Tag: Martin Libhart
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They really are government schools
What’s wrong with the term “government schools?”
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Wichita school district makes transparency effort
A recent transparency effort by USD 259, the Wichita public school district, is welcome, but we need to wait to see if the district’s past poor attitude towards open records can be reversed.
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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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Wichita-area Legislators Hear Pleas From Government
Yesterday I attended a meeting of the South Central Kansas Legislative Delegation, held at Wichita State University. This meeting is billed as an opportunity for local governments to make their case to local legislators. Scheduled to start at 1:00 pm, it actually started at 1:20. Senator Carolyn McGinn chaired. This meeting was better attended by…
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Wichita School Superintendent Martin Libhart: What’s Wrong With “Government Schools?”
In a recent email from Wichita School Interim Superintendent Martin Libhart to Wichita school employees, he took issue with those who, using his words, “openly refer to public education as ‘government schools.’” It seems as though Mr. Libhart regards the term “government schools” as derogatory. Or at least as something that should be used only…
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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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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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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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At Wichita Chisholm Trail Elementary School, Why is Increased Enrollment a Problem?
Today’s Wichita Eagle reports Wichita area schools’ enrollment increases. Featured in this story is Chisholm Trail Elementary School, which added 112 students. The enrollment there is now 576. Interim superintendent Martin Libhart and other officials held a press conference there, presumably to emphasize the plight of this school. Someone has already mentioned to me today…
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Wichita School District: Accountability is on Our Terms
USD 259, the Wichita public school district, wants to be held accountable. They say so. It’s a theme of the proposed bond issue, as recently stated by celebrity spokesman George Fahnestock: “…the district’s accountability is strong…” (See CARE launches Yes For Kids campaign) But what happens when citizens seek information from USD 259 that will…
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Wichita public schools: Open records requests are a burden
I recently learned that USD 259 (the Wichita, Kansas public school district) considers it a burden when citizens make requests for records. At least that’s what Lynn Rogers, vice-president of the board of USD 259, told me at a May 12, 2008 meeting when I was invited to express concerns regarding my opposition to the…