HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Officials in the USD 308 School System are making plans and communicating with staff and the community about what could happen if the Kansas Legislature is unable to address funding equity issues, and the state Supreme Court orders schools closed.
Superintendent Dr. Shelly Kiblinger discussed those plans with the school board Monday during the body’s regular meeting. The district is a plaintiff in a lawsuit that alleges state funding for schools is both inequitable and inadequate.
The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled on the equity portion of the lawsuit and given the Kansas Legislature until June 30 to develop a plan that meets with the court’s approval. Oral arguments on a plan the Legislature approved in March occur Tuesday (May 10, 2016).
Any impact on schools would not occur until after July 1 when most staff is not at work. Dr. Kiblinger anticipates it would take several days for any court order to go into effect, giving staff who work in the summer time to close down facilities.
Once shut down, Dr. Kiblinger anticipates a small skeleton crew would be allowed to work. Those individuals primarily would monitor district facilities to make sure nothing breaks and is secure. She also anticipates the court would allow the district to pay property and liability insurance, make bond and interest payments, pay utilities and other critical decision makers, including the superintendent.
Other 12-month hourly and salaried employees would be furloughed and any activity that used district facilities would not be held. Those activities include summer camps, feeding programs and extended school year/summer school programs. District credit cards would be shut down to avoid fraud but also have the impact preventing staff from attending summer professional development.
If the shutdown/furlough lasts long enough, it could impact the start of school in 2016-17. Currently, enrollment for school is the first week of August with the first day of school for pre-kindergarten through ninth graders is Aug. 17.
The superintendent has posted information on the district website, has done one video for staff and plans on sending additional communications to staff as the picture becomes clearer.
The superintendent will attend today’s court hearing in Topeka.