Support Our Schoolchildren

Recently our state government (legislature, governor and courts) have been engaged in a game of political brinksmanship using our children as pawns. No matter which color your politics run, we can all agree that the children of Kansas -- and USD 505 in particular -- deserve better than to be the victims in a war of egos where our kids will suffer the most.

These next two weeks are perhaps the most important in the recent history of our school system. Without further action, on June 30 it is likely that school districts across Kansas will be shut down. Doors closed, summer programs cancelled, sports cancelled and the start of school delayed.

Your Kansas legislators (Sen. LaTurner and Rep. Houser) may have one more chance to keep our school system from being closed, our staff and teachers put out of work and our kids shortchanged, because the legislature may meet once again before the deadline.

It is vitally important that your legislators hear from you. A short voice mail, short e-mail -- whatever you can do to make it clear to them that you stand squarely on the side of our school children.

Below are some samples you can copy and paste into an e-mail, as well as your legislators' e-mail addresses. Please feel free to choose one of the paragraphs below or compose your own short e-mail. Anything is better than nothing.

Please. Now. For our kids.

Your Kansas House Representative: Michael Houser,  michael.houser@house.ks.gov, 785-296-7679.

Your Kansas Senator: Jacob LaTurner,   Jacob.LaTurner@senate.ks.gov, 785-296-7370

Samples

Dear Sen. LaTurner / Rep. Houser,

I'm not a letter writer and I don't usually contact my state representatives. However, you are playing with the future of our school children. That crosses the line. I want our schools to be fully funded and the future of our kids' education to be secured. I will vote in November and I will take the time to see what role you play in this.

--or--

I do not appreciate our kids being used in a political game. Please fix the school finance issue once and for all, so we can move on. Do what's right for our kids. They deserve nothing less.

--or--

Is what the Kansas legislature has done any different from stealing our kids' lunch money? Please do what's best for the children of Kansas and fund the schools. You're hurting families and children here. I do vote, and I have a long memory.