The future of the Elk Valley USD 283 school district would have been jeopardized if two bills debated Tuesday in the Kansas House of Representatives had passed.
That was the view of Rep. Jeff King who represents Elk County in the House.
Fortunately for Elk Valley, both bills were defeated by the House of Representatives after an hour of debate led by King.
One bill, HB 2103, would have reduced low enrollment weighting for any district falling below 200 in district enrollment, and Elk Valley currently has an enrollment between 190 and 195.
King said the Elk Valley distrct could potentially see its state aid reduced by $50,000 per year under this bill, had it passed.
“We’re already seeing our state school budgets being hit awfully hard,” said King, “but I feel this bill is an effort to force consolidationa and I strongly oppose it.”
According to House Bill 2103: Any district falling below 200 would see its low enrollment weighting established to the low enrollment of a district with enrollment of 200. Under current law, the lower the enrollment, the greater the weighting totals in state aid.
HB 2103 was debated Tuesday along with an accompanying bill, HB 2102. King introduced an amendment to the latter one which failed, one which have softened the impact upon extremeley small districts.
But observers were surprised when HB 2102 bill failed, 73-45. That bill would have reduced transportation funding to small districts when students choose to be transported to an adjoining district.
This had specific potential impact upon Elk Valley since so many of its students from the Elk City area attend Elk Valley rather than Independence which is their home district.
Under the terms of this bill, districts would have received only the amount which would be paid to a pupil’s home district, and that could cost up to $100,00 annually for Elk Valley, according to King.
King said the State Department of Education is not using the word “consolidation” with respect to these bills, but that’s how he sees them — forced consolidation.
King commented, “There are two ways to make a school consolidate with another one — either put together a long-term consolidation plan, or do what they’re doing in Topeka this week and put a strangle-hold on schools like Elk Valley.”
King said there are six districts in Kansas which are under 200 in enrollment. Altoona-Midway also is finding itself in the same predicament.
“It’s a lose-lose situation,” said King. “Longton and the eastern part of Elk County need that school district. It would devastate Longton if its school district had to be consolidated with another one.”
He added, “If we want to consolidate school districts in Kansas, the stick is not the answer. Meaningful dialogue is the way to go, and I am seeing it happen in Elk County at this very time.”
King is supportive of the efforts being made by the Elk Konnected organization as it ponders various plans for the future of Elk County. That has included many discussions about the two school districts at West Elk and Elk Valley and how they might work interactively to keep campuses open in both locations.
HB 2103 and HB 2102 were brought to the floor by the House Committee on Education which recommended they be passed.
King expressed relief that both measures were killed, as they were in last year’s session.
Opposition also came from several other House members who represent small school districts.
Rep. Jeff King (R-12th District) and Sen. Derek Schmidt (R-15th District and Senate Majority Leader) will be attending a legislative coffee Saturday, Feb. 21, in Elk and Chautauqua counties. The public is invited to hear the legislators discuss the latest developments at the Kansas statehouse and ask questions regarding current governmental issues.
This annual event is hosted by the Farm Bureau associations of Chautauqua and Elk counties, and is always free to the public. This year’s coffees will be hosted at 8:30 a.m. at the Swinging Bridge Café in Moline, and at 10:30 a.m. at the Chautauqua County Farm Bureau office in Sedan.
For more information, call 620-374-2321 or 620-725-3191.
