WICHITA, Kansas – As districts across Kansas prepare for more cuts in funding from the state, teachers appear to be the only thing left to cut. That leaves some fearing not only the short-term impact, but how it may affect education in Kansas for years to come.
It is the start reality Kansas school districts are facing.
"We do have some phenomenal young teachers,” said Superintendent John Allison with USD 2359. “As we begin to look at if there was a reduction in force that was necessary, these are the individuals we lose."
Fearing further cuts in state aid, the Wichita School Board began reviewing the procedure for laying off teachers at Monday night’s meeting, noting not only the short-term impact of larger class sizes, but what it may mean for the future.
"It's not a pretty picture,” said Janet Eubank with Friends University.
Eubank says the affects of the cuts go well beyond next year.
"The short term we don't have enough money, certainly deserves input from the community about what's important,” she said. “The long-term effect, though, on any decision is about who will be in classrooms five or 10 years from right now."
Down the road the problem may revolved around the teachers themselves. Educators fear as jobs are harder to find, good quality Kansas teachers will move out of state to find work, reducing the quality of teachers in our schools and that those pursuing a teaching degree may choose another path based on the economic situation.
Those scenarios, coupled with an increasing number of retiring teachers, could spell bad news for Kansas 10 years from now as a state, which once had a qualified pool at its disposal, is now competing to keep its classrooms staffed.
"It's a much broader dilemma that has long-term effects,” Eubank said.
Friends University points out that teaching jobs are already hard to find in Kansas and an increasing number of its graduates is looking beyond the Sunflower State for jobs.
