Judge orders state's public schools closed

[Shrek]

A Shawnee County district judge today said the state must close its public schools this fall and immediately address problems in how it funds education.

In a bombshell ruling -- which won't affect the current school year -- Shawnee County District Judge Terry Bullock blasted the Legislature for not solving spending discrepencies in its $2.6 billion school finance formula and for not finding millions of new dollars for schools. The Legislature adjourned its 2004 session Saturday after reaching gridlock over whether to raise taxes for education.

Bullock's ruling ordered the state to close schools while Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the Legislature fix flaws in the finance formula.

Here's the article.

It'll be interesting to see if anyone takes this ruling seriously.

[zonmoy]

1. What political view is the judge

this could be a scheme to force all parents to put their children into fundie private schools.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Well, they better take it seriously

This crisis has been building for years. The reluctance on the part of too many of our elected 'leaders' to raise taxes is repulsive and led to this ruling. What is more important than the welfare of our kids? The legislature should be ashamed of their refusal to adequately fund our schools.

But Phill Kline may save face for them by appealing the judge's ruling.

Time to write letters, folks!! :grr:

[notbush]

3. It doesn't bother anybody much

because the judges earlier ruling is aready going to the state supreme court. That's where it will be decided.
If you think spending on Kansas school's hasn't gone up ....tell me what the states educational budget has done over the last 10 years. or 5 years.
Check it out, you'll be shocked.
The judges ruling has almost nothing to do with raising taxes and everything to do with the states distribution formula.

[beyurslf]

4. Something has to be done and I guess this will eventually

force it. It seems like we have been arguing over how to distribute schools funds across the state for at least a decade. No one wants to touch it and the legislature always avoids the issue until the very end and then slaps something together.