‘Running on fumes’: Systematic underfunding of special education in the state of Kansas has created a dangerous problem, experts say Morning Sun PITTSBURG, Kan. — It’s usually early in the morning when Salli Chowning, the special education teacher at Northwest Elementary in Arma enters her classroom. She unlocks the door, turns on the light and takes a deep breath as she prepares for the day. She meets her paras, plans lessons for the day, drinks some coffee and then the bell rings and she is smothered with hugs by her students. “I knew as a middle schooler I would be a special ed teacher,” she said. “There is nothing better than the hugs and the reminders that you are doing a good job.”