There is growing evidence that as Kansas has fallen behind in educational funding, we are also falling behind in student success outcomes,” said Mark Tallman, KASB associate executive director. “We are in danger of falling from a top achieving state to average or worse,” Tallman said. 

Full Report; Executive Summary; Supplemental Information

The analysis shows Kansas has maintained its 10th rank among states over numerous student academic measurements and every state that ranks higher than Kansas spends more per pupil.  

But the report also shows that Kansas student outcomes have started to fall as total funding per pupil in Kansas fell behind most states since 2008. 

The percent of Kansas students scoring at the basic and proficient level in NAEP tests have declined. In addition, the Kansas high school graduation rate, while 20th in the nation, has seen a lower rate of improvement over the past few years than the average of all states. 

Another trouble spot is in higher education achievement. 

Kansas exceeds the national average in the percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds with some college or higher, but the state’s rate of increase in this area since 2005 ranks near the bottom of states. This comes at a time when studies show within three years seven out of 10 jobs will require some post-secondary achievement and states with the highest average incomes are generally those with the most educated population. 

Meanwhile, Kansas’ ranking for K-12 dollars fell from 29th to 31st between 2014 and 2015 and the percent increase in per pupil funding in between 2008 and 2015 ranked 39th and was much less than the states that outperform Kansas in education results.  

“This report validates the 2017 Legislature’s action to increase school funding significantly for the first time in almost a decade,” Tallman said. “It also supports the Kansas Supreme Court’s ruling that funding has not been adequate. Finally, it adds urgency to the State Board of Education’s Kansans Can vision and goals.”

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas City, Kan., man who sold methamphetamine and guns to undercover investigators was sentenced this week to 11.5 years in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Eric Castillo, 28, who is citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of unlawful possession of firearms by a person who is not in the United States legally.

In a series of transactions monitored by investigators, Castillo sold methamphetamine for about $500 an ounce. Along with the drugs, he sold guns including rifles and handguns made by Beretta, Browning and Smith & Wesson. One of the handguns was a .380 pistol with a built-in laser.

The first transaction took place at a McDonald’s restaurant in Kansas City, Kan. Castillo offered guns for sale by asking undercover investigators if they were interested in buying some “toys.”

BY JIM MCLEAN

The head of the Kansas Department of Corrections says he sees no connection between a recent riot at a prison in Norton and disturbances earlier this summer at the state’s El Dorado prison.

But some lawmakers are charging that mismanagement of the state’s prison population is contributing to the unrest.

Sen. Laura Kelly, a Topeka Democrat, said the department’s effort to clear the way for the demolition of a medium-security facility at Lansing has led to the “haphazard” movement of inmates throughout the system.

“I’m convinced that it’s been the unplanned, rapid rotation of inmates from one facility to another that has created this chaos that we’re having in our correctional system right now,” Kelly said.

The concerns are bipartisan. Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Carolyn McGinn, a Sedgwick Republican, has criticized Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood for withholding information from lawmakers about the severity of incidents at the El Dorado prison.

In an interview  with The Associated Press, McGinn said it may be time “to change our management.”

Samir Arif, a spokesperson for the department, acknowledged that hundreds of prisoners had been moved over the course of the summer but said officials don’t believe that the mixing of inmate populations prompted the recent disturbances.

However, Norwood sees a connection between inmate unrest and the political tumult in the country, which has spawned massive demonstrations that in some cases have resulted in violent clashes.

“We have noticed a trend in how inmates seek to air their grievances mirroring what we have seen in society with group demonstrations,” Norwood said. “And sometimes those incidents can turn destructive, just as we have seen with protests across the country.”

Dismissing that explanation, Kelly said it showed “the department isn’t taking any responsibility” for the recent violence.

According to portions of the prison log obtained by KCUR, inmates at Norton set fires, smashed windows, commandeered prison vehicles and attempted to run over a guard. They also fashioned weapons out of chunks of broken glass before guards quelled the disturbance by threatening to use lethal force.

Similar to the incidents at El Dorado, Kelly said corrections officials attempted to downplay the severity of the Norton disturbance.  That, she said, is further eroding confidence in Norwood and his management team.

“I haven’t surveyed the bulk of my colleagues, but the ones I have talked to are concerned and do not have confidence in the current administration at the Department of Corrections,” Kelly said.

High turnover among corrections officers is also a factor in the disturbances. The annual turnover rate among uniformed officers across the system is 33 percent and nearly 50 percent at the El Dorado prison.

Last month, Republican Gov. Sam Brownback ordered an immediate pay raise for guards to help fill the vacancies.

Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.

JEFFERSON COUNTY — A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 6p.m. Saturday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Erik M. Runyan, 45, was eastbound on U.S. 24 just east of Williamstown.

The driver failed to maintain the lane of travel. The motorcycle drifted into the westbound lanes into oncoming traffic and struck a school bus driven by Diane E. Helm, 55, Tonganoxie.

Runyan was flown to a hospital in Topeka for treatment. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Helm and twelve students on the bus were not injured.  The KHP did not release details on the school district involved in the accident early Sunday.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Shawnee County jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of a man charged in the fatal shooting of a Topeka pedestrian.

The jury announced Friday that it was deadlocked after about a day of deliberations in the case of 21-year-old De’Angelo Megle Martinez, of Topeka.

Martinez is charged with alternative counts of first-degree murder in the 2016 shooting death of 20-year-old Brian Wade Miller, who died in April 2016 in a drive-by shooting.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports 18-year-old Christopher Pattillo was earlier convicted of first-degree murder in Miller’s death. Witnesses during his trial said Martinez was the gunman who fired 14 shots from a van driven by Patillo.

FAIRVIEW, Okla. (AP) — Authorities say one of two inmates who escaped by overpowering guards in northwest Oklahoma and stealing a prison transport van has been arrested in Pennsylvania.

The Major County, Oklahoma, sheriff’s office said on its Facebook page that 32-year-old Andrew Foy was arrested Friday.

Details of the arrest and where it took place were not released and the sheriff did not return a phone call for additional information.

Authorities say Foy and 37-year-old Darren Walp escaped Aug. 22 near Fairview, Oklahoma. The Facebook post says Walp remains at large.

The van was later found abandoned and the men were last seen driving a stolen tractor-trailer rig in the Tulsa suburb of Sapulpa.

Authorities say Foy was being taken to Wyoming and Walp to Kansas, both to face charges for nonviolent offenses.

RENO COUNTY — A Kansas sheriff’s deputy rescued 8 puppies from abuse and took a special interest in one of them.

On Thursday, Reno County Deputy Chris Shields responded to a home in Nickerson for an animal welfare check, according to a social media report.

Upon arrival Shields discovered horrible living conditions and obvious animal abuse for 8 new puppies.

Deputy Shields seized all 8 puppies from the home and transported them to a veterinarian in Lyons.

Law enforcement authorities submitted a case to the District Attorney for 8 counts of Cruelty to Animals.

Seven of the 8 puppies were housed overnight and shipped by volunteers to Pawsitive Tails Rescue in Kansas City.

The 8th puppy found a new home with the Deputy Shields’ family. The puppy’s new name is Ammo.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The National Park Service will use skilled shooters, capture and other methods to reduce the Grand Canyon’s bison population by more than half.

The agency gave final approval this month to the effort to bring the number of bison to around 200 within three to five years.

Park officials say the massive animals are damaging natural and cultural resources. Up to 600 roam the Grand Canyon’s far northern reaches and the adjacent forest.

Volunteer shooters would be selected through a lottery and have to prove they’re proficient with firearms and physically fit. Much of the work would be done on foot.

The bison meat would be given to volunteers, tribes and food banks.

A team is expected to develop guidelines later this year.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —  Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for auto theft.

Just after 2p.m. Friday police responded to the 500 Block of SW Western in Topeka. A suspect forced a woman from her car and drove away, according to a media release.  Dispatched officers located the vehicle and suspect in the 300 Block of SW Polk.

They arrested 45-year-old Craig L. Smith for Aggravated Robbery. An investigation revealed that Smith and the woman had a prior domestic relationship.

RENO COUNTY — A Kansas woman accused in a bleach attack at a Hutchinson laundromat was sentenced Friday.

Destiny Witt, 19, Hutchinson, was granted 2 years community corrections with a 2-year, 5-month underlying sentence.

Witt entered pleas to two charges including aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. As part of a plea agreement, the state dropped a charge of aggravated robbery and misdemeanor battery.

One of the other suspects, Jamice Craig, also entered a plea to aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. She still awaits sentencing.

The preliminary hearing for the third suspect, Victoria Keene, is in recess to allow the state to locate three witnesses who didn’t appear in court.

The victim says the incident occurred in the 600 block of East 4th at a local laundry mat.

The victim was knocked down, had bleach poured on her and her ankle run over by a vehicle.
She was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment.