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February State Board News

Tompkins to Retire
Board Resolution Alters Science Standards Review Process
Morris Challenges KNEA, KASB
In other action

Tompkins To Retire

Dr. Andy Tompkins, Commissioner of Education in Kansas for 9 years, announced his retirement during Wednesday's State Board of Education meeting.

Stating that it has been "an honor and a privilege to serve in this role," Tompkins explained that it had come time to "do something different for the last few years of [his] career." He vowed to work "doubly hard" so that his successor will find the agency in good shape.

Board chairman Steve Abrams said that the Board had tried to "bribe, cajole and threaten" Tompkins to convince him to stay and that this was not a happy moment for any of the Board members. The Board accepted his request "with profound and deeply felt regret." Voting against the motion to accept Tompkins' letter were Sue Gamble, Carol Rupe and Janet Waugh.

Tompkins will remain as Commissioner until sometime in June, 2005.

Board Resolution Alters Science Standards Review Process

A resolution that mandates several procedural changes regarding the adoption of science curriculum standards passed the State Board 6-4 Wednesday morning. Voting for the resolution were Steve Abrams, John Bacon, Kathy Martin, Connie Morris, Iris Van Meter, and Ken Willard. Opposing the resolution were Sue Gamble, Carol Rupe, Bill Wagnon and Janet Waugh.

In brief, the resolution establishes a "State Board Science Hearing Committee," made up of Steve Abrams, Kathy Martin and Connie Morris, which is authorized to "conduct hearings to investigate the merits of the two opposing views offered by the Kansas Science Curriculum Writing Committee."

The resolution also authorizes the State Board Committee to "incur expenses" to pay for witnesses to attend the hearings, provide adequate facilities for those hearings, and have a court reporter record the proceedings of the hearings.

The expenses are to be "drawn from the general operating funds of the Kansas Department of Education."

In addition, the resolution directs KSDE to post the Minority Report (to the current draft of the science curriculum standards) on the KSDE website and include a way to collect comments on that report from the public.

Proponents of the resolution stated that these are "scientific hearings," "intended to get at greater information," and "an elevated level of intelligence and responsibility," and to "put some professionalism to the debate,"

Opponents of the resolution stated that the process is an "egregious departure" from establish policies which "subverts our process and is disrespectful of professionals [on the science curriculum writing committee].

Opponents also objected to the "blank check at a time of fiscal distress in the education community."

Proponents countered that they did not believe the resolution was a "blank check."

On a related note, the Board voted 6-4 to table action on a contract to send the revised science standards for external review. McREL (Mid-continent Region for Education and Learning) was the only group to return the RFP.

Morris Challenges KNEA, KASB

In response to a brochure advertising the upcoming KSDE Annual Effective Schools Conference, Connie Morris, district 5, stated her desire that KNEA and KASB not be allowed to present at KSDE meetings "because they are lobbyists" and would "present their political views" at taxpayer expense.

Neither KNEA's representative Peg Dunlap nor KASB's representative Tom Krebs, both present, could remember a time when either KNEA or KASB had presented at the annual meeting.

"What I remember about the Effective Schools conference for the last 4 or 5 years is that KNEA has paid for about 15 teachers from our school assistance cadre to attend the conference," stated Dunlap.

In other action, the State Board

KNEA Legislative Contacts

Blake West, President
Peg Dunlap, Director, Instructional Advocacy
Mark Desetti, Director, Legislative and Political Advocacy
Terry Forsyth, Director, Political Action

The KNEA Lobby Team consists of elected leaders and staff. The Lobby Team welcomes member feedback on issues before the Legislature and on this site.