March State Board News
Board Announces Procedure for Hiring New Commissioner
A split State Board approved text for an advertisement, a timeline,
and a screening process for hiring the next Commissioner of Education.
The advertisement, which is expected to run nationally, is almost
identical to the one used for the last hire, but includes the option
for a candidate to bring comparable business leadership experience
instead of experience in the field of education. That addition passed
on a 7-3 vote, with Sue Gamble, Janet Waugh and Bill Wagnon dissenting
because of the addition.
Then, on a 6-4 vote, the Board approved a timeline and a screening
process. Gamble, Carol Rupe, Waugh and Wagnon dissented. The timeline
calls for screening to begin May 9, 2005, with the position remaining
open until a new Commissioner is hired.
The screening committee will have 11 members, 1 nominated by each
State Board member from residents in his/her district, and 1 member
selected by KSDE staff. There are no requirements for various constituent
groups to have representation on the screening committee, as has
occurred in past hires.
The State Board will not consult with Kansans to gather input about
what citizens want or expect from a new Commissioner. That, too,
has happened in prior hiring situations.
Board members want to hire a new Commissioner by August 1, if at all possible.
Science Hearing Committee to Continue
On a 4-6 vote, the State Board rejected a motion to dissolve the
Science Hearing Committee established during the February meeting.
Voting for the motion were Sue Gamble, Carol Rupe, Janet Waugh,
and Bill Wagnon. Opposing the motion were Steve Abrams, John Bacon,
Kathy Martin, Connie Morris, Iris Van Meter and Ken Willard.
The science hearings are scheduled for early May. Steve Abrams,
chair of the subcommittee, indicated that he was unsure how the
views of the Science Curriculum Standards committee would be included
in the hearings, since the chair of the committee has indicated
that he will not participate.
Earlier in the day, during the Citizens' Open Forum, Kansas Citizens for Science
called on members of the science and science education community of Kansas to
refuse to participate in the hearing proceedings.
Board Begins Discussions on Integration of Academic and Vocational
Education
The State Board began the first in a series of discussions on how
to meet the needs of high school students through integrating academic
and vocational education. Steve Abrams, Arkansas City, District
10, expressed specific interest in the topic, particularly as it
relates to meeting needs of students who might otherwise drop out
of the system.
Staff from the department are looking for examples of programs
that achieve this kind of integration. They mentioned that issues
of student credit and teacher licensure will need to be discussed
if true integration is to occur.
Also mentioned was the refusal of the Kansas Board of Regents to consider courses
that typically are delivered in this fashion for inclusion in the Regents curriculum,
regardless of the content of the courses or their rigor.
April Meeting in Hutchinson
The April 12 and 13 meeting of the State Board will occur in Hutchinson, on
the campus of Hutchinson Community College. Additional details will be available
on the KSDE website beginning April 4.
In other action, the State Board:
Heard a request to adopt the national standards for gifted education, p.
33
Received model curriculum standards for dance, p. 45 and Appendix A
Granted charters, p. 137
o Theodore Roosevelt Charter School, Manhattan
o Stafford Economic Development Center Charter School, Stafford
Received a white paper on professional development, p. 139
Amended 2 interlocal agreements
o Tri-County Interlocal 607, p. 179
o McPherson County SEC, p. 181
Approved the recommendation from the Evaluation Review Committee for Accreditation
With Conditions for Washburn University, through 12-31-06, p. 183
Approved recommendations from the License Review Committee, p. 195
o Approve 6 requests for license/endorsements
o Deny 1 request
Approved recommendations from the Waiver Review Committee, p. 197
o USD 202, 2 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 233, 2 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 259, 8 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 305, 6 teachers out of field, 5 special education, 1 journalism
o USD 308, 1 teacher out of field, special education
o USD 320, 1 teacher out of field, special education
o USD 385, 1 teacher out of field, special education
o USD 409, 1 teacher out of field, special education
o USD 450, 1 teacher out of field, special education
o USD 453, 2 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 465, 13 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 475, 8 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 480, 3 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 497, 1 teacher out of field, special education
o USD 603, 2 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 608, 1 teacher out of field, special education
o USD 610, 2 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 611, 11 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 613, 2 teachers out of field, special education
o USD 637, 1 teacher out of field, special education
Approved QPA waivers
o USD 343, Williamstown elementary, cycle, p. 217
o USD 461, Neodesha HS, cycle, p. 219
Approved bond election requests from
o USD 368, Paola, p. 227
o USD 490, El Dorado, p. 229
o USD 503, Parsons, p. 231
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