Lawrence Journal-World 05-25-12

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Superintendent ‘scared to death’ of new tax law By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

Lawrence schools Superintendent Rick Doll said Thursday he is thankful the Legislature approved an increase in school funding but is “scared to death” about what the tax cuts signed into

‘We’ll probably be back in a cut mode in a couple of years’ law by Gov. Sam Brownback will do to school budgets in future years. “We’ll probably be back in a cut mode in a couple of years,” Doll said. “We’ve been through that cut mode

before, and it’s really hard on the community; it’s damaging to morale, and it’s not good for kids.” In the budget approved by legislators earlier this week, public schools would receive

an increase of about $40 million for the next school year. The measure is now before Brownback for his consideration. That increase would raise base state aid from $3,780

per student to $3,838 per student, an increase of $58 per student. That level remains far below the $4,400 per student in 2008-09 and below Please see TAX, page 2A Doll

School’s out till August

Storms possible

Low: 71

High: 83

Today’s forecast, page 12A

INSIDE Community rallies to help VFW After 300 flagpoles and the trailer that stored them went missing, community members and businesses helped replace a portion of the loss so that the Veterans of Foreign War’s annual Memorial Day ceremony at Memorial Park Cemetery can proceed, if on a smaller scale. Page 3A

I had my mind on marrying my now wife.” — Caleb Pence, who was able to ignore a storm system dropping tornadoes a few miles from his outdoor wedding on Saturday near Harper. After the 20-minute ceremony, Caleb and Chandra Pence barely made it to their reception site ahead of a massive downpour. Page 7A

COMING SATURDAY Kansas penalties for bars that serve minors are some of the weakest in the country.

INDEX Business Classified Comics Deaths Events listings Horoscope Movies Opinion Puzzles Sports Television Vol.154/No.146

A.G. allowed to join lawsuit ——

Schmidt’s role limited to weighing in on legal fees By John Hanna Associated Press

Grant funding to the Public Works Department to start a program that would have the city pay for repair costs that normally are the responsibility of property owners. Because of the nature of the grant funding, only sidewalks in neighborhoods designated as low-to-moderate income in nature will be eligible for the city funds. The $40,000 in funding also won’t provide enough money to fix all

TOPEKA — Kansas’ Republican attorney general will be allowed to participate in a redistricting lawsuit, three federal judges ruled Thursday, but only to weigh in on fees lawyers will seek after the case ends. Attorney General Derek Schmidt has said he wants to prevent the state from paying unreasonable legal fees. Schmidt will be a defendant, along with Secretary of State Kris Kobach, also a Republican, who has said the current political boundaries are unacceptable because Schmidt the state’s population has shifted over the past decade. The Legislature adjourned Sunday without approving new maps for the congressional, state House and Senate and State Board of Education districts. The impasse was caused by a bitter feud among Republicans over new Senate districts and whether they’re drawn to help GOP moderates keep control of the chamber and check conservative Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s agenda. With Schmidt’s addition, the judges are allowing 27 individuals — including key figures in the Legislature’s rancorous debate — to participate. Kobach and Robyn Renee Essex, a Republican precinct committee member from Olathe who filed the lawsuit earlier this month, are also involved. Court records listed 35 attorneys Thursday as representing various parties. The judges had a short phone conference hearing Thursday, and a trial is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. The state’s candidate filing deadline is June 11, and the primary election is Aug. 7. Schmidt spokesman Jeff Wagaman said the attorney general was pleased with the

Please see SIDEWALKS, page 2A

Please see COURT, page 2A

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

QUOTABLE

REDISTRICTING

NEW YORK SCHOOL KINDERGARTNER BISHOP JACKOVICH celebrates the last day of school with a final go-around on the playground bars Thursday. New York students said goodbye to the school year with a cookout prepared by the Lawrence Breakfast Optimist Club.

Students celebrate end of year By Christine Metz cmetz@ljworld.com

The students at New York School won’t miss math, homework or having to be quiet. But they will miss gym class, recess, friends and teachers over the summer. On Thursday the school celebrated the last day of school with a cookout lunch provided by the Lawrence Breakfast Optimist Club. “This is awesome; we get to eat outside,” Tristan Chavez yelled as he ran from the lunch line. Tristan plans to spend his summer at the pool, but he says he will miss gym class. “It was great. I had a fun time,” Tristan said

8A 8B-12B 11A 2A 12A, 2B 11B 4A 10A 11B 1B-7B By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com 4A, 2B, 11B 40 pages For some homeowners in low-income Lawrence neighborhoods, a busted sidewalk could lead to a Energy smart: The busted bank account. Journal-World makes the most City regulations make of renewable property owners responresources. sible for the repair and www.b-e-f.org maintenance of public sidewalks that run through their properties. But the city’s Public Works Department now is starting a program aimed at helping homeowners who can’t

of the school year. Morgan Mendoza said The Lawrence Break- of the beginning of fast Optimist Club, the summer. “I’m excited to school’s LEAP partner, stay home for the sumhoped to start a new mer and sad because last day of school tradi- I’m going to miss all my tion by grilling favorite friends 100 hot dogs and teachers.” and 200 hamFourth-gradburgers for the er Katy Mestonstudents. Ward also will LEAP stands miss her friends. for Lawrence But there is defEducation initely one thing SCHOOLS Achievement she won’t miss. Partners. “Being asked “It’s nice to do some- to be quiet all the time,” thing like this at the she said. “I like to talk a end of the year,” club lot.” president Don Johnson Her classmate Camsaid. eron Krause said she As they ate, students would miss her teacher, shared their plans for Mr. Bode, but not math the summer and reflect- class. ed on their school year. “I’m happy that school “I’m kind of excited is almost over,” she said. and sad,” first-grader The students aren’t

the only ones ready for summer to start. “I’m always excited for the end of the school year. It lets you look back on what you have accomplished and you get to feel good about it,” Principal Nancy DeGarmo said. DeGarmo, who plans to spend the summer with her grandchildren, said she won’t miss all the administrative meetings, but will miss her students. “I really miss the kids after about two weeks,” she said. “They are what keeps your motor going. Being around kids, you can’t help but be energized.” — Reporter Christine Metz can be reached at 832-6352.

Program to help with sidewalk repairs City commissioners recently directed $40,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding to the Public Works Department to start a new program that would have the city pay for repair costs that normally are the responsibility of property owners. afford to pay what often amounts to several hundred dollars to repair just a few feet of sidewalk. “We’ve approached people before, and the debate is they are looking at either paying

their electric bill or fixing their sidewalk,” said Chuck Soules, the city’s director of public works. City commissioners recently directed $40,000 in Community Development Block

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Lawrence Journal-World 05-25-12 by Lawrence Journal-World - Issuu