Lawrence public school officials will stand their ground.

Despite a Kansas State Board of Education vote Tuesday approving science standards critical of evolution, science and biology classes in Lawrence public schools won’t change, top district officials said.

“I haven’t had any indication from the school board that they’re interested in changing our curriculum,” Supt. Randy Weseman said.

Some in Lawrence shook their heads at news of the vote. Others voiced support for the board’s conservative majority.

“I think it’s good for education because hopefully now we can actually look at the geologic column and ask the hard questions,” said Jeff Barclay, administrator of Veritas Christian School, a private school that is not immediately affected by changes to state standards. “I would hope now we could actually look at the evidence.”

Changes to the standards have raised concerns about Kansas University’s ability to attract qualified faculty and Lawrence public schools’ ability to hire good teachers.

The concerns continue.

“Kansas has become a source of ridicule and scorn by much of the world, much of the intelligent world,” said Craig Martin, KU professor and chair of the ecology and evolutionary biology department. “People make jokes about us. That’s a subtle form of damage, but it’s damage.”

Martin said his department is looking to fill four faculty positions. He said it’s difficult to tell whether qualified candidates even look at Kansas because of the evolution debate.

“We don’t know who is not applying,” he said. “We only know who is applying.”

Sue Morgan, a member of the Lawrence school board, said the vote could deter teaching candidates.

Morgan said she expects the Lawrence school board to discuss the state board’s vote within the next few meetings.

Morgan said she anticipates the board will take an official stance that it will not change the standards. After the board does that, it may hear complaints from evolution opponents in the community.

Board member Craig Grant said he strongly opposes changing the standards to include criticism of evolution.

“It angers me that once again we’ve become the laughingstock,” he said.

The vote will make things tougher for the business community and those trying to encourage companies to move into the area, predicted Shirley Martin-Smith, chairwoman of the board of directors for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

“It makes Kansans look somewhat less forward thinking than they are, and that’s concerning to me,” she said. “I’m very proud of this state.”