Ark Valley News - District to receive less money than requested

District to receive less money than requested
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: August 28, 2015

The Valley Center school district is slated to get only a fraction of what it requested in so-called extraordinary needs funds from the state.

After a hearing in Topeka Aug. 24, the State Finance Council voted to give districts like Valley Center money based on student growth above 2 percent. Valley Center is expected to grow by nearly 70 students, or about 2.5 percent.

The district had requested about $271,000 from the extraordinary needs fund. It will likely receive about $61,000.

Superintendent Cory Gibson said the process was frustrating, but he was glad the district went through it.

"It's not a ton of help, but it is better than nothing," he said.

He said the council did not give districts any reasons why the funding was a fraction of what they requested.

Gibson said after the official student count day, which is Sept. 21, the district will know exactly how much it will receive.

Gibson said he planned to use the additional funds to pay for building aides — half this school year and half next. It's not clear yet how the smaller amount will be spent.

In a twist of irony, the Valley Center district will have about $64,000 withheld from state aid to help fill the state's extraordinary needs fund. The state essentially dipped into each district's budget to make up the fund.

The extraordinary needs fund was created this year to help districts handle steep declines in assessed property valuation or increases in enrollment. It was a response to the state's block grant system, which essentially freezes general state aid for the next two years.