language development, instructional continuity, staff retention, and campus safety," Barron said.

The FY26 budget materials cited $300,000 SGF for three classroom resource teachers and about $710,000 SIBF for capital work including replacement of the Taylor Gym roof, utility-tunnel repairs, hazardous-material abatement and a new campus gas line. FY27 enhancement requests listed in the packet include $1.8 million SIBF to demolish a campus powerhouse (to decommission utilities and create parking/entrance alignment), $1.2 million SIBF for Emery Elementary and dorm remodeling (split across FY27–FY28), and requests for ASL-proficiency stipends and supplemental-pay contracts.

Committee members asked for clarity on several points. Representative Allison confirmed the roof project is part of the five‑year capital improvement plan submitted to the joint committee on state building construction. Representative Vestas asked why the 1.5% lapse applied to the two schools; Light replied that language in Senate Bill 125 created a 1.5% lapse in SGF operating accounts and the final conference‑committee language did not exempt the schools. When members pressed whether the committee could restore the lapse retroactively, KLRD and staff explained the committee cannot change FY2025 actuals but can choose to add funding for FY2026 and FY2027 if members so motion.

Dr. Burrell Neu, representing the Kansas State Board of Education, said the board is "in full support of the budget request" and cited a task-force review that affirmed the school's staffing and program needs. KLRD confirmed the State Board had approved the contract provisions "subject to appropriation," meaning implementation of increased pay and added days depends on legislative funding.

KLRD also noted special-committee adjustments: the special committee on the state budget recommended lower totals in some areas and deleted reappropriations; members asked staff to provide a consolidated chart comparing agency requests, the special committee recommendation and the governor's recommendation to aid deliberations.

The committee deferred final recommendations to its next session. Jennifer Light said she would distribute the performance-based budgeting measures and the governor's packet details overnight. The committee is scheduled to deliberate recommendations on the two budgets at its next meeting.