Gov. Kathleen Sebelius wants to exclude public schools from cuts that must be made in the current state budget to erase a $141 million deficit.

The Legislature convenes Jan. 12. The governor says she will be ready then with her proposed cuts for the budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30th. She also plans to present her budget plan for the next fiscal year.

Sebelius said yesterday that the plan for this fiscal year is to have the schools receive money they have been promised.

But it may be a different story for fiscal year 2010. She says the plan is for school districts to know how much money they will receive before before they enter budget negotiations and sign teacher contracts.