As Shawnee Mission teachers struggle with Brownback leftovers, we have their backs

Dear teachers: I don’t know how you do it. I don’t know how you get up day after day to go teach, inspire and love our children. I truly don’t know how you do it after nearly a decade of being underpaid and severely under-appreciated.

What happened in the Shawnee Mission School District last week with the school board imposing a three-year teacher contract on Thursday, followed by the teacher/student walkout on Friday, was the result of a perfect storm. This is the fallout of a disastrous experiment implemented by former Gov. Sam Brownback and his allies that can’t be reversed quickly enough.

Even though we have finally ended the litigation surrounding the funding of our schools, we must remember we are at the bottom of the range — we’re adequate, but not fully funded. In other words, we’re still catching up to nearly 10 years of severely shorting the system.

Interestingly, while the meeting regarding the district’s contracts was happening Thursday night, another assault on our public schools was being unleashed in Topeka. Extremists in the Legislature brought forward a voucher/scholarship bill that would divert funds from public to private schools. Proponents of the bill want to dramatically expand this program, which would give tax credits for so-called “scholarships” to institutions other than public schools. While the Kansas Constitution clearly indicates that public funds be used only for public schools (not religious or private), that is of little concern to the far-right faction.

Proponents argue their plan doesn’t take taxpayer money directly, but the reality is it robs the general fund of dollars that would be used to fund our schools. The end result is the same: less money to fund public institutions.

Here’s the fact of the matter: The battle for smaller class sizes, teacher assistants, necessary supplies and better teacher pay is fought in Topeka. And sadly, right now those of us in the Legislature who support public education are outnumbered. For everyone who is angry about school funding and teacher pay in the Shawnee Mission district and beyond, I implore you to hit the streets with me this summer and fall to ensure we elect more public school supporters in the November elections.

And, if you’re thinking that because you live in Johnson County that your legislators support public schools, think again. Some of the biggest opponents of public education are right here in your midst.

If you are unsure where you legislator stands on funding public schools, visit Mainstream Coalition at www.mainstreamcoalition.org/voting_scorecards or Stand Up Blue Valley at www.standupbluevalley.org/our-endorsements. Both are nonpartisan organizations that offer information on the voting records of elected officials.

I will tell you that fighting these extremists — these Brownback leftovers — can be exhausting. Some days, I am completely perplexed by the reasoning they give not to fund our schools, and I can’t believe we have to fight so hard to provide an education to our children. And I know all of you who are teachers, assistants and other staffers are tired, too. You’re tired of waiting for this state to pay you what you deserve and to respect you.

I know it’s tempting to check out and be done with this fight. But I’m not giving up on you or our kids. I am asking that you stay with us and stay in this battle. We need you too much because there’s no one who understands the importance of educating our children more than you. And if you haven’t heard it lately: You are valued and appreciated. And one more reminder: I’m sticking with you.

Cindy Holscher represents District 16 in the Kansas House of Representatives.

This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 4:01 PM.