District leaders across the state are eyeing the State Legislature as they wait for a final school finance formula that adequately supports all 286 school districts.

The Legislature has not yet reached a deal on education funding; a new larger plan was in the works to phase in an estimated $293 million over two years by increasing income taxes. This plan was defeated in the House today. When a future plan is successful in both the House and Senate, Governor Sam Brownback and the Kansas Supreme Court would have to then sign off and approve the bill.

Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent of Schools USD 475, said that the waiting game is just beginning, noting that it will take an additional three to five weeks for a decision once the bill reaches the Kansas Supreme Court.

“[It will take time] for them to see if it reaches the adequacy component; so I think that there’s a shot this year that we may have deal with some sort of closing, so we’re watching it very closely to see,” said Witt.

Executive staff in the District will talk about the steps that may have to occur if there is a school closure situation.

“If we can’t be in cleaning our schools, or finish our construction projects and things like that – then how is this going to affect the start of school,” said Witt. “Worst case scenario, it could have an affect on the start of school – we would have to move back the start of school – we’re hoping we don’t have to do that and the Legislature and the Governor get something done, but that is a possibility at this point.”

Witt speculated that this could play out similarly to 2005 when the Legislature was called back into session to act quickly to solve the funding issue before the State Supreme Court shuts down schools.