July State Board News
Science standards still center stage
A sequence of 6-4 votes at the State Board’s July meeting resulted
in a new draft of science standards that includes most of the revisions suggested
in the Minority Report (to the report of the Science Standards Writing Committee)
and from the State Board Science Subcommittee, which held hearings in May.
According to Board chairman Steve Abrams, this new version will go to the Science
Standards Writing Committee for comment. Those comments will come back to the
State Board, after which the draft will be tentatively accepted and sent out
for external review. The Science Standards Writing Committee is scheduled to
meet in August, but it was uncertain whether or not their work would be available
for the August 9/10 State Board meeting.
John Bacon, Connie Morris and Kathy Martin each suggested changes to the document
that were accepted on 6-4 votes. Most of the changes related to the inclusion
of other explanations of origin theory [not included in the Science Standards
Writing Committee draft, since science does not address origin theory] and inclusion
of “challenges” to Darwinian evolution.
Sue Gamble raised numerous questions about sections of the document,
each of which was responded to by Abrams. She continually asked
for the scientific evidence that caused the changes to be included.
Abrams regularly responded that the evidence came from conferees
at the May hearings.
State Board Approves Budget Request
Although the ink was barely dry on the Supreme Court’s acceptance of school
finance provisions for the ’06 fiscal year (the 2005-2006 school year),
budget requests for FY07 are due to the Governor in mid-September. To meet that
deadline, the State Board, on a 6-4 vote, tentatively approved a request for
$77.5 million new dollars (an increase of about 2.7%), with the understanding
that after the Cost Study currently underway in Legislative Post Audit, they
may appeal to the Legislature.
The $77.5 million is divided among 4 areas:
- a $100 increase on the base state aid per pupil ($56m)
- the accompanying effect on LOBs ($4m)
- an additional 2% for at risk programs ($10m)
- money to fully fund the professional development statute ($7.5m)
This is a slight increase over the CPI, which is about 2.2%.
Board members supporting the request were Steve Abrams, John Bacon,
Sue Gamble, Kathy Martin, Carol Rupe and Ken Willard. Opposing the
request, for different reasons, were Connie Morris, Iris Van Meter,
Bill Wagnon and Janet Waugh.
Morris advocated that the Board request no increase, calling it
“tacky” to request more money following the 10% increase
just approved.
That 10% is not “new” money, stated Gamble, calling it payback for
money the districts haven’t received over the past several years
Search for Commissioner Reopened
The State Board decided on an 8-2 vote to employ the services of
NASBE, the National Association of State Boards of Education, to
assist with a reopened search for a new Commissioner of Education.
NASBE staff will use the process outlined in the original search
(national advertising, initial screening, interview with each applicant,
reference checks, elimination of “clearly not qualified”
candidates, and submission to the State Board of the results of
that work). The cost is expected to be in the $7,000 range.
After receiving the list of applicants from NASBE and information
from the interviews and reference checks, the State Board will decide
who to interview.
Iris Van Meter and Bill Wagnon voted against the motion. Van Meter
opposed using NASBE because they “don’t stand for what
I stand for.” Wagnon opposed the motion because it did not
include a most specific timeline and a clear statement of expected
employment date.
In other action, the State Board
(page references to July State Board materials, available at http://www.ksde.org/commiss/july_2005_board_materials.pdf
- Approved recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission
(pp. 49–67)
Deny 3 license requests
Accept 1 voluntary surrender of license
- Received a white paper on Parent Involvement (pp. 31–47)
- Approved model standards for Physical Education (pp. 147–187)
- Received model standards for Music (pp. 189–303)
- Approved recommendations from the License Review Committee (pp.
105–107)
Approve 11 license/endorsement requests
Deny 1 request
- Approved recommendations from the Evaluation Review Committee
Tabor College, 11 programs approved, 1 program approved with stipulation,
1 program not approved (pp. 111-112)
University of Kansas, 1 new program approved with stipulation
(p. 113)
Wichita State University, 2 programs approved (p. 114)
- Approved Visiting Scholar requests (p. 123)
USD 512, Shawnee Mission, 12th renewal
USD 233, Olathe, 1st renewal
- Approved QPA status for (p. 129)
USD 229, Heartland and Indian Valley elementaries
USD 259, Levy Center, Alcott Academy, Harry Street, Woodman and
Lincoln elementaries
USD 266, Pray Woodman elementary
USD 281, Hill City elementary, Longfellow ms, Hill City HS
USD 293, Quinter elementary
USD 342, McLouth elementary
USD 379, Clay Center ms
USD 407, Simpson elementary
USD 461, Heller and North Lawn elementaries
USD 497, Central JHS
- Approved $1.2m funding for Migrant Even Start Family Literacy
Grants (Morris and Van Meter voting against) (p. 137)
- Approved $1.3m funding for Even Start Family Literacy Grants
(p. 139)
- Approved $816,000 to KU and ESU for Reading First professional
development services (p. 141)
- Approved $230,000 to KU and ESU for professional development
for Title I teachers (p. 143)
- Approved $194,000 to SEKESC for special education teacher recruitment
and retention efforts (p. 133)
The August State Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday,
August 9 and 10. Board agenda and materials will be available on Monday, August
1 at http://www.ksde.org/commiss/bdmaterials.shtml
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