McPHERSON, Kan. — In addition to discussions about bell-to-bell cell phone bans and potty training requirements among other things, another topic that is before the Kansas Legislature will have major impacts on Kansas school districts.
On Monday, McPherson USD 418 Superintendent Shiloh Vincent told the Board of Education that special education funding may be the most crucial issue to be dealt with in this year’s legislative session.
Kansas law requires the state to fund excess costs for special education programs at a level of 92.6%. Governor Laura Kelly recommended a 50.6% increase in special education funding in her proposed FY2027 budget, which would have brought state funding to 70% of excess costs. In their budget recommendation, the House K-12 Education budget committee recommended a $10 million increase, much less than what the Governor proposed.
In response to a question from Board member Rebecca Pankratz, Dr. Vincent said any shortfalls in special education funding have to be made up from local tax dollars, which in turn impacts the amount of funds available for such things as new programs and improving teacher salaries.
In terms of available funds, Dr. Vincent noted when the Legislature approved funding for the 2025-26 school year, it based budget allocations on the same level of enrollment seen during the 2024-25 school year. For the 2026-27 school year, the statewide total headcount was down by 9,000 students, but the weighted full-time equivalent number was down by over 12,000. This reduced the amount of funding actually provided to schools by just over $100 million.
At Monday’s meeting Dr. Vincent said attendance at two informational sessions held last week on the bond issues to be voted on March 3. There were different people at the sessions held at McPherson Middle School and McPherson High School.
Among personnel items approved by the board, it accepted the resignations of two teachers at Eisenhower Elementary School, which is slated to be closed at the end of this school year in anticipation of it being converted into a middle school if the second part of the facilities bond issue passes. The board also accepted the resignation of Washington Elementary School 2nd Grade Teacher Abby Bradstreet, who has been on administrative leave after she was charged in a child abuse case in December.
