Science Standards – Déjà vu All Over Again
On a 6-4 vote, the State Board of Education approved science standards developed by the Science Standards Writing Committee and presented in January by Dr. Steve Case, co-chairman of that committee.
Voting for the standards were Sally Cauble, Sue Gamble, Carol Rupe, Jana Shaver, Bill Wagnon and Janet Waugh. Voting against the standards were Steve Abrams, John Bacon, Kathy Martin and Ken Willard.
The agenda item took about 20 minutes and included 3 attempts to amend the proposed standards. In each case, the amendment lost 4-6.
Board members Abrams, Bacon, Martin and Willard attempted to engage other board members and representatives of the standards writing committee in discussion about proposed changes. Chair Bill Wagnon indicated that the answers to most of the questions were self-evident and that the board would proceed.
The new standards are available on the KSDE website; follow the links educators, then standards, then science to see them.
Teacher Recruitment and Retention Discussed
Three separate agenda items dealt with issues related to recruiting and retaining teachers (and administrators) in Kansas.
Tuesday afternoon, a panel of educators, Winston Brooks, superintendent, USD 259, Wichita, Beth Reust, superintendent, USD 270, Plainville, and Tes Mehring, vice president for academic affairs, ESU, braved the weather to get to Topeka to discuss problems and potential solutions. All three mentioned salaries and various working conditions, as well as the public’s attitude toward educators, as factors.
On Wednesday, Blake West presented information on the Teacher Working Conditions survey. Survey results, reported in other KNEA publications, confirm the issues raised by the administrators.
West stressed using the data to begin conversations at building and at district levels. He also encouraged the State Board to include money for subsequent administrations of the survey in their budget for the next fiscal year.
The first mention of recruitment and retention issues came Tuesday morning, when the Kansas Teacher of the Year team met with the board. Time was identified as one of the greatest challenges facing teachers in today’s schools.
No action was taken by the State Board, little further discussion occurred, and the topic is expected to appear again on future agendas.
Teacher of the Year Team Honored
Six members of the 2007 Kansas Teacher of the Year Team slogged their way to Topeka on Tuesday to meet with State Board members. Team members are:
- Josh Anderson, Olathe NEA, Kansas Teacher of the Year and finalist for National Teacher of the Year
- Mary Collins, Council Grove Teachers Association
- Lori Atkins Goodson, Wamego TA (unable to attend)
- Martha Hadsall, Harper County NEA
- Bonnie Kastanek, NEA Manhattan/Ogden
- Carrie Mugridge, DeSoto TA (unable to attend)
- DeAnn Nelson, UTW
- Sheryl Smith, Buhler high school
Each team member spoke about an issue of importance to him/her, with the entire team responding to questions from State Board members.
Seclusion/Restraint – Guidelines or Regulations?
Following a public hearing on Tuesday, during which parents, advocates, university professors and school administrators provided testimony, the State Board voted Wednesday to ask KSDE staff to develop guidelines for the use of seclusion and restraint with students with disabilities.
Voting to support guidelines were Sally Cauble, Sue Gamble, Carol Rupe, Jana Shaver, Bill Wagnon and Janet Waugh. Voting against were John Bacon, Kathy Martin, and Ken Willard. Steve Abrams abstained, explaining that he needed more information.
The vote was ironic, John Bacon remarked. The “conservatives” on the board were in favor of regulations, which are mandatory and more restrictive than guidelines. He stated, “These proposed regulations were put together by professionals and we should recognize their expertise.”
Conferees on Tuesday presented graphic, moving and sometimes shocking testimony about how seclusion and restraint had been used on their students. All board members agreed that if those statements were true, strong attention was probably needed.
Currently, there are no federal or state rules or regulations regarding seclusion and restraint for students with disabilities.
The majority on the State Board felt that guidelines were the proper place to begin and that their implementation should be closely monitored to see if guidelines were sufficient or if regulatory language would be needed at a later time.
It was pointed out that each student in question has an IEP and that behavior plans, including use or non-use of seclusion and restraint, were part of those plans. Parents who believe the plan is not being followed have recourse through a complaint procedure or, ultimately, a due process hearing.
In other action, the State Board:
- Received an update on the process for reviewing charter school proposals
- Denied a petition for reconsideration of an order revoking a license
- Received the 2005-2006 Accountability Report
- Submitted proposed licensure regulations for removing barriers to licensure (first step in regulatory review process)
- Approved recommendations from the Waiver Review Committee
- Approved funding recommendations for Title II B math and science partnership grants
- Approved requests for bond issue elections from: USD 266, Maize: USD 372, Silver Lake:USD 467, Leoti
- Postponed receiving model Standards for Health Education to March, due to lack of time
Future Meeting, Board Materials
The next meeting of the State Board will be Tuesday and Wednesday, March 13 and 14. The meeting on the 14th will be in Kansas City, at the School for the Blind and the School for the Deaf.
The board agenda and materials should be available on the KSDE website beginning on Monday, March 5.
Board materials from the February meeting can be found on the KSDE website, follow the links for State Board, then Meeting materials.
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