Herndon ? State school board member Connie Morris’ unannounced visit to a school district in this northwest Kansas town left a bad taste in the mouths of teachers.

Morris, who has been criticized for her view that the state shouldn’t educate the children of illegal immigrants, showed up at the Herndon district last week and wanted to meet with staff and faculty about ways to avoid a merger with the Atwood school district.

The Atwood and Herndon districts’ boards already have agreed to merge and let voters have the final say April 1. Teachers said Morris didn’t know that and didn’t seem to understand the consolidation process at all.

“The first thing she said was that we could get rid of the superintendent,” said Denise Nepodal, a special education teacher and coach. “She used the example that if the superintendent was doing the jobs of four people, the district could take her salary and divide it among four community members to do the same jobs. I told her that wouldn’t save us any money.”

The former teacher from St. Francis denied suggesting that the superintendent’s position be eliminated.

“I didn’t suggest they get rid of the superintendent,” Morris said. “And, as far as any other brainstorming ideas, I don’t have any further comments about that.”

Another teacher said she was bothered that Morris didn’t seem to know what she was talking about and had not done her homework before going to the school.

“I think what got me the most was that nobody knew she was coming,” said Deb Portschy, first- and second-grade teacher at the school. “And, she had no idea that the (consolidation) resolutions had already been signed by both school boards and sent to the state. She had some unrealistic suggestions for trying to keep our schools from consolidation.”

Donna Whiteman, legal counsel for the Kansas Association of School Boards, questioned Morris’ actions in Herndon.

“I think if she had contacted the superintendent and let her know she was coming, she could have gotten information about how the two communities have worked hard and made arrangements for the children,” said Whiteman, the attorney who helped Herndon and Atwood with their consolidation applications.

Nepodal said Morris told educators the school could stay open by having teachers volunteer to take on more duties.

“Some of us are already spread thin, and how can we be expected to do any more?” she said.

Some also criticized Morris for ending her visit with a public prayer. Nepodal said the prayer made her uncomfortable.

“She said, ‘I’m going to end the meeting with a prayer, and I’m sorry if it offends anyone, but I’m going to do it anyway,'” Nepodal said.

Morris declined comment when asked about the prayer. She was unsuccessful recently when she tried to get the state board of education to start its meetings with a prayer.

Morris said she doesn’t think she did anything wrong.

“Oh, that’s silly,” she said. “It’s my job to search down the facts and stay open to comments, and that’s what I was doing.”