Category: Wichita and Kansas schools
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The Facts the Wichita Eagle’s Mark McCormick Overlooks — Or Twists
In a recent column (Facts hurt bond issue opponents’ arguments), the Wichita Eagle’s Mark McCormick shows that he’s as adept at overlooking facts and reason and twisting an argument as is anyone. For example, McCormick takes some bond opponents to task because they admitted they haven’t been to schools to observe overcrowding. But if opponents…
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Reasons for businesses to oppose Wichita school bond abound
By Helen Cochran. Support for the Wichita school district’s proposed $370 million school bond issue from the business community has been lukewarm. There are valid reasons why this support has not been forthcoming. First and foremost is academic accountability. Nationally, bond proposals have been trimmed or postponed as communities wrestle with priorities and the lack…
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Wichita school district spends $7,642 on logo kerfuffle
Recently USD 259, the Wichita school district, asked a school bond issue opposition group to stop using its logo, on the grounds that it was too similar to the logo the Wichita school district itself uses. Newspaper coverage revealed that the district had engaged in a multi-year legal battle with the Washington Apple Commission over…
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Wichita School Bond Issue: Informing or Advocating? CARE Seems to Know.
Kansas law places restrictions on the activities that government officials may undertake with regard to ballot measures such as the Wichita school bond issue question on the November 4, 2008 ballot. A page at the USD 259 website titled “Educate, Don’t Advocate” explains the behavior that USD 259 personnel may, and may not, undertake with…
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Wichita School Bond: Causation, or Merely Correlation?
As part of its argument for the need for a bond issue, USD 259, the Wichita school district, makes the case that students who are involved in arts and athletics do better in school. Recently, perhaps as the result of a request I made, the district’s website added evidence of this. As the USD 259…
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Raising Wichitans’ Taxes in a Recession is Not A Good Idea
“Democrat Barack Obama says he would delay rescinding President Bush’s tax cuts on wealthy Americans if he becomes the next president and the economy is in a recession, suggesting such an increase would further hurt the economy.” (Associated Press, September 7, 2008) Contrary to assertions by Wichita school interim superintendent Martin Libhart and school board…
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A Different Kind of Hero, A Different Kind of Weapon
Every action film has a hero who saves the day. In the movie “Flunked,” the heroes are teachers and principals who are fighting the bad guys of declining test scores, failing grades and inferior schools. Their weapons? Creativity and determination. The happy ending? Improved test scores, passing grades and schools so desirable parents are waiting…
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Flunked’s Steven Maggi Interview
On October 8, 2008, Citizens for Better Education, the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy, and Americans For Prosperity — Kansas sponsored a screening of Flunked the Movie. I had an opportunity to sit down and talk with Steven Maggi, the film’s executive producer. Following are some excerpts from our conversation.
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Is the Wichita School District Hoping For Recession?
A recent Wichita Eagle article (Economy now is right to support the school bond) USD 259 written by Wichita school district Interim Superintendent Martin Libhart makes me wonder if the school district isn’t hoping for a recession. Here’s why I wonder: right now long-term interest rates for the types of bonds the district will be…
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Another Wichita School Bond Issue Cartoon
Helen Cochran of Citizens for Better Education has released another political cartoon whose topic is the Wichita school bond issue. Click here to go to CBE’s website and see this cartoon. The others are there, too.
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Wichita School Bond: Time Is Not Right
In a Wichita Eagle article Economy now is right to support the school bond, USD 259, the Wichita school district, Interim Superintendent Martin Libhart reminds us of the study prepared by Wichita State University that touts the economic benefit of the previous bond issue. My analysis of this report can be read at Wichita School…
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Wichita School District’s Claims Must be Questioned
At a Wichita school bond issue debate on October 14, 2008, I challenged USD 259, the Wichita school district, to give evidence of their claim that smaller class sizes lead to better student achievement. That’s because I’ve been waiting a week for both USD 259 and the “Yes for Kids” group to respond to my…