POTWIN, Kan. - After my previous post on the budget cuts and their effect on my daughter's school, I was able to obtain a list of the cuts which are below.

What amazes me is the 50 percent cut to classroom budgets. Are schools being left to depend on the teachers paying for necessary items? It's either that, or teachers go without. And postponing the purchase of new text books and reducing the library budget? I noticed that they planned on reducing energy costs by lowering the temperature. That would explain my daughter always freezing in her class, despite always wearing a long-sleeved shirt.

Take a look at the cuts that just one small school district have been forced to make.

POTWIN, Kan. - Sending my oldest daughter off to kindergarten last year was beyond difficult. Now that both of us are adjusted to school, I am now having trouble with the budget cuts to education and how it is affecting her small-town school.

I received a letter, like all other parents, stating that budget cuts were made, and changes would happen to help the school save money. There were simple money saving ideas like no longer sending the lunch and breakfast menus home with the student, and cutting down on other notes sent home. They also eliminated several positions, and no longer pay for uniforms for custodians.

But what disturbs me is what wasn't in the note.

TOPEKA, Kan. - Tom Wiggans announced that he has ended his exploratory committee, and his campaign for governor. Wiggans announced he was running less than a month ago.

In an email to his supporters, Wiggans said,

What I have learned from my discussions, and from public opinion polling, is that Kansans are hardly in sync with Sam Brownback and they are deeply concerned with the performance of Congress. What I have also learned is that for a candidate who has recently returned to my home state and who has never run for political office, it will take more time and resources than I can assemble to mount a winning campaign. While I have remained involved in many activities in the state over the past years, I have spent much of my business career away from home and thus am unknown to many voters and donors.

Therefore I believe it is in the best interest of the voters for me to end my exploration of running for Governor and entering public service at this time, and instead offer my ideas and experience to state leaders, institutions, and companies and focus my energies on creating new jobs and a strong economy for the future. I am committed to continuing my dialog with the voters of Kansas and becoming fully engaged in the many issues facing our state.