Leadership Gold

Great book on leadership by John Maxwell.

Snow in SE Kansas

Another snow day for the kids of Columbus.

School Finance

Initial school funding details from Governor’s proposed budget

Details continue to unfold regarding Governor Brownback’s proposed budget and the impact on Kansas public schools. Various House and Senate committees are scheduled to receive briefings, and KASB staff will report new details as they become available.

Here’s what we know now:

For the Current Fiscal Year/School Year:

A spending “freeze” uses $86 million in current year Federal Education Jobs Funding to replace state funding. This helps create an ending balance for the state of $35 million.

• No additional supplemental funding for the current year is proposed to make up for the shortfalls in the statewide 20 mill levy, higher enrollment and more free lunch students counted for at-risk funding. Previous estimates suggest this could reduce the base $75.

Proposed for Next Year FY12:

• Base budget per pupil reduced from the current published level of $4,012 to $3,780.
  
• Special education increased by $60 million to comply with federal maintenance of effort requirements. This would equal approximately $90 on the base budget per pupil, but presumably will be distributed through the special education formula.
  
• The $86 million Education Jobs Funding used in the current year is replaced. This would avoid further cuts in the base.
  
• Despite the reduction in the base budget per pupil, total state funding for all K-12 programs – including special education, bond and interest aid, KPERS school aid, and replacement of the Education Jobs funding – is estimated to increase about $200 per FTE pupil.
  
• The ending balance for FY12 is only $7.5 million, which equates to about one-tenth of one percent. This means any shortfall in state revenues will throw the budget out of balance.
  
• A transfer of $200 million from the State Highway Plan is made to help finance state general fund expenditures.

Snow

I hate snow!

Weekend

We celebrated our family Christmas this past weekend. It was great having Craig, Brian and Allison here with us.

We enjoyed a trip to NW Arkansas on Saturday before taking Craig to the airport on Sunday afternoon. We hit the Walmart Visitors Center in Bentonville. We had AQ Chicken. Craig wanted to bowl so we enjoyed a fun game in Springdale. We ended the day watching Country Strong in Joplin Saturday evening.

Craig left from Tulsa at 1:00 on Sunday. He had a safe flight to Atlanta then on to New York City. He heads back to work tomorrow, then his final semester of school begins February 1.

Wednesday Pics

Craig

Sure is nice to have my little boy home.

New Year's Resolutions from the Heart of God

I have heard many different New Year's messages by ministers trying to motivate individuals and congregations to make changes in their lives as they begin a new year. Many encourage members to to do more, serve more and give more. This of course is what we need to do, but yesterday I heard one of the best messages from Mark 12:28-34. The primary thing we need to do in 2011 is prioritize people. We get so caught up in ME being the focus of everything in life, we need to shift that focus to OTHERS. That is sometimes difficult and uncomfortable to do.

We were challenged to ask four questions of ourselves in 2011:

1. How am I engaging the culture and people around me?

We must have an intentional focus on people each day. When we wake up each day we need to have the goal of being sensitive to the needs of others.

2. Who have I encountered recently who needs help in starting a spiritual journey with God?

We only need to be willing and ready; God is always able to help s encounter people He wants us to bless.

3. How have I embraced the people God has brought into my sphere of influence with friendship and love?

We must live out the message in our lives. If you live out the message people will approach you.

4. What am I intentionally doing to help them advance in their journey toward God?

Our responsibility is not to convert people; our task is to help them get on a path where God and His Spirit are able to touch hearts and bring them into relationship with Himself.

The early church were a community of faith empowered by the Holy Spirit that turned their world upside down by loving God and loving people.

If we refocus on others in 2011, we really could make a drastic change in this world and in the lives of many around us.

OU Fiesta Bowl Champs

HAPPY NEW YEAR

God bless you and your family in this new year!