Wichita School Board encourages budget input

April 12, 2011|By Megan Strader | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) — Tuesday brought it another budget meeting for the Wichita School District. Superintendent John Allison presented the facts and figures of where next year's budget stands, a situation school board members say they're hearing a lot about from people in the community.

"A lot of times they'll give us an idea we haven't thought about before because, literally as the superintendent said last night, everything is on the table."

School Board member Lynn Rogers addressed the board of education meeting Monday night, thanking people for their input on budget cuts and throwing in a request.

"I guess I just want those people who have suggestions to stand up to them and tell me what they're thinking so we can have an honest dialogue."

Board members like Rogers say they often get anonymous calls and letters, keeping them from being able clear up confusion people have about how the budget works.

"The budget is very complicated, there are lots of different funds, there's money that comes from the federal government, there's money that comes from the state, there's money that comes from grants and in a lot of cases the things people think we should cut wouldn't end up saving us very much."

That's why meetings like Tuesday's Community Stakeholder meeting are helpful. Every person there represents a potential money saving idea. One the board can listen to, respond to, and possibly act on, to make our schools better.

"Those kids today in second grade are literally ten years away from being our workforce and it's not that far away."

School board members say they welcome any input, but ask that people also contact their lawmakers since many of the cuts the board is dealing with come from that level.

You can find links to help you contact both, on the side of this page.

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