Welcome to our online chat with school board candidate Gordon Longabach.

The chat took place on Wednesday, February 12, at 5:30 p.m. and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.

Moderator: Welcome, everybody, to tonight’s chat with school board candidate Gordon Longabach.

Moderator: Mr. Longabach is here with us and is ready to answer questions.

Gordon Longabach: Howdy folks, glad to be here.

Cammie: Are there areas other than facilities that you feel the district should look at to help schools be more equitable (ex. after-school activities, playground equipment, classroom supplies, computer labs, PTO, parent involvement, site councils, etc.)?

Gordon Longabach: As I understand the operating budget, there’s 85 percent for salaries. That leaves about 15 percent. That’s the stuff you’re talking about cutting, and I don’t think cutting teacher salaries will go over good. This is why the whole bond issue makes sense to me. We can go after improvements to the buildings and make things more efficient. We’ve cut about as much as we can cut from other areas.

Adrian: What is your position on the teaching of creationism or “Intelligent Design” in school science classes?

Gordon Longabach: I believe in evoluton. The science is there to support evolution. However, on the other hand I think a small amount of creationism could be offered just to show there are two sides to every story.

Rob and Jamie: Everyone recognizes that the Bond Issue is a large financial commitment at a time when funding and resources are tight. However, what are some of the consequences for the District if the Bond is not approved at this time?

Gordon Longabach: If the bond doesn’t pass and we have to keep all 11 elementary schools east of Iowa Street open, there will be a degradation against all the schools in the district. There’s going to be some things cut that willl scare some people. I wouldn’t be surprised if a school has to close any way, due to lack of money. You can always teach with a few teachers for each school and have great big classes, but I’d prefer not to see that. For those against the bond, I haven’t heard their solutions as to how they’re going to operate. How are you going to get and keep good teachers? Comply with state and federal mandates? Prepare for growth on a shortfall of dollars?

¢ 6News video: Gordon Longabach speaks with voters in online chat

Lawrence resident: Given that the school district bought a new administrative headquarters with the last bond issue money — that wasn’t part of the deal — how can the public trust what the board says about this bond plan?

Gordon Longabach: What I know about is that it was on the previous superintendent’s watch. I don’t know much about this.

J. H. : What does a “small amount of creationism” mean?

Gordon Longabach: There’s two sides to every story. I don’t think it hurts to be exposed – maybe 10 percent or 15 percent – to creationism. However, when you get right down to it, science can prove evolution. But they can’t prove how life began unless you believe in spontaneous generation.

Ken: Of the 125 more or less students at the alternative school only about 12 are considered at risk. This is per the school pricinple. How can one possibly support spending nearly 10 million on new alternative school facilities when we have a budget crunch ? This is the ultimate in ‘pork barrel’ spending.

Gordon Longabach: I like the idea they’re going to call it the Lawrence Futures Academy. The district needs a place where students who don’t fit in at the traditional high school can go to school and try to become a productive citizen.

Sara: Why are you running for school board? What will be your highest priority if we elect you?

Gordon Longabach: Why? I’m trying to get the word out on the bond issue. It’s what I’m trying to support. I’d like everybody to hear Supt. Weseman’s 40 minute informational presentation. I feel it’s a good time to get a bond. The interest rates are low. It’d be a good time to get some contracts in the hands of builders. It’s going to have to be done sooner or later. Might as well get on with it. Also, I was a substitute teacher. I did it for two years in the junior high school and high school level. I’ve been in the portables at West and South. Those things need to go. South Junior High need to go. We shouldn’t put $1 into that building. We need to think of education in Lawence as a community whole. Not an east versus west or rich versus poor.

Ken: You didn’t even come close to answering my question. How does spending 10 million for 12 students make sense ?

Gordon Longabach: I don’t know about 12 at risk kids. Obviously, if there are 125 students out there that justifies the building.

Gilgamesh: There are hundreds of creation stories. Do you really advocate allowing these tales to be taught in science classrooms?

Gordon Longabach: There’s two sides to every story. I don’t think it hurts to educate the other side. We’re just talking about a small percentage. I didn’t know I was going to open up a can of worms.

Question: What do you think about consolidation of elementary schools?

Gordon Longabach: It’s an emotional issue. You have two schools a half a mile apart and two schools 1 mile apart. I don’t think it’s going to erode neighborhoods to go from 11 to nine elementary schools east of Iowa Street. As I said Saturday, if there were two elementary schools out on Kasold half a mile apart, one of those would have to go. It’s just a matter of efficiency and trying to do with less money in the future. Because we aren’t getting anything from Topeka and the sales tax idea for education isn’t a proven thing right now.

East side parent: Will you suppprt bussing west side children to the east side of lawrence?

Gordon Longabach: No. There’s 2,700 kids on the east side of Iowa and 2,400 on the west side of Iowa. I don’t see where that’s a solution. Plus, I don’t think the parents would stand for it anyway.

Ken: You a talking about closing schools with the same amount of students. How in this case do we justify spending the money ?

Gordon Longabach: The teacher cost per student on the 11 schools east of Iowa averages $4,300. And west of Iowa runs $3,200. The district average is $3,600. So, it just makes sense to make things more efficient, more productive. I understand there’s a thing called “windshield time” for art, music and library staff who shuttle from school to school. Face value, it just doesn’t seem like a good, efficient system. That doesn’t mean we don’t need the futures academy, because it serves a different purpose in the community.

East side parent: Are you in favor of a Douglas County sales tax for education. Kind of like what Johnson County did?

Gordon Longabach: No. Far as I know, even board member Jack Davidson says Johnson County should spearhead that attack. This whole thing will wind up in the courts before it’s over. There’s no use in thinking about that as a means to the end.

Sara: Do you back the idea of raising the sales tax to benefit education? I was under the impression that it’s letting the state off the hook, as far as funding goes, and illegal besides.

Gordon Longabach: I agree with what Sue Morgan has said. We shouldn’t let the state of Kansas off the hook. They haven’t come through. In the meantime, Lawrence has to figure out how to pull ourselves up by our boot straps and make things work within our system. Things in Kansas are going to get worse before they get better.

Lisa: Do you think the district’s administrative staff is bloated?

Gordon Longabach: All I know is that I think we have a good superintendent and good staff, regardless whether you think they’re bloated. I know there used to be under former Supt. Kathleen Williams some assistant superintendents, and Randy Weseman got rid of those slots and streamlined his organizational chart to where he has a big span of control. I don’t see how you can criticize the administration for being fat.

East Side parent: It appears that most board candidates don’t understand the legal difference between operational and bond money. Do you? Please explain.

Gordon Longabach: Bond money is for building schools and fixing schools up. The operating budget, 85 percent is for salaries. You can’t get a bond for salaries. The whole purpose of the consolidation is to come up with $1.4 million in savings to reinvest in the operating budget.

Moderator: We’ll take one more question.

Gordon Longabach: Finally, I’d like to say. If you own a $100,000 home, the bond issue will cost you a movie ticket a month. I think people can afford that for the betterment of education in the Lawrence community.

Sara: Not a question, and this doesn’t have to be posted, but I’d like to thank Mr. Longabach for his straightforward, practical, informed answers to our questions.

Gordon Longabach: Thank you.

Moderator: Thanks, everybody, for joining us tonight.

Moderator: Our next chat is with candidate Sue Morgan, tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.

Moderator: See you then.