Elected Education Officials
State Board of Education
- Janet Waugh, (D-District 1)
715 N. 74th Kansas City, KS 66112; (913) 287-5165 - Carolyn Wims-Campbell, (D-District 4)
3824 S.E. Illinois Ave., Topeka 66609; (785) 266-3798
Kansas Board of Regents - Arthur Edwin “Ed” McKechnie, chairman, Arcadia
- Tim Emert, vice chairman, Independence
- Christine Downey-Schmidt, Inman
- Mildred Edwards, Wichita
- Juana "Janie" Perkins, Garden City
- Fred Logan Jr., Leawood
- Dan Lykins, Topeka
- Robba Addison Moran, Hays
- Kenny Wilk, Lansing Lawrence School Board
- Kristie Adair
4924 Stoneback Place, 66047; 785-840-7989 - Rick Ingram, president
1510 Crescent Road, 66044; 864-9819 - Shannon Kimball, vice president
257 Earhart Circle, 66049; 840-7722 - Randy Masten
934 W. 21st St., 66046; 760-5196 - Keith Diaz Moore
1738 Barker Ave., 66044; 856-1402 - Adina Morse
1549 Alvamar Court, 66047; 785-856-0843 - Vanessa Sanburn
765 Ash Street, 66044; 785-856-1233 - Rick Doll, superintendent
832-5000
1000 S.W. Jackson St., Suite 520
Topeka, KS 66612; (785) 296-3421
Administration
- Plans for tighter fingerprint requirements for teachers raising concerns
- December 11, 2013
- The Kansas State Board of Education is still drafting new regulations that would require all teachers to be fingerprinted and undergo extensive criminal background checks as a condition of maintaining a license. But those plans are raising concerns about the cost being imposed on teachers. By Peter Hancock
- Fernandez stepping down as South Middle School principal
- December 11, 2013
- Will Fernandez, principal at South Middle School in Lawrence, will retire at the end of this year. He has worked in the Lawrence school district since 2005.
- State board rejects SmarterBalanced; chooses KU to develop Common Core tests
- December 10, 2013
- The Kansas State Board of Education rejected a testing system being developed by a consortium of 22 states and instead hire Kansas University’s Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation to develop tests aligned to the new Common Core standards. The move would save about $1 million a year compared to the SmarterBalanced tests, but it is unclear whether the U.S. Department of Education will approve the board’s overall plan. By Peter Hancock
- State board approves handwriting standards
- December 10, 2013
- The Kansas State Board of Education voted 10-0 today to approve new handwriting standards for public schools. The model standards still give local schools discretion about teaching, but includes language saying the board “expects” them to ensure all students can write legibly in cursive. By Peter Hancock
- School board updates policies on bullying, e-cigarettes, other issues
- December 9, 2013
- The Lawrence school board formally updated several policies Monday night, including one that now prohibits parents from engaging in bullying behavior. Most of the updates reflect recent changes in state law and were recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards. By Peter Hancock
- School board mulling $12.5 million capital improvements plan
- December 9, 2013
- Lawrence school officials are proposing a $12.5 million capital improvements plan for this year for building repairs, furniture replacement and other improvements. That plan is separate from the recent $92.5 million bond issue, but many of the projects are related. By Peter Hancock
- Lawrence school board moves meeting to 7 p.m. today
- December 9, 2013
- Tonight’s Lawrence school board meeting has been rescheduled for 7 p.m.
- Lawrence United Way effort helped reduce summer skills loss in elementary students
- December 9, 2013
- The Lawrence School District discovered that this summer, students involved in the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence’s summer program retained more of what they learned last year.
- State to decide standards for student handwriting
- December 9, 2013
- Teaching children how to write on paper with a pen or pencil may be going by the wayside in some parts of the country, but not in Kansas. By Peter Hancock
- Designs for Free State, Kennedy to be unveiled at Lawrence school board meeting
- 12:00 a.m., December 8, 2013 Updated 08:10 p.m.
- Architects will unveil schematic plans for upgrades and renovations at Free State High School and Kennedy School when the Lawrence school board meets Monday night. The projects are being funded with the $92.5 million bond issue voters approved in April. By Peter Hancock
- Southeast Kansas school superintendent unhappy with Brownback using welfare funds for reading
- December 7, 2013
- Steve Woolf, a school superintendent in Neosho County, said his jaw hit the table when he learned that Gov. Sam Brownback was going to use welfare funds to pay for a reading program directed at grade-school students in southeast Kansas. By Scott Rothschild
- ‘Innovative district’ applications raising eyebrows for some education officials
- December 7, 2013
- Eight school districts have applied to become exempt from many laws and regulations governing public schools in Kansas. But some education officials worry that granting the waivers could weaken the quality of schools and expose the state to liability. By Peter Hancock
- Kansas and Lawrence education officials find lessons in latest international tests
- December 3, 2013
- High school students in United States ranked lower than those of many other industrialized countries in the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment, or PISA tests. But state and local officials in Kansas say there are lessons to be drawn from other countries. By Peter Hancock
- Foundation grants support forensics teams
- December 2, 2013
- The Lawrence Schools Foundation supports high school speech and debate squads with grants that help cover some extraordinary costs, including travel to national tournaments. Teams from Lawrence and Free State High School are now gearing up for the next national-qualifying tournament, to be held Dec. 13-14 in Olathe. By Peter Hancock
- Physical Education gets ‘high-tech’ with Teacher Innovation Grant
- November 30, 2013
- Physical Education might be the last class you’d expect to integrate technology into the curriculum, but Lawrence High School PE teacher Amy Hoffsommer would beg to differ. Hoffsommer’s students wear heart rate monitors during class, purchased with money from Lawrence School Foundation’s Teacher Innovation Grants. By Caitlin Doornbos
- Only three apply for ‘innovative district’ status
- November 30, 2013
- Only three school districts have applied for a designation that would exempt them from state laws and regulations governing how they operate, including laws on collective bargaining and teacher tenure. Districts have until Dec. 1 to apply for the 2014-2015 school year. By Peter Hancock
- East Heights School to be called back into service
- November 29, 2013
- East Heights School at 15th and Haskell closed in 2003 as part of a consolidation and cost-saving initiative in the Lawrence school district. But it will be put back into service as an elementary school temporarily next year while Cordley School is being remodeled. By Peter Hancock
- West Middle School students combine reading and farm animals to fight global poverty
- November 26, 2013
- Seventh-graders at West Middle School are taking part in Heifer International’s “Read to Feed,” which helps raise money through read-a-thons to purchase livestock that can help families in poorer countries. To help students get excited and better understand the role of animals in agriculture, school staff brought in some farm animals to graze in the school’s courtyard.By Ben Unglesbee
- Lawrence school board members satisfied with Common Core phase-in
- November 25, 2013
- Lawrence school board members said they are generally satisfied with how the Common Core standards are being implemented locally. Students will start being tested on the new standards this spring. By Peter Hancock
- Governor opens dialogue aimed at avoiding future school finance lawsuits
- November 25, 2013
- Gov. Sam Brownback met with school officials and legislative leaders Monday to look for ways to avoid future school finance litigation. The talks came while the Kansas Supreme Court is weighing arguments in a case that could force the state to spend upwards of $500 million a year more for public schools. By Peter Hancock
- Brownback says litigation over school finance is ‘dumb way of handling this’; only Republicans invited to discussion
- 11:53 a.m., November 18, 2013 Updated 04:43 p.m.
- Facing a possible court-ordered increase in public school funding, Gov. Sam Brownback has called for opening up the dialogue between legislators and school leaders. By Scott Rothschild
- How to read your child’s Building Report Card
- November 18, 2013
- Kansas began using a new system this year for measuring how well individual schools and districts are performing. Here’s your guide to understanding the new “Building Report Cards” for the Lawrence school district. By Peter Hancock
- High school students may have choice in future tests
- November 13, 2013
- As schools shift to Common Core reading and math standards, state officials are recommending a common test for elementary and middle school students. But high school students would have a choice, depending on their post-graduation goals. By Peter Hancock
- State reading, math scores drop as schools shift to new standards
- November 12, 2013
- Scores on state reading and math scores fell across the board in 2013, both statewide and in the Lawrence school district. Officials say it is likely because the tests themselves no longer reflect what is being taught in classrooms. By Peter Hancock
- Lawrence school board shies away from International Baccalaureate Diploma program
- November 11, 2013
- Lawrence school officials convinced the board of education not to pursue implementing an International Baccalaureate program. Instead, the district may pursue a new type of Advanced Placement curriculum called Cambridge Capstone. By Peter Hancock
- Doll named Superintendent of the Year
- November 11, 2013
- Lawrence school superintendent Rick Doll has been named the 2014 Kansas Superintendent of the Year. The Kansas School Superintendents’ Association announced the award at tonight’s school board meeting. By Peter Hancock
- State assessment results due Tuesday
- November 11, 2013
- Results from the 2013 state assessments in reading and math will be unveiled Tuesday at the Kansas State Board of Education. They will come on the heels of national test results showing level performance overall and widening achievement gaps. By Peter Hancock
- Housing Authority finds new preschool provider, but officials say more still needed
- November 10, 2013
- The Lawrence Housing Authority will soon offer preschool services again after losing its Head Start program earlier this year due to federal budget cuts. But local officials say there is still a need for more quality, affordable early childhood education programs. By Peter Hancock
- School board to discuss building concepts, International Baccalaureate
- November 10, 2013
- Lawrence school board members will discuss design concepts and energy-efficiency for buildings that will soon be renovated as part of the $92.5 million bond project. The board will also discuss a recommendation not to add an International Baccalaureate Diploma program in Lawrence. By Peter Hancock
- High school game-day T-shirts cause stir
- November 8, 2013
- Some parents and school officials were offended when Free State students wore T-shirts calling Lawrence High a place “where the peasants go.” School officials haven’t said whether they’ll take further action. By Peter Hancock
Prev Next
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Letter: Food stamp funds December 9, 2013 · 41 comments
- Audit finds 'chronic weaknesses' in state agencies protecting confidential information December 9, 2013 · 6 comments
- Letter: Honestly? December 10, 2013 · 15 comments
- Opinion: Sharing the wealth not a radical idea December 5, 2013 · 63 comments
- Moran: Affordable Care Act beyond repair November 22, 2013 · 128 comments
- KU Edwards will offer a new degree in educational technology November 12, 2013 · 1 comment
- Sebelius a finalist for Time Person of Year December 10, 2013 · 13 comments
- Editorial: Front of the pack November 21, 2013 · 2 comments
- Kansas state school funding falling short of legislators' plan December 11, 2013 · 3 comments
- On the street: How likely are you to read a novel if it’s chosen for a common book program? December 11, 2013 · 5 comments
- Former KGS senior scientist censured for allegations of plagiarism December 11, 2013
- Report: Students admitted to college without meeting minimum standards have tougher time December 11, 2013
- Opinion: Spying on game players? Really? December 11, 2013
- Kansas baseball signs 10 December 11, 2013
- Two injured in crash through a Massachusetts Street storefront December 7, 2013
- Lawrence man aims to pay it 'forward' with new foundation November 9, 2013
