December State Board News
SCIENCE STANDARDS
The first draft edition of the State Science Standards brought
many visitors to this month's Board fest. The 26-member committee
working on the Science Standards submitted Draft One to the board.
They began meeting to review and develop changes in the Science
Standards in June of 2004. There have been 7 meetings of the Science
Standards Committee with attendance described as very good. The
committee believes the standards to be a foundation for teaching
science and not a limit. Curriculum and instruction were described
as local decisions and the standards are not meant to be either
curriculum or a description of instruction.
The State Board of Education has a specific process for the revision
of Curriculum Standards. The first draft is to be developed by the
committee with suggestions coming from subcommittees. The draft
is then reviewed by those in the field. The next step in the process
is to hold public hearings on the revisions. The dates and places
for the hearings are on the KSDE website. The whole committee then
reviews the input from the public and, as a group, develops Draft
2. Draft 2 is reviewed by outside consultants who make further suggestions.
A final Draft 3 is then developed by the committee for submission
to the State Board of Education.
It was clear from the report that the process was followed for
draft one. It would appear that a minority group of committee members
has tried an "end run" on the process. A "minority
report" from eight members of the science standards committee
surfaced during the last week and was submitted to the Board via
mail and posted on a website. Considerable time was spent by Board
members John Bacon, Ken Willard and Connie Morris quizzing the committee
co-chairs regarding this report. The committee co-chairs replied
that the committee had followed the procedures developed by the
Board for the review of standards. Assistant Commissioner Alexa
Posny then reviewed the committee process established by the Board.
Willard, Bacon, and Morris spent time attacking the process.
HISTORY STANDARDS
The committee presented a document that reflected changes requested
by Board Member Connie Morris at their last meeting. The changes
were criticized by Bruce Wyatt as being "wrong headed"
and Wyatt said he would vote against the measure because of that
fact. Ken Willard, Steve Abrams and Connie Morris commended the
committee for their work and willingness to make changes. The motion
to pass the History Standards passed 9-1 with Bruce Wyatt voting
no.
WRITING STANDARDS
The board passed the writing standards with a 10-0 vote with no comments from
the Board.
News Briefs from the Board Meeting
Recognition of KNEA Members who are the 2004 Milken Award Recipients
Two KNEA members were recognized as the 2004 Milken Award Winners
from Kansas. Jim Armendariz and Vickie N. Seeger spoke to the Board
and answered questions. KNEA is pleased that two members of our
teaching community have been recognized for their outstanding work
with students.
Open Forum
Eleven speakers addressed the Board regarding various topics including
the development and changes in the science standards, the protesting
of the "minority report" from some of the committee members
working on the science standards, the supporting of the "minority
report," suggestions for including music history/music education,
two local school board members and the superintendent from USD 375
asking the board to deny the transfer property from USD 375 to USD
402, community members and a local school board member from USD
402 supporting the transfer of property from USD 375 to USD 402,
and one speaker bemoaning the fact that teachers are not attending
summer professional development like in the past years.
USD 375 vs. USD 402 Non-Transfer of Territory by a Nose
KSDE Staff Attorney Kevin Ireland informed the Board that mediation
regarding a transfer of territory from USD 375 to USD 402 had failed.
Because the mediator was not able to bring the two districts to
an agreement, the question came to the Board for resolution. Mr.
Ireland recommended that the transfer be denied. Steve Abrams said
that he was very angry with the situation and would hold his nose
and cast his vote. The board reluctantly voted (with Mr. Abrams
holding his nose) 10 to 0 to support the recommendation that the
transfer be denied.
In other action, the State Board:
- Approved recommendations from Waiver Review Committee for the following:
(pp. 195-196)
105 Rawlins Co.
232 DeSoto
244 Burlington
255 South Barber
259 Wichita
260 Derby
261 Haysville
263 Mulvane
305 Cen. Kansas Coop.
308 Hutchinson
314 Brewster
315 Colby
330 Mission Valley
364 Marysville
383 Manhattan
389 Eureka
442 Nemaha Valley
457 Garden City
491 Eudora
495 Tri Co. Special Services
497 Lawrence
500 Kansas City
603 ANW SEC
607 Tri-Co. Sp. Ed. Interlocal
608 NE KS Ed Service Ctr
611 High Plains Ed Coop
613 SW Ks. Area Coop
615 Brown Co. Sp Ed. Interlocal
619 Sumner Co. Ed Serv. Interlocal
620 Three Lakes Ed. Coop
636 No. Cen. KS Sp. Ed. Coop
637 SE Ks. Interlocal
- Approved representative of area vocational school teachers to serve on Professional
Standards Board. (p. 197)
- The following schools received 5-year accreditation status: (p. 205)
USD 321 Emmett Ele.; USD 361 Anthony Ele.; USD 416 Louisburg MS; USD 460 Hesson
MS & HS
- Approved QPA waivers for: (p.207-209)
Baldwin Elementary Intermediate USD 348;
Burlington HS USD 244
- Approved Inservice Education Plans for the following districts: (p. 211)
USD 211 Norton
USD 290 Ottawa
USD 294 Oberlin
USD 344 Pleasanton
USD 404 Riverton
USD 428 Great Bend
USD 457 Garden City
- Approved the recommendation for funding the 21st Century Community Learning
Centers Continuation Grants for 2005. (p. 217)
November 04 State Board News
October 04 State Board News
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July04 State Board News
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