Category: Wichita and Kansas schools
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Should the Wichita school superintendent live in the district?
The Wichita Eagle reported that USD 259, the Wichita public school district, superintendent candidate Denise Wren doesn’t live in the boundaries of the district she presently works for and seeks to lead. (School board likely to decide on superintendent Monday) A few thoughts come to mind: 1. This isn’t the most important issue. But it…
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Wichita Choices Fair equals selective vouchers
Here’s a letter that appeared in today’s Wichita Eagle. The author makes a good point. I think the answer to the author’s rhetorical question is that USD 259, the Wichita school district, believes in choice, as long as it’s choice on their terms. The choices offered by USD 259 are very limited when compared to…
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Wichita Schools Thrive With Wichita School Castoffs
A big part of the bond issue in 2000 for USD 259, the Wichita public school district, was the elimination of portable classrooms. This desire played a part in the 2008 bond issue, too. So when I was driving by the Annoor Islamic School in northeast Wichita and I spotted some portable classrooms, I immediately…
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Kansas school spending outpaces inflation
Kansas school spending per pupil far outpaces inflation. According to the government school lobby, however, it’s still not enough, as shown in Kansas Education Lobby Always Prowling for Tax Dollars.
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Should Wichita Identify Superintendent Finalists?
When USD 259, the Wichita public school district, draws criticism from the Wichita Eagle’s Rhonda Holman, you know they’ve really done something wrong. Her column of today (Identify finalists for superintendent) requests that the Wichita school district make public the names of the finalists in its search for superintendent. Her request is likely to remain…
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Kansas Education Lobby Always Prowling for Tax Dollars
In Topeka, the Kansas Association of School Boards rarely misses an opportunity to reach deeper into the taxpayer’s pocket. The same goes for the Kansas National Education Association, the teachers union.
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Few States, Including Kansas, Set World-Class Standards
The federal No Child Left Behind legislation sets the standard that all children should be proficient in reading and math by 2014. While a federal law, it’s left to the states to set the standard as to what proficiency means, and to test for it. As you might imagine, there is considerable variation between the…
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Kansas school funding: Can the education lobby be believed?
As the State of Kansas seeks to work its way out of a difficult budget shortfall, some groups aren’t willing to make the same sacrifice that is being asked of others. The biggest offender — both in terms of dollars and shrillness — is the public school lobby in Kansas.
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Do Kansas Budget Cuts Pose a Threat to Wichita Education?
Representative Jim Ward, Democrat from Wichita and former Wichita school board member, stated in a KAKE Television news story “If you cut $10 million, you’re now cutting into the bone, the marrow, and you’re going to have a significant impact on the ability to deliver education.” The $10 million Rep. Ward refers to is the…
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Kansas Public Schools: Draconian Cuts?
As Kansas prepares to make spending cuts to balance the budget in face of declining revenue, special interest groups roll out the horror stories of what funding cuts will do. A public school advocacy group in Kansas is sending emails with this message: “A 3-5% cut in school funding will force school districts to make…
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Wichita Construction Company Contributes; Hopes Schools Will be “Big”
Sunday’s Wichita Eagle contains a profile of Rick McCafferty, executive vice president of Key Construction. (A Conversation with Rick McCafferty January 18, 2009) In this article, Mr. McCafferty is quoted as saying “Schools are going to be big for us. Obviously we are pleased that Wichita passed its school bond issue.” Quite an understatement, I’d…
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Wichita School Board Races Need Candidates
Here’s a letter from citizen activist John Todd, encouraging residents of USD 259, the Wichita school district, to consider running for and serving on its board. As of this morning, one incumbent and one other person have filed. With the passage of the $370 million dollar bond and with USD 259?s budget in excess of…