KS - January 07 2025

1. Saline County Declares Emergency, Schools Closed Third Consecutive Day
2. Kansas School Spending Rises Faster Than Inflation, Direct Instruction Spending Falls Short of Goal
3. Leavenworth Schools Face $5M Deficit Amid Enrollment Drop
4. Farmland Values Rise Despite Low Commodity Prices
5. Kansas Bill Seeks To End Daylight Savings Time

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1. Saline County Declares Emergency, Schools Closed Third Consecutive Day

Saline County has declared a local disaster emergency as it works to dig out and clear roads after a weekend storm dropped more than a foot of snow on areas including Salina. The snow fell on top of a layer of ice and the temperatures well below freezing are limiting road-treatment progress. Due to the conditions, the Salina school district will be closed for a third consecutive day on Wednesday. “Priorities include means of egress, in case of emergency, accommodating our buses and ensuring that 8,000 students and staff can get in and out of our buildings safely,” the district said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience.”

Article Source: KWCH

2. Kansas School Spending Rises Faster Than Inflation, Direct Instruction Spending Falls Short of Goal

New data from the Kansas Department of Education shows that school districts averaged $18,324 per student during the 2023-24 school year. That is about a 4% increase over the previous school year and more than inflation of 2.9%.[i] Many of the  111 districts spending more than $20,000 per student have low enrollment, but not all. USD 500 Kansas City spent $22,297 per student and Salina spent $23,402. Great Bend, Independence, McPherson, and Winfield also spent more than $20,000 per student. Administration expenses increased more than Instruction (6.3% vs. 3.3%). Transportation and Food Service also jumped by about 6%. Following a 2005 court-ordered funding increase, the Legislature passed a public policy resolution calling on school districts to allocate 65% of total spending to Instruction as defined by KSDE. At the time, 54.2% of total spending went to Instruction. School districts ignored the Legislature, however, never allocating more than 55% to Instruction. Last year, it was only 53.2%. Had school districts allocated 65% of spending to Instruction since 2005, there would have been $13.2 billion more spent on direct interactions between teachers and students.

Article Source: Kansas Policy Institute

3. Leavenworth Schools Face $5M Deficit Amid Enrollment Drop

Leavenworth USD 453 Superintendent Dr. Kellen Adams told city leaders his district is facing a $5 million budget deficit this year, due to decreased student enrollment worsened by a lack of available space to build homes. Dr. Adams told the Leavenworth City Commission the lower enrollment numbers cost USD 453 $2.5 million this year as state aid is based on a district’s student body. Increased expenses account for the other $2.5 million, according to Adams.

Article Source: The Sentinel

4. Farmland Values Rise Despite Low Commodity Prices

U.S. farmland values are positioned for growth in 2025 with more buyers in today’s market than sellers, according to a report from agricultural real estate services provider Farmers National Company. FNC said demand is outstripping land availability, which is set to drive a strong market this year despite factors that typically would detract buyers from obtaining farmland, including lower net farm income, volatile market prices and higher interest rates. Much of the demand can be explained due to farm operators’ motivation to expand their operations onto lands near their existing enterprises in anticipation of an upbeat economy, according to Paul Schadegg, FNC’s senior vice president of real estate operations. “Often this land has not changed hands for generations and once sold, may not be sold again,” Schadegg said in a statement.

Article Source: Agriculture Dive

5. Kansas Bill Seeks To End Daylight Savings Time

A Kansas legislator renewed attempts to rid the state of daylight saving time under a bill filed ahead of the state’s 2025 legislative session, which begins later this month. Senate Bill 1, which was prefiled Friday, seeks to exempt Kansas from participating in the national practice of switching clocks back an hour every November and forward again every March.

Article Source: Lawrence Times

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Sources

1. https://www.kwch.com/2025/01/07/saline-county-declares-local-disaster-emergency-salina-schools-closed-wednesday/

2. https://kansaspolicy.org/school-districts-spent-18324-per-student/

3. https://sentinelksmo.org/leavenworth-5-million-shortfall/

4. https://www.agriculturedive.com/news/farmland-values-increase-despite-income-declines-FNC/736648/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202025-01-07%20Agriculture%20Dive%20%5Bissue:69248%5D&utm_term=Agriculture%20Dive

5. https://lawrencekstimes.com/2025/01/07/dst-bill-ksleg/