June State Board News
Science, Sex and aSsassination (character) at the State Board
Three topics filled center stage at the June State Board of Education meeting.
The controversy over standards for science education in Kansas, standards for
health education, and a newsletter written by a Board member generated heated
debate and discussion.
Science
The Board Science Hearing Subcommittee presented their report,
which chairman Steve Abrams, district 10, Arkansas City, described
as self-explanatory. The report was generated following 4 days of
hearings in Topeka in May. [The transcript of those hearings was
just delivered this morning, June 15th.]
When asked to describe the changes offered by the subcommittee,
Abrams explained that they would allow teachers to "present
scientific evidence that may be involved around evolution."
Further discussion centered on the definition of science included
in the report. That definition mirrors the definition in the Ohio
standards, where the Intelligent Design Network was also active.
Abrams said he liked it better than the definition offered by the
standards writing committee because he thought this one was clearer.
Ken Willard, district 7, Hutchinson, said that this definition
"puts us in alignment with the rest of the country." The
committee's definition is "more restrictive than most and it
shouldn't be."
Sue Gamble, district 2, Shawnee Mission, disagreed, stating that
the Ohio definition is not like the rest of the country and that
Ohio is already having difficulties with the adopted definition.
At one point, Connie Morris, district 5, St. Francis, chastised
Gamble, Bill Wagnon, Janet Waugh and Carol Rupe for not attending
the hearings. "You did not live up to your duties to serve
your constituents," Morris accused.
"We are not putting in religion; we are not embedding Intelligent
Design. We are including scientific criticisms of evolution. This
is not about religion - this is about science," she continued.
Her comments provoked a heated exchange about constituent responsibility,
intentions and "science."
The Board voted 7-3 to return the document to the science standards
writing committee for comments on the proposed changes and to ask
the committee to look at embedding content from botany, zoology,
microbiology, anatomy and physiology in the standards. Kathy Martin,
district 6, Clay Center, Gamble and Waugh opposed the motion.
The standards have been publicly criticized by an Emporia State
University biology professor. KSDE staff indicated to the Board
that nothing had been removed from the standards. Gamble reminded
the Board that their charge to the committee included a request
that the "mile wide inch deep" standards of 2001 be avoided.
The Board will continue their review of science standards at the July meeting.
Sex
Model standards for health education were presented to the Board on
Tuesday. Board member John Bacon, district 3, Olathe, initiated most
of the discussion, which centered around "opt in" versus
"opt out" parental notification for the human sexuality
and AIDS education portions of the health standards.
Citing the possibility for increased parental involvement, Ken
Willard and Connie Morris also indicated interest in "opt in,"
which would require parents/guardians to give permission for their
students to receive instruction.
Cynthia Akagi, chair of the standards writing committee, indicated
her concern that such an option often is a disservice to the students
who most need the instruction.
The standards, which are voluntary for USDs, which still have the responsibility
to set their own curriculum for health education, will be on a future Board
agenda.
aSsassination (character)
A newsletter sent at Department expense by Connie Morris, district
5, was the subject of additional discussion at the Board meeting.
The 4-page letter, which claims to be "an effort to provide
the public with a more detailed and perhaps accurate summary"
of SBOE actions, specifically criticizes Board members Sue Gamble,
Carol Rupe, Bill Wagnon and Janet Waugh.
Wagnon, who brought the newsletter to the Board's attention, called
it "character assassination" that goes far beyond constituent
services and asked that the Board re-examine their policies on constituent
communication, questioning whether or not it should be sent at state
expense.
Steve Abrams, chair of the Board, asked the policy committee (Willard, Wagnon
and Morris) to examine existing policies on boardsmanship and on constituent
communication.
Commissioner Candidates Interviewed
The Board met in executive session on Wednesday afternoon, June 15, and all
day Thursday, June 16, to interview four candidates for Commissioner of Education.
The Board has the option of accepting any of the 4 candidates, of interviewing
additional applicants, or soliciting further applications.
July Meeting Dates Change
The Board will meet on Monday and Tuesday, July 11 and 12, instead of their
regular Tuesday/Wednesday dates, to accommodate Board members who have obligations
with the annual Education Commission of the States meeting in Denver later that
week.
In other action (yes, there was other action), the State Board:
- Declined to reconsider the land transfer from USD 101 to USD
505
- Approved appointments to
o Professional Standards Board
- Casey Seyfert, Hays NEA (page 47)
- Lori Martin, USD 383, Manhattan/Ogden (page 47)
o Professional Practices Commission
- Dan Duling, USD 248, Girard (page 53)
o Licensure Review Committee
- Mary Tate, Clay County EA (page 57)
- Approved recommendations from the Evaluation Review Committee
o Pittsburg State University, continuing accreditation through
12-31-2010 (page 209)
o Sterling College, continuing accreditation through 12-31-2009
(page 211)
o Wichita State University, continuing accreditation through 12-31-2009
(page 213)
o Bethany College, approved a new program (page 214)
o Wichita State University, approved a new program (page 215)
o Washburn University, approved a new program (page 216)
- Combined Smoky Hill/Central Kansas ESC Coop and Fort Hays Educational
Development Center as USD 629 (page 225)
- Approved salary schedules for KSSB and KSSD (page 229-233)
- Approved a bond election for USD 320, Wamego (page 281)
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