Kansas lawmakers are preparing to start a special legislative session later this week to address the issue of inequality in funding among the state's school districts. Some Democrats in the Legislature are outlining a plan that they say would comply with a Supreme Court ruling on school funding. The proposal would shift $40 million dollars from other areas of the state budget to reduce disparities among districts. Democratic Senator Anthony Hensley says the plan would satisfy the state Supreme Court and keep the court form closing public schools.
A significant portion of the money in the Democratic plan would come from a job creation fund. Democrats say the fund has largely been sitting idle for the last year. Governor Sam Brownback is opposed to the move, saying taking the money could endanger upcoming job creation projects.
