Bob Corkins – newly hired as Kansas education commissioner for $140,000 despite having no experience in the field – wants his first act on the job to be the hiring of a conservative consultant for up to $15,000 to “coordinate the transitional team.”

On Friday, Corkins added to next week’s State Board of Education agenda a proposal to hire Harden Educational Services LLC “for an amount not to exceed $15,000 over a six-month period to coordinate the transitional team.”

The consultant is Daniel Harden, an education professor at Washburn University, conservative advocate and good friend of Education Board Chairman Steve Abrams, a conservative Republican from Arkansas City.

In his memo to the board, Corkins said, “The unique and numerous professional relationships maintained by Dr. Harden make him particularly beneficial in guiding the smooth administrative orientation of the new Education Commissioner.”

On the agenda for Tuesday’s Education Board meeting, which will be held in Lawrence, the board will formally ratify the hiring of Corkins for $140,000 plus benefits.

Conservatives on the board on Monday hired Corkins on a 6-4 vote to be the top education official in Kansas despite the fact Corkins has no professional education background and has spent the past few years fighting against funding increases for public schools as the sole employee of two conservative think tanks.

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His hiring has caused shock waves in Kansas political circles, prompting criticism from moderate Republicans, Democrats and school advocates.

On Friday, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius stepped up criticism of the board’s hiring of Corkins.

“I am, frankly, worried,” Sebelius told reporters. “At the minimum, Kansans demand competence of their government officials, and I worry about an individual who has absolutely no education experience and no management experience leading this very critical agency.”

Corkins has defended his appointment, saying he brings a fresh perspective to the education department and his skills as a lawyer and researcher will serve the board well.

After ratifying his appointment, the board then will act on Corkins’ request for transitional help from Harden.

Harden is a longtime educator and vice president of the Jefferson West school board in Meriden. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

His Washburn Web site, www.washburn.edu/cas/education/dharden, declares “Traditional Education in the Year of Our Lord 2005” and provides links to numerous conservative think tanks. Harden also had been one of the finalists for the education commissioner post.