Republicans WIN! - now what?

[MakeItRain]

there are shitloads of western kansas districts that should be consolidated but I don't think any republicans are proposing that, are they?

Can you name a few? I can think of Ingalls/Cimarron, but most of those small towns are far enough from each other that it is probably more efficient to just have separate schools. I'm not very familiar with most of western Kansas, though.

Within less than 50 miles from where I grew up, I'd say Caldwell/South Haven, Conway Springs/Argonia, Attica/Chaparral, Pratt/Pratt Skyline, and Cunningham/Kingman. All involve 1A schools less than 20 miles from another high school the same size or larger, and I'm sure you'll find similar situations all over the state.

I think you are conflating small schools with schools that need consolidation. If schools are independently doing well they should be left alone. IMO the only two of those parings that are legit candidates for consolidation are  Caldwell/South Haven and potentially Pratt and Skyline but I'm not intimately familiar with the performance and economics of those districts to be sure.

Garden City swallowed up some schools to the west many years ago, I have friends that had a 30+ minute rural commute to school, that should be avoided.

Kids in the Kingman, Chaparral, and Pratt districts already have 30 minute commutes to school.

That said, all those towns I mentioned have their own DISTRICTS. Even if you don't consolidate the actual high schools, it is absolutely absurd for places like Attica and Argonia to have their own administration all the way up to superintendent when it could be run much more efficently under one umbrella.

there are shitloads of western kansas districts that should be consolidated but I don't think any republicans are proposing that, are they?

Can you name a few? I can think of Ingalls/Cimarron, but most of those small towns are far enough from each other that it is probably more efficient to just have separate schools. I'm not very familiar with most of western Kansas, though.

Within less than 50 miles from where I grew up, I'd say Caldwell/South Haven, Conway Springs/Argonia, Attica/Chaparral, Pratt/Pratt Skyline, and Cunningham/Kingman. All involve 1A schools less than 20 miles from another high school the same size or larger, and I'm sure you'll find similar situations all over the state.

While I fully agree that schools should consolidate; small towns would shrivel up even more.  My high school in NYS is facing consolidation, it is problematic across the country.  There are things that could probably be done to consolidate that would not involve closing schools though.  Allow some distance learning for Sr/AP level courses so rural students aren't so limited in their choices.  This would allow for less staff for some schools (ex. students from western KS distance learn from Dodge or Garden schools).  Consolidate management and district officials.  Consolidate sports teams, more kids = (typically) more competitive teams. -Less overall overhead and probably more options. Yes, some towns would lose their Friday night lights, but k-6 kids wouldn't be on buses for 2+ hours/day.

This is pretty common in NYS- kids from my school could play hockey at a school 30 or so minutes away, kids from a school 15 minutes away could swim on our swim team or play on our football team.

If the only thing keeping a shitty small town from shriveling is a high school it should probably go ahead and shrivel up (as long as the education of the kids improves.)

I don't disagree with your first point, the only place I will depart is that the administrators losing their jobs isn't the big deal with consolidation, they have pretty good benefits packages and in most cases likely close to retirement anyway. The big deal is all of the teachers, and support staff who would lose their jobs. Your second point I vehemently disagree with. I think you are being cavalier with too many peoples way of life. What the hell are some of those people going to do with their lives and to earn a living? I don't think we should let urban neighborhoods and schools die and the same should apply to struggling rural communities and schools.

[Rage Against the McKee]

Kids in the Kingman, Chaparral, and Pratt districts already have 30 minute commutes to school.

That said, all those towns I mentioned have their own DISTRICTS. Even if you don't consolidate the actual high schools, it is absolutely absurd for places like Attica and Argonia to have their own administration all the way up to superintendent when it could be run much more efficently under one umbrella.

The problem with having one district without consolidated high schools is that the community with the most voters tends to have no problems passing bonds, while the community with less voters tends to never get bonds passed.

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

See, the problem is that you need a map. KCK and Olathe are in northeast Kansas, not very far from Johnson County.

 

I live in JoCo, so I'm pretty well aware of its geography, thanks. Olathe isn't just close to JoCo - it's in JoCo. But funding is allocated by district, not county, and JoCo has better district than others. Olathe is, I think, the shittiest in JoCo (could be wrong about that, but I think I'm right).

[Rage Against the McKee]

Well, frankly, I'm fed up with my tax dollars going to those Johnson County schools.

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

Maybe you aren't lying in this case and is just dumb. This isn't an issue of JOCO communities funding Western Kansas schools. It's an issue of bigger Kansas communities not getting the funding they think they deserve because the money is going to smaller schools all over the state including NE KS. I'm pretty sure, could be wrong though, that the first lawsuit involving cities suing the state about this were the communities of Garden City, Dodge City, Hutchinson, and Derby suing the state about this very issue. I know the Garden City and Wichita districts have sued the state several times. This isn't a JOCO versus all of Western Kansas issue.

Ok... so turns out I'm not lying. As long as we've got that straight, and as long as you acknowledge that tax dollars are being redistributed from wealthier taxpayers in JoCo to support poorer schools in western Kansas - you agree with this, correct? - then you can go off on whatever socialist rant you want.

BTW, I looked up the numbers, and for fiscal year 2014, all JoCo districts received an average of $12,183.17 per pupil. Just taking the average spending of one shitty western county as an example - let's go with Gove County - the three district there received $17,223.33 per pupil. Why the hell does Gove County even have 3 school districts?!

[Rage Against the McKee]

Maybe you aren't lying in this case and is just dumb. This isn't an issue of JOCO communities funding Western Kansas schools. It's an issue of bigger Kansas communities not getting the funding they think they deserve because the money is going to smaller schools all over the state including NE KS. I'm pretty sure, could be wrong though, that the first lawsuit involving cities suing the state about this were the communities of Garden City, Dodge City, Hutchinson, and Derby suing the state about this very issue. I know the Garden City and Wichita districts have sued the state several times. This isn't a JOCO versus all of Western Kansas issue.

Ok... so turns out I'm not lying. As long as we've got that straight, and as long as you acknowledge that tax dollars are being redistributed from wealthier taxpayers in JoCo to support poorer schools in western Kansas - you agree with this, correct? - then you can go off on whatever socialist rant you want.

BTW, I looked up the numbers, and for fiscal year 2014, all JoCo districts received an average of $12,183.17 per pupil. Just taking the average spending of one shitty western county as an example - loet's go with Gove County - the three district there received $17,223.33 per pupil. Why the hell does Gove County even have 3 school districts?!

And it's all paid for by Johnson County. No wonder they are fed up. Why don't those other counties start paying taxes, too?

[slucat]

there are shitloads of western kansas districts that should be consolidated but I don't think any republicans are proposing that, are they?

Can you name a few? I can think of Ingalls/Cimarron, but most of those small towns are far enough from each other that it is probably more efficient to just have separate schools. I'm not very familiar with most of western Kansas, though.

Within less than 50 miles from where I grew up, I'd say Caldwell/South Haven, Conway Springs/Argonia, Attica/Chaparral, Pratt/Pratt Skyline, and Cunningham/Kingman. All involve 1A schools less than 20 miles from another high school the same size or larger, and I'm sure you'll find similar situations all over the state.

While I fully agree that schools should consolidate; small towns would shrivel up even more.  My high school in NYS is facing consolidation, it is problematic across the country.  There are things that could probably be done to consolidate that would not involve closing schools though.  Allow some distance learning for Sr/AP level courses so rural students aren't so limited in their choices.  This would allow for less staff for some schools (ex. students from western KS distance learn from Dodge or Garden schools).  Consolidate management and district officials.  Consolidate sports teams, more kids = (typically) more competitive teams. -Less overall overhead and probably more options. Yes, some towns would lose their Friday night lights, but k-6 kids wouldn't be on buses for 2+ hours/day.

This is pretty common in NYS- kids from my school could play hockey at a school 30 or so minutes away, kids from a school 15 minutes away could swim on our swim team or play on our football team.

If the only thing keeping a shitty small town from shriveling is a high school it should probably go ahead and shrivel up (as long as the education of the kids improves.)
[/quote]

^^Don't disagree at all, but no one, R or D is going to make that a reality. Even if a town of less than 1k becomes a ghost town, all of rural ks freaks, because "who's next"?

[MakeItRain]

Maybe you aren't lying in this case and is just dumb. This isn't an issue of JOCO communities funding Western Kansas schools. It's an issue of bigger Kansas communities not getting the funding they think they deserve because the money is going to smaller schools all over the state including NE KS. I'm pretty sure, could be wrong though, that the first lawsuit involving cities suing the state about this were the communities of Garden City, Dodge City, Hutchinson, and Derby suing the state about this very issue. I know the Garden City and Wichita districts have sued the state several times. This isn't a JOCO versus all of Western Kansas issue.

Ok... so turns out I'm not lying. As long as we've got that straight, and as long as you acknowledge that tax dollars are being redistributed from wealthier taxpayers in JoCo to support poorer schools in western Kansas - you agree with this, correct? - then you can go off on whatever socialist rant you want.

BTW, I looked up the numbers, and for fiscal year 2014, all JoCo districts received an average of $12,183.17 per pupil. Just taking the average spending of one shitty western county as an example - let's go with Gove County - the three district there received $17,223.33 per pupil. Why the hell does Gove County even have 3 school districts?!

Can you read?

[michigancat]

there are shitloads of western kansas districts that should be consolidated but I don't think any republicans are proposing that, are they?

Can you name a few? I can think of Ingalls/Cimarron, but most of those small towns are far enough from each other that it is probably more efficient to just have separate schools. I'm not very familiar with most of western Kansas, though.

Within less than 50 miles from where I grew up, I'd say Caldwell/South Haven, Conway Springs/Argonia, Attica/Chaparral, Pratt/Pratt Skyline, and Cunningham/Kingman. All involve 1A schools less than 20 miles from another high school the same size or larger, and I'm sure you'll find similar situations all over the state.

I think you are conflating small schools with schools that need consolidation. If schools are independently doing well they should be left alone. IMO the only two of those parings that are legit candidates for consolidation are  Caldwell/South Haven and potentially Pratt and Skyline but I'm not intimately familiar with the performance and economics of those districts to be sure.

Garden City swallowed up some schools to the west many years ago, I have friends that had a 30+ minute rural commute to school, that should be avoided.

Kids in the Kingman, Chaparral, and Pratt districts already have 30 minute commutes to school.

That said, all those towns I mentioned have their own DISTRICTS. Even if you don't consolidate the actual high schools, it is absolutely absurd for places like Attica and Argonia to have their own administration all the way up to superintendent when it could be run much more efficently under one umbrella.

there are shitloads of western kansas districts that should be consolidated but I don't think any republicans are proposing that, are they?

Can you name a few? I can think of Ingalls/Cimarron, but most of those small towns are far enough from each other that it is probably more efficient to just have separate schools. I'm not very familiar with most of western Kansas, though.

Within less than 50 miles from where I grew up, I'd say Caldwell/South Haven, Conway Springs/Argonia, Attica/Chaparral, Pratt/Pratt Skyline, and Cunningham/Kingman. All involve 1A schools less than 20 miles from another high school the same size or larger, and I'm sure you'll find similar situations all over the state.

While I fully agree that schools should consolidate; small towns would shrivel up even more.  My high school in NYS is facing consolidation, it is problematic across the country.  There are things that could probably be done to consolidate that would not involve closing schools though.  Allow some distance learning for Sr/AP level courses so rural students aren't so limited in their choices.  This would allow for less staff for some schools (ex. students from western KS distance learn from Dodge or Garden schools).  Consolidate management and district officials.  Consolidate sports teams, more kids = (typically) more competitive teams. -Less overall overhead and probably more options. Yes, some towns would lose their Friday night lights, but k-6 kids wouldn't be on buses for 2+ hours/day.

This is pretty common in NYS- kids from my school could play hockey at a school 30 or so minutes away, kids from a school 15 minutes away could swim on our swim team or play on our football team.

If the only thing keeping a shitty small town from shriveling is a high school it should probably go ahead and shrivel up (as long as the education of the kids improves.)

I don't disagree with your first point, the only place I will depart is that the administrators losing their jobs isn't the big deal with consolidation, they have pretty good benefits packages and in most cases likely close to retirement anyway. The big deal is all of the teachers, and support staff who would lose their jobs. Your second point I vehemently disagree with. I think you are being cavalier with too many peoples way of life. What the hell are some of those people going to do with their lives and to earn a living? I don't think we should let urban neighborhoods and schools die and the same should apply to struggling rural communities and schools.

It isn't just administrators near retirement, it's a consolidation of all services, such as school lunches, maintenance, insurance, etc. (I don't know everything that goes into it.)

Regarding my second point, I guess you have to ask what's more important - the jobs of a few teachers (assuming they would be completely let go), or the education of many more children? I honestly think consolidation is what's best for the kids in the communities I mentioned, even if it may come at the expense of town pride.

[star seed 7]

my bus ride was around 60 minutes both ways in grade school, that's not unacceptable

[gatoveintisiete]

my bus ride was around 60 minutes both ways in grade school, that's not unacceptable

Weird that it would be 60minutes both ways, was it the same route?, were the speed limits like exactly the same?, I s there no slope to the terrain in either direction?  I just don't get this

[michigancat]

my bus ride was around 60 minutes both ways in grade school, that's not unacceptable

Weird that it would be 60minutes both ways, was it the same route?, were the speed limits like exactly the same?, I s there no slope to the terrain in either direction?  I just don't get this

Sometimes traffic is different depending on time of day.

[michigancat]

Idiot.

[gatoveintisiete]

Not when you live an hour from your elementary school, clown

[gatoveintisiete]

Lets just face it, story sounds made up, whatever effloadoflibs

[star seed 7]

First on, last off. The route is reversed in the afternoon. I only lived 3 miles from the school

[star seed 7]

g27 really stepped on his dick 

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

First on, last off. The route is reversed in the afternoon. I only lived 3 miles from the school

I used to walk five miles up hill both ways in the snow to get to school, but it was worth it.

Why didn't your parents just drive you the 3 miles?  Seems shitty

[Rage Against the McKee]

I would have rode a bike to school.

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

Welp, never mind. Guess Republicans are going to be dumbfucks and get killed yet again on immigration and silly budget battles.

http://dailysignal.com/2014/11/07/heres-conservatives-aim-stop-obamas-action-illegal-immigrants/

Instead of passing enforcement first immigration reform that the American people would overwhelmingly support, they're just going to (1) threaten the President, (2) bitch and moan when he signs his executive amnesty, and (3) start another budget war by trying to withhold spending for whatever it is Obama wants to implement. In short - exactly what Obama wants the pubtards to do.

[CNS]

The good news is that they will be all the louder in their bitching since their numbers have risen.

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

The good news is that they will be all the louder in their bitching since their numbers have risen.

Yes, it's already begun. Yesterday, Boehner actually said Obama is "playing with matches" if he intends to ram through amnesty. JFC. They're just so amazingly tone deaf and incompetent.

[Emo EMAW]

Go 'pubs! Go 'libs! It's like you're rooting for the jayhawks or the wild wildcats. Go team!

It is the absolute worst things about politics, idiots cheer for this stuff like they are sports.

The reason is (problem is) we as constituents only have one rough ridin' lever to pull, and that's vote left, or vote right (or in some cases vote 3rd party which is even more useless).  We don't get to vote on the issues.  And for example I'm forced to pick one dude because I might like one of his views which I think is important and all of a sudden I'm lumped in with some whacko Christian conservatives or something. 

Bottom line, we need more levers.  We need to be able to vote on the issues.

[gatoveintisiete]

First on, last off. The route is reversed in the afternoon. I only lived 3 miles from the school

You know if you were not such a lazy piece of crap you could have walked to school in less than an hour, but nooooo, send that big ozone burning yella earth killer over to my house every morning at 6:30 am cuz i'm too effing lazy to walk, and too stupid to just ride my bike.

[star seed 7]

I mean if you'd let your grade school kids walk 3 miles on a high traffic road with no sidewalks, then I guess go ahead, but my parents actually love me.