Tue, Feb. 15, 2005

Crowd condemns cuts to schools

Wichita's school board hears two hours of testimony about the importance of extracurricular programs.

BY JOSH FUNK

The Wichita Eagle


Wichitans filled the school board's auditorium Monday to argue against cuts that they say could have a devastating effect on the district's athletics, Junior ROTC, fine arts and driver's education programs.

The board spent nearly two hours listening to students, parents, staff members and others explain what a difference those programs made in their lives.

"It's crazy they're even considering these cuts," said Brock Phillips, a senior at East High. He credits athletics for his success in the rigorous International Baccalaureate program, where he maintains a perfect grade point average, in student council and other activities and in life.

Board members told Phillips and the other speakers that they already know how important these things are.

"We know what great programs these are," board member Chip Gramke said. "We're the ones that put some of these in place."

Board president Lynn Rogers told the crowd repeatedly that the way to prevent these cuts is by writing or calling state legislators, who will decide this spring whether to increase the amount of money schools receive.

The Kansas Supreme Court set an April 12 deadline for lawmakers to address the shortcomings of the current school finance system.

Several proposals to comply with the court order will be considered in the coming weeks, but it's not clear whether any of those will pass.

Without new funding, the district expects its costs to exceed its income by about $9 million next year because salaries, health insurance and utilities will all cost more.

The district's total budget of $446.9 million would likely still increase next year under the current funding scheme, but would not increase enough to cover the added costs.

Here is a summary of what the cuts being considered would mean to these programs and highlights of what speakers said:

Sports

Athletic director Bill Faflick said if he had to cut 25 percent of his $1.5 million budget, 12 sports would be eliminated and several others scaled back, eliminating opportunities for 1,843 students to compete.

At high schools, the remaining sports would be football, soccer, volleyball, bowling, basketball and track and field.

Lee Williams, a mother of two, said cutting sports doesn't make sense.

"USD 259 wants more parents involved in the day-to-day operation of schools," Williams said. "We already have a program that does that. It's called athletics."

Fine arts

Fine arts director Dan Stiffler said cutting 25 percent of his budget would cost 11 or 12 teachers their jobs. The cuts would be spread across all the programs Stiffler oversees, including instrumental and vocal music, visual arts and theater.

Mostly, the cuts would reduce the fine arts offerings but not eliminate them.

Tim Jones, a senior at East High, said playing in orchestras has helped him make friends, taught him valuable skills like memorization and helped develop his work ethic.

"I don't believe you can find another program that can generate personal growth the way music can," Jones said.

Junior ROTC

Eight-grade cadet Shelby Martin said that before she joined Junior ROTC this year, she struggled in middle school. Shelby said she was failing math and made regular visits to the principal's office for discipline.

Now she is passing her classes, improving her study skills and learning to speak in public -- something she practiced Monday.

"This is my first year in JROTC, and my first year of not being called to the principal's office to be yelled at," she said.

That's why Martin doesn't want to see 50 percent of the budget for Junior ROTC cut.

Col. Bob Hester, who oversees the program, said he would have to eliminate half his teachers for the program, which includes about 2,300 students.

Driver's education

The board is considering eliminating its driver's education program to save $419,337. This year 2,100 students took classes from 16 teachers.

Several of the program's teachers and an insurance agent told the board that eliminating the program is a bad idea.

Insurance agent Vic Everett said four of his kids have gone through the program and learned from quality instructors.

If the program is eliminated, Everett said, he worries about the quality of instruction teen drivers would receive. He suggested increasing fees instead of cutting the program.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/10902466.htm