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State Board Visits District Six

The April State Board meeting was held in Junction City, at the offices of USD 475, Geary County.  Twice each year, the State Board meets away from Topeka in board member districts.  Kathy Martin, board member for district 6, chose to highlight activities in Junction City.

As part of their meeting, board members visited Fort Riley, several USD 475 schools, and also met with the board and administrators from USD 379, Clay Center, Mrs. Martin’s home district.

USD 475, Geary County, presented information during the meeting about how the growth in and around Fort Riley is impacting their district.  They also highlighted the long-standing school improvement efforts that have been the district’s focus for over 20 years.

All board members attended the meeting except John Bacon, who typically misses the April board meeting due to work-related obligations.

Board Schedules Commissioner Candidate Interviews

The State Board will interview finalists for Commissioner of Education on Thursday, April 26, in the Board Room at KSDE.

While no specific information is available about those being interviewed, only one day is set aside for the interviews.

Watch local media outlets on the 26th and 27th to see if candidates are identified as they enter the interview room.

Charter Schools Approved

Ten schools received charter status at the April meeting.  This means that they will receive planning grants of $60,000 each and first year implementation grants of $155,000.  These funds come from a federal charter school grant that Kansas received last year.

The board voted 9-0 to approve all except USD 500 and USD 101.  Those charters were approved 8-1, with Sue Gamble voting no on each.  She explained that her concern with USD 500’s charter was a process concern and her concern that the USD 101 charter converts the district’s only high school to a charter.

The new charter schools and sponsoring districts are:

• USD 500, Maurice R. Holman Academy of Excellence (requested planning grant only)
• USD 503, Parsons  Health  Career Academy
• USD 308, Salthawk  Charter  School
• USD 218, Point  Rock  Family Academy
• USD 373, Walton 21st Century Rural Life  Learning Center
• USD 382, Walden  Center
• USD 267, St. Mark’s Charter  School
• USD 101, Project Based Learning  Charter  School
• USD 261, Haysville  Charter  School
• USD 418, McPherson  County  Charter School

In addition, 3 charter schools received implementation funding.  These schools were approved as charters last year, prior to the availability of federal funds.  They are:

• USD 349, Stafford  High  Charter School
• USD 202, Turner Virtual Learning  Center
• USD 376, Sterling  Academy

Board materials on this topic are on pp. 115-117.

In other action, the State Board:

• Approved land transfers

From USD 101 to USD 447, pp. 47-50
From USD 102 to USD 371, pp. 51-56

• Approved recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission to

Deny 2 applications
Accept 1 voluntary surrender

• Received model curriculum standards for the visual arts, pp. 119-255
  
• Received model standards for health education, pp. 257-384
  
• Approved recommendations from the Waiver Review Committee, p. 395
  
• Approved requests for bond elections from

USD 410, Durham-Lehigh-Hillsboro, pp. 403-404
USD 505, Chetopa-St. Paul, pp. 405-406
USD 508, Baxter Springs, pp. 407-408

• Heard a presentation about the Kansas Learning First Alliance, p. 417
  
• Heard a presentation about early childhood activities, p. 419
  
• Received an update on KERC, Kansas  Education  Resource Center, p. 421
  
• Heard an update on NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, p. 25.
  

May State Board Meeting

The May meeting of the State Board is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 8 and 9 in Topeka.  Meeting materials should be available on the KSDE website  on Monday, April 30.

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.