A multiyear approach to school finance would be “reasonable,” Kansas Education Commissioner Bob Corkins said Thursday during an online chat on the Journal-World’s Web site.

“Most important, however, is the question of how we allocate and spend the dollars that are ultimately approved,” said Corkins, an advocate of loosening restrictions on charter schools.

“Vouchers are not on our agenda right now, but there are many other ways we can work together for educational diversity,” he said in response to another question about giving families more choices in education.

A legislative audit has indicated that the Legislature should allocate some $400 million in new spending on education to satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and many legislative leaders seem to be focused on getting to that target over several years, Corkins said.

“I believe that to be reasonable, but of course we don’t know what the final product will be and what the court will find acceptable,” Corkins said.

The state board has come up with a $180 million proposal, which includes funding for all-day kindergarten, “a move that would create tremendous long-term improvement in state outcomes,” he said.

• 6News video:Kansas Educational Commissioner discusses public school improvement
• Chat with Bob Corkins, Kansas Education Commissioner (02-02-06)

During the chat, Corkins received critical questions about the state board changing the high school science curriculum standards so they allow criticism of evolution.

“The science standards approved by the State Board in no manner insert the teaching of creationism, intelligent design, or any theory competing with evolution,” Corkins wrote. “The standards simply recommend that any evolutionary teaching simply acknowledge the limits of what science knows.”

Bob Corkins, state education commissioner, responds to questions during an online chat Thursday afternoon in the News Center.

Corkins also defended his qualifications for the $140,000-per-year position as the state’s top education policy administrator.

The state board took criticism for hiring Corkins, who has never worked in the education profession.

And Democrats have proposed a bill that spells out that the commissioner must have been a licensed teacher, school administrator or have significant training or experience in the field of education.

A Lawrence resident, Corkins was the only staff member of a think tank that provided legislators with research and policy papers, some of them critical of school spending.

“I’m an attorney who is well versed in school finance law and all the constitutional issues it touches. I’ve professionally researched countless education issues affecting Kansas and I have a wealth of experience in dealing effectively with Kansas lawmakers of all political affiliations as they grapple with these issues,” Corkins wrote.

To read the entire chat transcript and view some post-chat video clips, go to www2.ljworld.com/news/chats/newsmakers/.