Monday, October 8, 2012

A new Kansas task force charged with finding ways for schools to put more of their state funding directly into classrooms is getting down to work.

Governor Sam Brownback created the School Efficiency Task Force in September. The governor said he wanted to find ways for the state's 286 school districts to reduce administrative costs, eliminate overhead and devote more spending to supporting classroom instruction.

The panel's first meeting was set for Monday at the Statehouse. Members will hear from a school finance expert, the head of the state school boards association and a Kansas Policy Institute researcher.

State Board of Education member Ken Willard heads the task force. Among the other members are certified public accountants.

Democrats have criticized the absence of teachers and school administrators on the board.