Kansas considers changes to schools for deaf, blind

Miss-Delectable · 07-12-2009, 08:16 AM

Kansas considers changes to schools for deaf, blind - Kansas City Business Journal:

Kansas leaders are considering cutting funding for or possibly closing the Kansas State School for the Deaf in Olathe, or combining it with the Kansas State School for the Blind in Kansas City, Kan.

The Governor’s Closure and Realignment Commission, an 11-member panel appointed earlier this year by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, scheduled a second hearing for July 27 to consider cuts to the state’s expenditures. Others facilities the commission is studying include the Rainbow Mental Health Facility in Kansas City, Kan.

Robert Maile, superintendent for the Kansas State School for the Deaf, said Wednesday that he thinks the commission is considering the possibility of combining the school with the Kansas State School for the Blind.

The commission has asked the school for the deaf to provide information about buildings on its campus and how much available space they have, Maile said.

“It sounds like they’re looking at combining the two and saving costs,” he said.

The school for the deaf has an operating budget of $9.5 million, 140 to 150 employees and 135 students.

“We have 173 positions at the school, but we’ve had to leave 30-plus vacant,” Maile said.

Combining the two schools would save the state some money, he said. The educational operations would be separate, but the business, personnel and maintenance offices could be shared, he said.

“The downside is an enormous up-front cost to renovate space and build new space,” Maile said. “If folks are looking maybe 20 or 30 years down the line, they could save maybe $500,000 a year by combining.”

The commission will submit a recommendation to Gov. Mark Parkinson by Dec. 1 regarding possible changes at the schools. Parkinson then will decide whether to forward the recommendation to the Kansas Legislature for consideration.

sara1981 · 07-14-2009, 02:33 AM

oh my!!

07-12-2009, 08:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 10,238 Blog Entries: 3	Kansas considers changes to schools for deaf, blind Kansas considers changes to schools for deaf, blind - Kansas City Business Journal: Kansas leaders are considering cutting funding for or possibly closing the Kansas State School for the Deaf in Olathe, or combining it with the Kansas State School for the Blind in Kansas City, Kan. The Governor’s Closure and Realignment Commission, an 11-member panel appointed earlier this year by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, scheduled a second hearing for July 27 to consider cuts to the state’s expenditures. Others facilities the commission is studying include the Rainbow Mental Health Facility in Kansas City, Kan. Robert Maile, superintendent for the Kansas State School for the Deaf, said Wednesday that he thinks the commission is considering the possibility of combining the school with the Kansas State School for the Blind. The commission has asked the school for the deaf to provide information about buildings on its campus and how much available space they have, Maile said. “It sounds like they’re looking at combining the two and saving costs,” he said. The school for the deaf has an operating budget of $9.5 million, 140 to 150 employees and 135 students. “We have 173 positions at the school, but we’ve had to leave 30-plus vacant,” Maile said. Combining the two schools would save the state some money, he said. The educational operations would be separate, but the business, personnel and maintenance offices could be shared, he said. “The downside is an enormous up-front cost to renovate space and build new space,” Maile said. “If folks are looking maybe 20 or 30 years down the line, they could save maybe $500,000 a year by combining.” The commission will submit a recommendation to Gov. Mark Parkinson by Dec. 1 regarding possible changes at the schools. Parkinson then will decide whether to forward the recommendation to the Kansas Legislature for consideration. __________________

07-14-2009, 02:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
sara1981 Pandy the Beagle Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Little Rock,Ar Posts: 4,834	oh my!! __________________ WWE Dave Batista

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