Public education took centerstage when State Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) addressed constituents at the Bairfield Activity Center last Wednesday, November 2.
King briefly discussed the new boundaries of his House District 88 before getting into what he would be the two biggest priorities of the Legislature when it convenes in January – balancing the state budget and funding public schools.
“There’s a $26 billion surplus, and everyone has an idea how to spend it,” King said.
Education takes up about 70 percent of the state budget, and King said school safety will be a top priority following the shooting in Uvalde earlier this year.
King sees three main factors with school safety – Hardening schools but with local control, mental health, and funding.
“I’m not for unfunded mandates,” King said. “If we’re going to tell you what you have to do, we need to provide the money for it.”
King also says the state needs to address truancy and believes truancy laws will be reinstated.
Schools will likely see their base funding allotments increase to help offset inflation, the representative said, virtual education, special education, and community college funding will all receive attention by the Legislature. Virtual education will become more important as the teacher shortage grows.
Moving to other issues, King said property tax reform needs to pay attention to appraisals.
“If you want true property tax reform, you have to appraise differently,” he said.
Beyond taxes, King sees the upcoming year as a “infrastructure session.”
“We ran the Republican gamut last time on social issues,” he said. “Now it’s time to do something for the state. Let’s fix things that need fixing.”
Rural broadband will be an important issue, King said, and the state can reap the rewards of using state funds to leverage federal money. Results will take time, but King likened it to planting a tree that provides shade in the future.
“I think you’re going to see billions of dollars to bring broadband infrastructure to places like Donley County, but it’s a ten-year plan,” King said. “Does it solve your immediate need? No, but we have to start somewhere.”
Answering questions about public education and community college funding, King gave his support to local authorities and also advocates giving support to teachers.
“We can’t let the inmates run the asylum,” he said
He also said he believes teachers who carry weapons should receive a significant stipend and also should have required continuing education not just on using that weapon but for mental health issues related to possibly using that weapon against a student.
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