Author: David Hicks
Opponents of Paola School District’s COLA tax on property valuations launch petition drive
A new twist on the contentious issue of property taxes is being played out in Paola. A “protest petition” aimed…
KSDE reverses course on performance level descriptors with another attempted coverup
After toying with the idea of changing performance level descriptors for the state assessment to be even more deceptive, the…
Lansing plan to use property tax incentives for housing development district faces opposition
The City of Lansing is proposing a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) using property tax revenue to repay developers over…
Open Meetings issue raised after KCKCC Board discusses president’s contract at retreat
A recent retreat attended by Kansas City Kansas Community College Board of Trustees members in which details of a new contract offered to…
Former Lawrence Elementary School staffer jailed on eight sexual assault charges, lawsuit filed against district
A former speech pathologist at Prairie Park Elementary School in Lawrence faces eight charges of sexual assault involving students at…
Study: Kansas should verify desired schools’ capacities to accept Open Enrollment students
Kansas’ Open Enrollment law allows K-12 students wishing to transfer to another district to do so, depending on the capacity…
JCCC says it has closed its Office of Inclusion and Belonging, but Zoom meeting assures “the work will continue”
Johnson County Community College (JCCC) recently made headlines by announcing the closing of its Office of Inclusion and Belonging soon…
Lansing School Board defeats resolution to comply with U.S. Department of Education letter on DEI
On a 4-3 vote, the USD 469 School Board in Lansing rejected a resolution offered by a member to comply…
Voters would decide property tax increases above inflation if SB 280 prevails
Senate Bill 280 would require local governments such as counties, cities and school districts to get voter approval to raise…
SB 283 flat tax bill ending subsidies for housing construction, HPIP, PEAK, opposed by recipients
The Senate Tax Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 283, which sets a course for an eventual flat tax but…
SB 259 promises income tax reductions based on increases in state revenue
Senate Bill 259 proposes a path to a flat income tax in Kansas based on increases in state revenues above…
Lansing school board member wins unanimous approval for monthly report on student achievement
Lansing USD 469 school board members and taxpayers will get a monthly update on the progress in student achievement thanks…
Kansas schools with DEI programs appear unconcerned as federal funding cut deadline looms
The seven Kansas school districts currently known to include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in their curriculum don’t appear…
U.S. Department of Education DEI letter to be discussed in KSBRC webinar Wednesday
The future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Kansas schools and the potential loss of federal funding from those…
Kansas Legislature overrides governor’s veto of “Help Not Harm Act”
Lawmakers overrode Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of SB 63, the so-called “Help Not Harm Act”. The legislation outlaws healthcare…
Wichita voters to decide fate of $450 million bond issue
Barely three months after presidential and congressional elections transfixed the country, USD 259 patrons will head to the polls February…
Only two schools earn an “A” in KPI A-F Grading of Kansas Schools for 2024
The seventh annual “A-F Grading of Kansas Schools” has been released by the Kansas Policy Institute (KPI), owners of The…
WISE Education Expo will showcase innovations in K-12 learning
The Wichita Innovative Schools and Educators (WISE) will hold its second annual K-12 Innovation Expo Saturday, February 22nd in Wichita.…
JCCC reportedly spent $438,000 on its Office of Inclusion and Belonging, running counter to trend away from DEI emphasis
While blue-chip companies like Walmart, Meta (owner of Facebook), Ford, McDonald’s, Lowe’s, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson scale back or entirely…
Governor vetoes “Help Not Harm Act”, GOP leaders promise override attempt
Labeling it “divisive legislation,” Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed Senate Bill 63, the so-called “Help Not Harm Act,” which would prohibit…
Evergy seeks $196 million rate increase, its second hike in two years
In a filing to the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), Evergy is asking for an electric rate increase of $196.4 million…
Is KSDE response to schools on expansion of ICE investigations fear-mongering?
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has provided guidance to school districts on how to respond to a recent…
Free legal hotline for Kansas school board members discussed by panel
Kansas school board members confronting legal issues in their positions now have access to a free hotline, courtesy of the…
Legislature passes “Help Not Harm Act” outlawing gender-affirming treatment, setting up showdown with governor
Healthcare providers will be prohibited from treating a child whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child’s sex if Senate…