Sports: Iola’s Colby Works earns state tennis berth See B1
THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
GOP touts ed funding as districts look to cut By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Public school districts across Kansas are cutting programs, shedding jobs, ending the school year early and blaming it on the state’s new school funding law, even as the conservatives who advocated it tout the changes as a generous step forward for education. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and GOP legislators contend it provides the state’s 286 districts stability through the 2016-17 school year and will boost total state aid — arguing they’re getting far more money now than they did last school year. But with aid for the current school year trimmed by nearly $54 million, at least eight districts are ending spring classes early, and the Kansas Association of School Boards reports at least two dozen are considering spending cuts or property tax increases. Local school officials also wonder how the Legislature’s budget and tax debates will play out in the final weeks of the session. Legislative researchers estimate that lawmakers must close a $422 million budget deficit for the fiscal year beSee STATE | Page A4
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Monday, May 10, 2015
State struggles to fill budget gaps By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Kent Thompson, and 124 other members of the Kansas House, are in the midst of a waiting game to see what bundle of taxes will be proposed to deal with Fiscal Year 2016’s massive budget revenue shortfall. “Leadership is polling House members,” trying to identify a plan that will get 63 votes on the floor, Thompson told the Register Saturday afternoon. “Right now I don’t know where we are on a tax plan,” although he has no doubt one will surface soon. Thompson anticipates that when it comes to a vote the
Rep. Kent Thompson proposal will be a package of sorts. “I think leadership will bundle several taxes.” Hav-
ing all in one bill likely would attract more support, while one tax or another might find disfavor with legislators, and make it difficult to raise sufficient revenue. Income tax cuts probably will remain in place, he said, although freezing another projected decline might occur. That would preclude yet another cut scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Some tweaking of income tax exemptions may draw support. “When the cuts were proposed, (in 2013) they said it would affect 191,000 small businesses,” he said. Instead, the number quickly grew to 330,000. Reconfiguring exemptions would reduce those
who qualify and increase revenue. A property tax increase was targeted in a Senate bill last week. Thompson doesn’t think the Senate proposal has generated much momentum. It would remove the $20,000 exemption on residential property — put in place to make statewide school funding more palatable — for the state’s 2.3-mill property tax, which would cost each homeowner $46 a year. The change would not affect locally assessed property taxes, Thompson said, “as I understand the proposal.” See THOMPSON | Page A4
Top brass From left, Aaron Terhune, Braden Plumlee, Yohon Sinclair, Zury Burleson, Zach Cokely and Ryan Eyster entertain guests at the second annual Iola High School band banquet Friday night. REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
Competition drives Hermstein
Classroom success a family affair
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Travis Hermstein has packed a lot of living into his four years of Iola High School. He’s been a part of several clubs, including the Student Council, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the IHS Site Council. He has competed in cross country, basketball and is in his final track and field season. He also works in his spare time at China Palace, and is involved with several activities through his affiliation with Iola’s First Christian Church. But the centerpiece, from day one, was keeping up with his grades. “It actually started around middle school,” he said. “That’s when grades started to matter a little more. When I got to high school, grades got to be a big part of me. From day one, I always wanted all
Finding success in the classroom isn’t quite second nature, Jonathan Tidd admits. After all, there’s hard work involved, hours of study, and ideally, understanding and comprehending the subject matter. But the avenue for success is available to anybody willing to put in the work, Tidd said. “I feel like if you’re supposed to do your work, you’re supposed to do your w o r k right,” said Tidd, who will join his fellow senior classmates for Iola High School‘s 2015 commencement Sunday. “Therefore, you should get an A. Tests are intended — if you know the subject matter — for you to get an A. Tests aren’t intended for
Travis Hermstein A’s.” Mission accomplished. Hermstein and his fellow classmates will become the latest batch of IHS graduates during commencement ceremonies at 2 p.m. Sunday in the IHS gymnasium. HERMSTEIN credits his competitive spirit, in and out of the classroom, as a major reason for his success. “I take academics pretty seriously,” he said. “My dad’s a teacher, and he’s well respected, I just like to
prove people I can make good grades also. I just always wanted to work hard in everything I do, including sports a n d school.” That includes sacrificing some nights w h e n the opportunity arose to spend time with friends. “There were nights where I couldn’t go See ALL A’S | Page A4
Quote of the day
“Next to excellence is the appreciation of it.”
Vol. 117, No. 132
75 Cents
Jonathan Tidd you to get a C.” Tidd has proven his mettle in the classroom, maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average through high school. He’ll be the third of his siblings to be recognized as class valedictorian. Josh, the oldest, is the only sibling not to have earned all A’s. “He would have done it, but he got a B his last semester of calculus,” Tidd said, and instead was named class salutatorian. As the children of David and the late Julie Tidd, the Tidd siblings have known all their
— William Makepeace Thackerey, British novelist
lives what was expected of them, in and out of the classroom. “Working on a farm, when you’re supposed to do your job, you’re supposed to do it correctly,” Tidd said. “If you don’t do your job, bad things can happen.” His parents have been demanding, and invaluable. “Our parents would force us to do our best, but we knew they were working hard, too. They set the example,“ he said. “We didn’t want to let them down.” See TIDD | Page A4
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