Greetings:

As the superintendents of Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission and Olathe public schools, we are writing to express our unified and urgent opposition to the Educational Choice for Children Act, currently under consideration by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. This legislation would expand school vouchers and divert public funds to private education. Collectively, our three districts serve more than 70,000 students and families in Kansas. While each of our communities is unique, the consequences of this proposal would be similarly damaging across the board.

Kansas has a long history of supporting strong public schools. Our Legislature has consistently rejected broad voucher programs, instead opting for a carefully limited tax credit scholarship initiative. That decision reflects the values of our state — values that prioritize public education, local control and equitable opportunity for every child. This legislation undermines those values and would impose a model Kansans have not chosen.

It’s important to note that Kansas families already have educational choices. Parents may choose private, religious or homeschool options — and many do. However, nonpublic schools are not held to the same standards of access or accountability. They:

• May deny admission to students with disabilities, behavioral needs or limited English proficiency
• Are not required to provide special education services or mental health supports
• May exclude students based on family background, religion or identity
• Can dismiss students who struggle academically or behaviorally

Public schools cannot — and would not — turn students away. We educate every child who walks through our doors. We provide comprehensive services for students with disabilities, English learners and those facing mental health challenges. We operate transparently, comply with public accountability requirements and responsibly manage taxpayer dollars.

This legislation would reduce funding for public schools that are already challenged to address rising costs in areas such as special education, staffing, health care, technology and infrastructure. Meanwhile, evidence from other states is clear: voucher programs largely benefit families already enrolled in private schools, drive up tuition rates and fail to improve academic outcomes. They weaken the public education system without expanding opportunity.

We urge the Kansas congressional delegation to reject the Educational Choice for Children Act. Public dollars should remain in public schools — where every child is welcomed and served, every dollar is transparently and responsibly managed, and every effort is made to deliver on the American promise of equitable, high-quality education for all.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tonya Merrigan, Blue Valley Schools superintendent

Dr. Brent Yeager, Olathe Public Schools superintendent

Dr. Michael Schumacher, Shawnee Mission School District superintendent

Greetings:

We represent the Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission and Olathe school districts, and we are joining together to address the impact of Sub. for House Bill 2007 on Johnson County schools. While each of our districts is unique, the challenges this legislation presents—and the significant and nearly identical impact on our students, staff and communities—demand a united response. Together, we serve tens of thousands of students and families, and we are deeply concerned about the consequences of this legislation on our ability to deliver high-quality education and support the needs of all learners.

Last year, the Legislature made a meaningful step forward by investing $72 million in special education (SPED), moving closer to the statutory requirement of 92% funding. We are grateful for that support. Unfortunately, HB 2007 halts that progress by failing to provide adequate new SPED funding for the 2025-26 school year—leaving schools with growing financial obligations and little to no additional support.

This failure to adequately increase SPED funding forces our districts to make damaging choices: we must divert even more dollars away from general operations, core classroom instruction, and vital student programs to fulfill the obligation left by the unfulfilled commitment and budget shortfall. This is not sustainable.

Recently, there have been suggestions that other existing sources of revenue are filling the shortfall and new funds aren’t needed. However, the suggestion that these existing sources can simply be “repurposed” to fill this gap is misleading and inaccurate.

• The Local Option Budget (LOB) is generated from local property taxpayers to meet local needs, often with voter approval. Shifting these funds does not fulfill the state’s 92% funding obligation—it shifts the burden from the state to local taxpayers.
• Cash balances in SPED accounts fluctuate depending on deposits and spending. A periodic elevated cash balance does not mean extra or unused SPED funding. It reflects cash flow, not excess.

The magnitude of the shortfall is clear. Our districts have already been forced to make massive transfers to cover special education needs:

• 2022-23 school year: Blue Valley $20.3 million; Olathe $36.2 million; Shawnee Mission $19.4 million
• 2023-24 school year: Blue Valley $22.6 million; Olathe $32.1 million; Shawnee Mission $18.0 million
• 2024-25 school year: Blue Valley $25.0 million; Olathe $34.1 million; Shawnee Mission $22.6 million
• Total: Blue Valley $67.9 million; Olathe $102.4 million; Shawnee Mission $60.0 million

Cumulative total transferred away from other student services: $230.3 million.

This is not theoretical. These are real dollars, real impacts on students, teachers and classrooms.

Additionally, the budget also removes a variety of teacher-focused programs critical to quality education and specifically identified in the Gannon decision:

• Professional Development
• Career & Technical Education (CTE) Transportation
• Mentor Teacher Program
• Teacher Excellence Program (cutting $5 million this year and $5 million next year)

Stripping these programs is a direct hit to teacher quality, recruitment, and retention—particularly in a time when districts are already grappling with workforce shortages and increasing student needs.

We do appreciate the inclusion of $262 million to fund the consumer price index (CPI) increase. But let us be clear: these funds are not a windfall. They are necessary just to maintain current service levels and meet rising costs for staff, supplies, transportation, and other essentials. Without them, districts would fall behind, unable to fulfill commitments to students and staff.

As budget negotiations begin, the Legislature must not turn its back on students with disabilities, educators and Kansas families. We strongly urge legislators to:

1. Restore and increase SPED funding to meet the statutory 92% obligation.
2. Reject any suggestion that local dollars can substitute for state responsibility.
3. Reinstate crucial teacher support programs that directly affect student outcomes.
4. Protect the CPI increase to ensure schools can operate effectively in the face of rising costs.

Failure to act will force districts to make serious decisions as it relates to the future of programs, staff and services, shifting the burden to local communities and undermining educational quality across Kansas.

Now is the time to honor commitments. Our students, educators and families are counting on you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tonya Merrigan, Blue Valley Schools superintendent

Dr. Brent Yeager, Olathe Public Schools superintendent

Dr. Michael Schumacher, Shawnee Mission School District superintendent

Chair Estes and Members of the Committee:

We’re providing testimony on SB 47 because many of the procedural proposals are requirements beyond the usual and customary procedures for all elected governing bodies in Kansas. Olathe Public Schools supports active and engaged Board leadership and participation in every aspect of our district. We conform to many of the provisions of the bill regarding Board activities and encourage all districts to do the same if are not already.

The bill’s board procedure provisions allow any single board member to modify, change, expand, or remove agenda items is contrary to common procedure, and would be disruptive to business of any elected body, including the Legislature. The same provisions regarding public comment apply as well.

Finally, for a district of our size, given our number of students and schools, the bill requiring board members unlimited and even unknown access to any district property raises any number of issues, including legal and safety issues. This provision also highlights the contrasting requirement that all volunteers in schools are subject to background checks.

SB 47 appears to be instigated by the actions of one or two districts and a limited number of persons. Statewide policy is best set with our focus on the boarder issues that many districts may experience, not anecdotes.

We appreciate the opportunity to testify.

Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager

Chair Erickson and Members of the Committee:

Olathe Public Schools supports the Kansas Department of Education and Governor Laura Kelly's budget recommendations.

Olathe Public Schools operates 58 public schools, serving approximately 29,000 students. The second-largest school district in the state has over 4,500 employees, 32% free and reduced lunch-qualifying students, a large special education population, and maintains an almost 95% graduation rate.

The 2024 Legislature fully funded the K-12 budget that included the base funding as well as over $72 million in special education funding. We thank them for their commitment to valuable resources that help us serve our community and the needs of students. In Olathe, almost every dollar of new money went directly to our staff compensation and benefits. Our large population of special education students, and the district commitment to serving them, requires continued funding to fulfill the special education cost demands in pursuit of reaching the statutorily required 92% of excess costs.

We support the State Department of Education's budget to continue to fund the K-12 schools adequately and equitably. The Governor's budget recommendations adding to K-12 funding request fulfills that ongoing commitment and the recommendations should be included in the approved budget.

• Governor recommends fully funding base state aid and $72.6 million for SPED, and the same amount for the next four years to reach 92 percent excess cost funding in 2029. The House budget adds only $10 million in new funding.
• We will transfer $34.1 million during the 2024-25 school year to fund the state shortfall in special education funding.
• We could increase starting teacher salaries by $9,020 with the diverted funds.

Thank you for your continued support for funding Kansas public schools.

Dr. Brent Yeager, superintendent

Chair Erickson and Members of the Committee:

Olathe Public Schools strongly supports every school district’s engagement in all necessary training, preparation, prevention, and mitigation efforts related to active shooter events. Senate Bill 263 articulates policy changes to facilitate a statewide set of guidelines. We support policies that reduce administrative burdens when current procedures may be absent, but our interest in favoring local school board decision-making on this issue warrants our neutral position. The mission of SB 263 is already being implemented and refined on a regular basis.

Olathe Public Schools serves approximately 29,033 students in fifty-one public schools in five high schools, ten middle schools, and thirty-six elementary schools. The time, energy, and concentration of resources already committed to safety and security is significant.

The focus and commitment of our Board to our community is the safety of all our students and employees. Our local board can be quick and nimble to adjust to situations, circumstances, technology, and methods to ensure student and staff safety. We favor that flexibility in our responsiveness. There is value in the State Department of Education identifying best practices and providing technical guidance for districts, but statutory designation should consider local elected decision making as well.

We appreciate the opportunity to testify.

Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager

Chairman Lewis and Members of the Committee:

Olathe Public Schools is the second-largest school district in the state. In addition to outstanding student achievement in the classrooms, many of our 28,500 students engage in the available extracurricular athletic, academic, and social activities.

The safety of our students and staff are a priority, highlighted, unfortunately last spring, when our school safety officers had to address a student incident. In addition to our investment in school resource officers and security measures, we are also committed to helping our students’ behavioral health needs both on campuses and with community partners.

Because of our extensive student engagement in activities year-round, and the flow of non-students and staff on our campuses, House Bill 2324 is a valuable tool available for county attorneys to address incidents. We appreciate the introduction of this bill and support its passage.

We appreciate the opportunity to testify.

Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager

Chair Erickson and Members of the Committee:

We’re providing testimony on SB 47 because many of the procedural proposals are requirements beyond the usual and customary procedures for all elected governing bodies in Kansas. Olathe Public Schools supports active and engaged Board leadership and participation in every aspect of our district. We conform to many of the provisions of the bill regarding Board activities and encourage all districts to do the same if are not already.

The bill’s board procedure provisions allow any single board member to modify, change, expand, or remove agenda items is contrary to common procedure, and would be disruptive to business of any elected body, including the Legislature. The same provisions regarding public comment apply as well.

Finally, for a district of our size, given our number of students and schools, the bill requiring board members unlimited and even unknown access to any district property raising any number of issues, including legal and safety issues.

SB 47 appears to be instigated by the actions of one or two districts and a limited number of persons. Statewide policy is best set with our focus on the boarder issues that many districts may experience, not anecdotes.

We appreciate the opportunity to testify.

Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager

Chair Estes and Members of the Committee:

Olathe Public Schools supports House Bill 2139 and the increasing of the threshold under which the board of education of every unified school district may delegate to the superintendent of schools the power to execute contracts on behalf of the district for the purchase of goods and services if the value of such goods is under $50,000 or less, vs. the current $20,000 referenced in Sec. 2. K.S.A. 72-1151.

Olathe Public Schools serves approximately 29,033 students in fifty-one public schools in five high schools, ten middle schools, and thirty-six elementary schools. Our Board of Education and staff pride themselves on being good stewards of taxpayers' dollars. Internal processes exist aside from this statute that ensure fair and competitive pricing is obtained for all our purchases. However, with the size of our district and nearly a half- billion dollar budget the $20,000 threshold established in 2006 creates an unwarranted inefficiency in our system. Based on our volume of purchases the $20,000 threshold is exceeded regularly, adding time and cost to the procurement process, something smaller districts do not face.

The proposed $50,000 threshold will alleviate the inefficiencies related to seeking Board approval on routine purchases, that due to our size exceed the long unadjusted $20,000 threshold. The time saved in a more efficient process around a $50,000 threshold can be better utilized for other financial matters we deal with.

We appreciate the opportunity to testify.

Chief Financial Officer John Hutchison

Chair Erickson and Members of the Committee:

Olathe Public Schools opposed Senate Bill 49 and the mandated use of staff and board resources in a manner that is less efficient, more costly, and divergent from our mission to educate children. We support policies that reduce administrative burdens when current procedures produce the same statutory required results with less use of resources.

Olathe Public Schools serves approximately 29,033 students in fifty-one public schools in five high schools, ten middle schools, and thirty-six elementary schools. The time, energy, and concentration of resources to comply with the provisions of SB 49 are not costs.

The focus and commitment of our Board to our community is on setting and fulfilling high expectations for all our students. Our Board focuses valuable resources on ensuring students have the opportunity to succeed in special education, at-risk programs, with quality, committed staff. Our robust school improvement system holds schools accountable for academic achievement and progress. Senate Bill 49 adds administrative burdens with limited impact.

The current assessment process maximizes efficiency so that Board members and all staff do not have time to participate. As with each function of elected leadership, their skills and time are valued and not best expended in the exercises of the provisions of SB 49.

We appreciate the opportunity to testify.

Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager

Chairman Hoheisel and Members of the Committee:

Olathe Public Schools supports House Bill 2129 and the movement of current KPERS 3 teacher employees to the KPERS 2 program.

Olathe Public Schools serves approximately 29,033 students with a district that employs over 4,500 employees, including teachers, classified personnel, and administrators. We are one of the largest employers in Johnson County and the Kansas City area. Quality teachers are essential to maintain the high student outcomes. Our proximity to the Missouri border presents a number of challenges for a large employer competing with the private sector in two states and public entities as well.

There is no easy solution, particularly if the change were to include administrators and other school personnel in addition to teachers, which is our ideal. We recognize the price is high, but the benefits to our employees are long-lasting. Finally, we hope this hearing creates discussion to begin exploring methods to make KPERS 3 more appealing for employees and affordable for the state. We cannot afford to lose great educators.

We appreciate the opportunity to testify.

Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager

Chairman Goetz and Members of the Committee:

Olathe Public Schools supports the Kansas Department of Education and Governor Laura Kelly’s budget recommendations.

Olathe Public Schools operates 58 public schools, serving approximately 29,033 students. The second largest school district in the state has over 4,500 employees, 32 percent free and reduced lunch qualifying students, a large special education population, and maintains an almost 95 percent graduation rate.

The 2024 Legislature fully funded the K-12 budget that included the base funding as well as over $72 million in special education funding. We thank them for their commitment to valuable resources that help us serve our community and the needs of students. In Olathe, almost every dollar of new money went directly to our staff compensation and benefits. Our large population of special education students, and the district commitment to serving them, requires continued funding to fulfill the special education cost demands in pursuit of reaching the statutorily required 92 percent of excess costs.

We support the State Department of Education’s budget to continue to fund the K-12 schools adequately and equitably. The Governor’s budget recommendations adding to K-12 funding request fulfills that on-going commitment and the recommendations should be included in the approved budget.

• Governor recommends fully funding base state aid and $72.6 million for SPED, and the same amount for the next four years to reach 92 percent excess cost funding in 2029.
• Includes a two-year budget request to ease district budget planning.
• Proposes the state pays school meals co-pay cost for 37,000 students in the reduced income lunch program. Cost $5.5 million. Also recommends $500,000 to pay AP testing for low-income students.

Thank you for your continued support for funding Kansas public schools.

Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager

Chairwoman Erickson and Members of the Committee:

On behalf of Olathe Public Schools, I am submitting written opposition testimony on Senate Bill 75 that creates an income tax credit for non-public schools and entities.
Olathe Public Schools relies on the leadership of our elected school board members to guide key policy priorities that benefit our students. The Board-approved Legislative Statement for 2025 includes the following statement:

• We support using public dollars to support public schools and oppose programs, including vouchers, education saving accounts, opportunity scholarships, tax credit scholarships, tuition tax credits as well as individual tax credits and deductions allowing guardians to receive state income tax relief for approved educational expenses, that divert public funding from public education to schools that are not held to the same legal requirements as public schools.

Senate Bill 75 specifically includes a number of provisions that provide funds to families through a refundable tax credit up to $8,000 per child for use in non-public schools and homeschools at a cost of $125 million per year. Among our specific concerns and reasons for our opposition are the following.

• SB 75 provides for automatic cost accelerators to the public as high as 25 percent per year.
• The refundable tax benefit means even those with no tax liability will receive the benefit.
• The taxpayer funds would pay families for the cost of buying services from organizations that:
  • Recipients are not required to serve all students.
  • Recipients can discriminate in the students they admit.
  • Recipients are allowed to reject students with special education needs.
  • Recipients have little or no accountability and oversight over how public funds are spent.

These features of Senate Bill 75 are directly opposed to the policies our Board has adopted. We have many issues to address together to improve and enhance the historical commitment to public education. We look forward to working with you on a great number of other issues, but Senate Bill 75 reduces resources to address the issues that face every child, family, teacher, and public school.

Thank you for your continued support for funding Kansas public schools.

Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager