Typically, judgment of such committees is reserved until the groups have outlined their solutions and why they selected the specific strategy they recommended. Traditionally, those who appoint committees wait for their assessment before rendering their efforts essentially wasted by saying the state wouldn't pay for any new enhancements, apparently, regardless of their benefit. Committee members must feel as if they have been used and taken advantage of for spending considerable time and effort to confront critical education issues, only to be shut down before any information besides the price tag leaked out to the public. No one wants to pay more taxes, and it is unlikely any of us will ever meet someone offering the government their entire paycheck out of the goodness of their heart. However, Kansans will pay extra for something they believe is a good investment.
Education is one of the items that fits in that category.
Most Sunflower State residents value a strong and equitable educational system. Today's school finance formula isn't equitable. No one seems to have a better solution for school finance reform, so it seems logical that the public, the Legislature and even Gov. Graves should listen to the committee's recommendations without uttering a negative word about how to pay for it, simply out of courtesy and hopefully a nugget of a good idea. How to pay for it is certainly of supreme importance, but it shouldn't preempt hearing out the options and reasons for the proposed expense. No one should ask a committee to attack a challenge unless they plan to earnestly consider the group's input.