1. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges currently facing the Wichita School district?

Betty Arnold: A) Student Achievement (B) Student Safety (C) Improvement in rate of graduation.

Jeff Davis: Continuing to increase student achievement as the student demographics move to more non-English speakers and more students that live in poverty. School safety is also a concern. Student and Staff need a safe environment in which to work and learn. We need to address the teacher shortage, finding a way to employ and retain quality teachers.

Cindy Duckett: The biggest challenges facing the Wichita school district include closing the achievement gap, addressing the forced busing issue, identifying reading delivery methods that are successful for all students and fiscal responsibility/accountability.

Barb Fuller: A) Providing educational choices and opportunity for all students to learn recognizing the District’s diverse student social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Continuing to improve overall student achievement while also closing the achievement gap.
B) Retaining and recruiting quality teachers, administrators, and employees.
C) Keeping schools safe. Teaching students positive ways to deal with conflict resolution.
D) Keeping community involved and supportive of the Wichita Public Schools

Kevass Harding: To continue delivering and aligning curriculum based on challenging standards, measure achievement, and ensure all students meet the standards in order to be prepared for a life time of success. We must have all our students prepared and ready for the workforce. Therefore eliminating the achievement gap is paramount!

Karl Peterjohn: The school district reported to the state last August that spending will now top $540 million in 2006-07. Two years ago it was $427 million (see Aug. 17, 2006 Wichita Eagle). The February, 2007, state audit of enrollment for USD 259 indicates that there are 44,329 FTE students this year. That’s over $12,000 in spending per pupil annually. Soaring spending occurred in the KC, MO school district under a similar judicial order in the 1980’s. At the same time student achievement and test scores declined there. Over $1.3 billion in additional tax funds were spent. Wichita must NOT follow this bad example and must make sure that soaring state and federal funds get into the classroom and generate improved student achievement.

John Stevens: The high school drop out rate. We have a state average drop out rate of 13% and almost a 30% drop out rate in 259. 17% X 49000 students means about 8000 students in Wichita schools right now are not going to make the finish line.

2. Would you support a tax increase for K-12 education?

Betty Arnold: My response is contingent upon the needs of the district and how those needs can best be met. Financial planning and financial responsibility are the critical steps for consideration before any viable plan for a tax increase can or should be proposed.

Jeff Davis: We need to get the biggest bang for our dollar. Tax dollars need to be spent wisely. We need to lobby Topeka to get our fair share of education dollars sent back to Wichita. Wichita sends a great deal of tax dollars to Topeka and we need to see more of it come back home.

Cindy Duckett: No. The largest portion of the state budget is already designated for schools. We need to find more effective ways to use the funds already available. More money does not equate to better educational outcomes.

Barb Fuller: In my opinion, this question should not be answered by a simple yes or no. I will insist on the efficient use of tax dollars. The only authority the Board has to raise taxes is with the local option budget (LOB). Currently, the District is not taxing to their full LOB authority limit and I would not want to raise these taxes. However, if future funding from the state is not adequate or the funding formulas change significantly, it may be necessary to increase the LOB.

I voted for the last bond issue because the need for facilities improvement became so obvious. During my time on the Board, it could become necessary to consider another bond issue. In this case, the needs would have to be very obvious and there would need to be clear evidence of broad community support.

Kevass Harding: No. $28.2 million in new state funding approved by the 2006 Legislature will be injected into the 2006-07 budget. In addition, $7 million will be generated through the Local Option Budget (LOB). The LOB taxing rate (27 percent) is proposed to remain the same, and the mill levy is proposed to remain the same as well (51.3 mills, same as 2004-05 and 2005-06).

Karl Peterjohn: Kansas has an uncompetitive tax climate. High property taxes are a major cause of this problem. I would support a requirement that any property tax hike get voter approval like local sales and school bonding proposals currently require. This is current law in three of our neighboring states. The poor tax climate in Kansas hurts Kansas companies from expanding and keeps outside firms from relocating here. This means that the risk and uncertainty of locating a business in Kansas is higher than in our neighboring states. Many Kansas graduates end up leaving this state because our income level is well below the national average and they are finding jobs elsewhere. I have testified repeatedly over the last 15 years at the state level to try and improve the Kansas fiscal climate. This year I have already testified in support of phasing out the state’s franchise tax. School taxes and school funding are also being driven by decisions in the statehouse and by the judiciary.

John Stevens: No. We need justification for where the money goes now! If you have 25 students in a classroom at $10,000.00 per student and 60% of the money is to be used for instruction, then $150,000.00 is a lot of money to pay classroom costs.

3. What changes have been (or could be) implemented in our schools to maintain the relevancy of today’s education to current workforce needs?

Betty Arnold: The direction and focus of the district has been concentrated on improving the level of student success on the state assessment tests. This is in support of the theme “Back to Basics”. A solid educational background is crucial, timeless, and always relevant as a preparatory tool that will enable students to respond to the dynamics of the workforce needs. Without this solid foundation in place, any endeavor in the workforce is destined to fail.

Jeff Davis: We need to encourage more interaction between teachers and businesses. We also need the help of more employers in schools communicating to students the skills and traits they will need to be successfully employed. The Wichita District has implemented several new programs that are available for High School students, such as a Motor Cycle Technician program at Heights, an Aircraft/Sheet Metal class at West, a Commerce Application Developer class at East and a Skilled Mechanical Crafts class at South. All of these classes give our students huge advantages as they enter the workforce in the Wichita area.

Cindy Duckett: I would like to see an expansion to the magnet program and perhaps some experimentation with Charter Schools that offer a more specialized and individualized curriculum to meet student areas of interest. I think we’re going to have to get away from the one-size-fits-all approach to schooling by offering a greater variety of programs for students to choose from.

Barb Fuller: All of the high schools have been looking, planning, and implementing programs with a focus on workforce development. One very successful program is the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). Other current programs within the district include motorcycle technician, aircraft/sheet metal, and commerce application developer. Also, there have been partnerships with businesses to support educational opportunities for students. These programs should be continued and expanded.

Kevass Harding: Propose a “Blue Ribbon Committee” to be comprised of school officials, city and county officials, business leaders, students, teachers, and at-large citizen representation to begin planning for an “Educational Summit.” The summit would look at the business goals for Wichita over the next 5 years, 10 years, and 20 years. The goal of the summit would be to tie the educational vision of relevancy for the district with the business goals so that the students of the future would be prepared and ready to take the jobs of the future as well as emerge as the future leaders.

Karl Peterjohn: All children need a strong foundation of reading, mathematics, and writing skills. There are many other educational skills needed in addition to these foundational abilities. If these basic skills do not exist, the additional educational opportunities in computers, arts, music, physical education, and other school taught skills will be of limited value to the students. Wichita provides the opportunity for a variety of educational programs and structures, particularly at the elementary level. I strongly support this internal choices program. Wichita needs to continue to work to improve the skill levels of all students. We need to reduce the gaps that exist between certain groups of students. These performance gaps should be diminished by raising the lower performing students up to the highest level of achievement. I am a strong supporter of incentives and competition to improve performance.

John Stevens: Students need to develop their “area of interest” and be taught based on what they as individuals want to do with their lives. Students will perform much better if they are interested in the subjects they know they need for their area of interest. I taught myself an entire business because I was Interested.

4. What is your position on the use of School Resource Officers (SROs)

Betty Arnold: I am in support of SROs as a way to keep our schools safe for everyone. SROs in conjunction with the presence of adults and teachers in the hallways during student passing periods would make an even safer environment. Significantly increasing the student/teacher ratio during these times would make a greater impact on “student on student” violence.

Jeff Davis: SRO’s are a great asset to the schools. The officers are mentors and role models for students. They teach classes on current laws and they provide extra security for the staff and students making our schools a safer place for kids to learn. They are also a positive presence for the police department in the buildings. The SRO allows the beat officer to stay focused on his duties on his beat instead of making the calls at the schools.

Cindy Duckett: Unfortunately, the need for School Resource Officers is reflection of our larger society. Although it saddens me to acknowledge the need for these officers, it is the reality and we must deal with that. Safety must be the number one priority for all.

Barb Fuller: I am supportive. Maintaining safe schools is essential for the learning environment and the SROs are a very important element of this. I do have some concern about the way they are to be funded with a 50/50 split between the city and school district. While the District should be responsible for a portion of the funding, there are compelling arguments that the District’s share should be less than 50 per cent.

Kevass Harding: As a former police officer, I have utmost respect and appreciation for the Wichita Police Department and particularly the Wichita Police Officer. Given our present circumstances in our schools today regarding safety, I truly believe the SROs are needed in our schools. SROs are another paradigm to school safety.

Karl Peterjohn: Safe schools are needed for the students and staff. This is fundamental for operating any sort of school. SROs are part of this effort.

John Stevens: I am real sorry we need police officers in schools to maintain order! We must look for ways to deal with discipline problems so teachers can teach and students can learn. Until we solve the discipline problems SROs are necessary. In the long run SROs are not the answer. However, because of the failure on the part of the administration to find a better solution we must have SROs to protect teachers and students for now.

Betty Arnold: This kind of partnership will always be valuable. However for the Board to assume responsibility in this area would certainly take away from the primary focus of ensuring a quality education for students. I believe that the Board should remain focused on K thru 12.

Jeff Davis: Senate Bill 7 has dictated that K-12 school districts stay out of Adult Education. However, education is a lifelong process, K-12 and adult education should be coordinated.

Cindy Duckett: I do not believe that the K-12 system was designed to meet the needs of adults. Those needs are better addressed by the technical schools, community colleges, etc.

Barb Fuller: The Wichita Area Technical College is no longer a responsibility of the school district because it is now governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. This is a result of action by the Legislature. I am supportive of the English language classes for adults. The district should take responsibility for adult education when needed.

Kevass Harding: Since K-12 education was separated from Wichita Area Technical College (WATC), adult education should be handled by the area colleges and K-12 education should be handled by USD 259. However I believe USD 259 learning centers can and should be used by those adults who need their basic GED. Again, I believe the goal of USD 259 is to help and prepare all students for a lifetime of success, particularly in the workforce area of Wichita.

Karl Peterjohn: The districts role in adult education has been significantly reduced since the Wichita Area Technical college was removed from the Wichita school district a couple of years ago by the state. This question, and implicitly, also number 2 above, is tied to whatever public school decisions are made at the state level by the legislature and the governor. The school district also operates under rules established by the state board of education too. Both limit and define the school board’s powers and authority.

Sedgwick County continues to impose a 1.5 mill property tax to fund W.S.U. That goes back to Wichita University joining the Regents system. We need more accountability for the expenditure of these and all tax funds. This includes meeting past as well as future commitments. When the community colleges were established, there was a specific decision made not to have community colleges established in counties where there was a Regents university. Kansas counties with community colleges have much higher property tax mill levies than the counties without this burden. I am concerned that the WATC will soon become Sedgwick County’s “community college,” and this community’s comparative advantage with other Kansas communities will disappear with a new taxing entity in place.

John Stevens: We should help students who have fallen out of the learning process regain the skills needed to pass the GED. Maybe with home study or night classes we could help our interested citizens upgrade so they can meet the demands of our society. Sooner or later those who don’t graduate high school will realize what a mistake they made and become interested in learning again. Most of this new GED high school training should be tied to our community labor shortages. This would lead to a job for those who are willing to return to the learning process.

6. Do you support parents being able to choose the education provider for their child and receiving tax credits to pay for other choices?

Betty Arnold: No. I see this option as an effective way to erode the financial support of public education which is designed to meet the needs of all children and not just a select few.

Jeff Davis: The Wichita District has many great choice opportunities for parents and students. I don’t support tax dollars going to private schools.

Cindy Duckett: I believe that education dollars should be attached to the individual student -- not to the particular school or district that correlates with where the student resides. I believe that those closest to the student (usually parents) make better choices for individual children than others more removed from the child. I believe that families should be able to choose which school is best for their individual children. The choices should include public schools, private schools, charter schools, home schools, Internet distance learning academies, etc.

Barb Fuller: No. Parents do have the right to choose the educational providers for their children. However, they should make this choice with the knowledge that public funding is reserved only for public schools. Public schools are open to all students and are supported by the entire community and have democratically elected boards. Private schools are not held accountable for any state or national standards so should not be supported with public funds.

Kevass Harding: I believe in the public school system. I was educated in USD 259, a public school system. I believe public funding for public schools should be allocated for public schools for public accountability. I believe parents should have a choice who provides their child’s education. If a parent chooses a public school they should receive public funding for public accountability. If a parent chooses a private school they should receive private funding for private accountability.

Karl Peterjohn: This question goes outside the range of authority and powers provided to the Wichita school board. This is much more relevant to state legislative candidates and gubernatorial candidates.As an economist by training and background, I believe that competition and free market forces have played a key role in creating the American Dream. Incentives matter. Markets matter. Free markets help make American great.

Our schools do a great job in providing sports competition within the opportunities that exist there. I would like these competitive strengths expanded to cover other parts of the curriculum for USD 259 students. Other states like Arizona, Utah, and even the District of Columbia are exploring expanded incentives for improving education in those states and D.C. The Wichita Eagle reported March 10 in their news section new reports that the U.S. educational performance was mediocre and falling well below other countries. This was particularly true in math and science.

The cause of this mediocrity is disputed. A strong case can be made that a lack of competition and choice are both significant causes. Mediocre and poor student achievement is an alarm for both this country and this community that should not be ignored.

John Stevens: YES, If we can’t make USD 259 one of the best school systems in the state. NO, not right now, because if you said tomorrow we will have vouchers the USD 259 system would collapse. Young mothers all around the area are moving their families to Maize, Goddard, Andover etc., because they don’t want their kids to have to endure busing, discipline problems, SROs to protect teachers and students etc.

7. What is your position on forced busing?

Betty Arnold: Although I see pros and cons of both, if given the choice I would rather see forced busing eliminated and in its place strong neighborhood schools with the support of the community and with all parents active in the education of their children.

Jeff Davis: We should continue to move to a day when all children are able to go to the school of their choice. Currently, the students of U.S.D. 259 have several choices of attendance to the magnet schools within the district. Our community should be involved in any conversations that are held regarding busing. We can hope that with the opening of the new K-8 school in North Wichita that fewer children from the AAA area will need to be bused.

Cindy Duckett: My position on forced busing was shaped by listening to students and parents at a forum on that topic at the Hughes MetroPlex several years ago. Most parents and students who spoke and who lived in the triple A area expressed a desire to end forced busing and to return to neighborhood schools. Since those students and parents are most affected by forced busing, I believe that we need to listen to them and to provide them with what they are asking for.

Barb Fuller: I would like to find a way to stop forced busing. I have always felt that the current plan that has been in place since the 1970’s is not fair to the African American students. I know that the Board has discussed the plan in the past. I am sure the discussion will continue with the opening of the new school on 21st street. Educational opportunities must be available to all students without putting a burden on one ethnic group of students. Before any decisions are made, the community must be involved in the discussion and given an opportunity to offer suggestions and solutions.

Kevass Harding: Forced busing for the sake of integration should not be on the shoulders of one particular race. Forced busing for the sake of integration should be a shared responsibility of all races.

Karl Peterjohn: Forced busing has proven to be a failure that has placed a large burden on primarily minority students. It should be ended. Most of the other communities where there was forced busing of students terminated these programs years ago. Wichita needs to catch up and the construction of a new school covering grades K-8 in the AAA area should assist in terminating forced busing.

John Stevens: It has served most of its original purpose. We may need to bus bad behavior students to charter schools that deal with the at-risk students who need to fix the education deficiencies in their academic life.

Betty Arnold:
I believe that the ability to identify myself as a servant to the people is, by far, the best reason that I can offer those who vote for me. Further, it emphasizes my pledge to listen to the public and respond to those that I would represent. I grew up with a strong belief in education and that belief was fostered by my parents. My eyes were opened to endless possibilities of career choices because of the directions provided to me by my teachers. These events didn’t just happen because I was born and raised in Arkansas. It began with a partnership between my parents and teachers. I still believe in that partnership effort. If anything, I know that it takes a team effort to make a difference in the life of a child. I can work as a part of that team. Because of these thing, I feel that I am the best choice for voters for District I.

Jeff Davis:
I have lived my entire life in Wichita and attended public schools as did my children. I have served proudly for 28 years as an officer for the Wichita Police Department. In continuing my public service I would like to serve on the Wichita Public Schools’ Board Of Education. I believe public education is the future success of our students.

Anyone who knows me knows that if I’m elected you will be electing a man who will work hard to improve our schools, support our teachers and children, and build our public school programs to be better for the next generation.

My agenda is simple, keep improving our public schools. My priorities include: school safety, emphasize student achievement, and financial accountability

I am a graduate from Wichita High School South - Class of 1977. I have been married to Kathy for 25 years; we have two sons who both graduated from Wichita High School South.

Endorsed by the United Teachers of Wichita and Chip Gramke –current BOE member –District 4 (12 years)

Cindy Duckett:
I have been involved in education reform issues for nearly 20 years. I have seen what works as well as what doesn’t work. I want to toss out what does not work and bring in what does work. Our drop out rate is too high. Too many students cannot perform at the proficient level on assessments. We cannot continue to allow so many students to fall through the cracks. More of the same is not the answer. We have got to begin thinking about creative reform approaches with a proven track record of success. I am familiar with programs of that type and, if elected, we will begin talking about how to best apply the principles of some of those programs in our own schools. My vision for USD 259 is to have schools that are so good that families will choose to enroll their children in those schools after weighing all options available to them. We cannot settle for anything less because education does not come with a money-back guarantee. We have to get things right the first time.

Barb Fuller:
My Vision: To continue diverse educational opportunities so that every child can develop a lifetime love for learning and become successful.
Why I am the best choice: I believe that the combination of my educational background and genuine passion about having quality public schools makes me the most qualified candidate. My career includes first-hand experience teaching in the Wichita public schools for over 35 years. I began teaching as a classroom teacher at Riverside Elementary and later I was a Title I Reading Teacher. This opportunity provided me with many varied experiences: including working with students in small groups; being in charge of a reading lab; helping classroom teachers implement language arts programs; recruiting volunteers to tutor; and training teachers at district in-service on adopted curricular programs. I have been a team member that reviews university teacher education programs.

Wichita Eagle Primary Endorsement “It’s a rare candidate who is fully prepared to serve on the Wichita school board as Barb Fuller, the obvious choice among three candidates….”

Additional Recommendations and Endorsements
Committee for Excellence in Education; Kansas Families United for Public Education;
United Teachers of Wichita; Service Employees International Union 513;
Kansas Association of Public Employees

Kevass Harding:
As a proven 4-year Board Member (2003-2007) and incumbent, I am still strongly committed and believe in Increased Student Achievement, I am still strongly and committed and believe in Increased Community Partnerships, and I am still strongly and committed and believe in Increased Teacher Support. While I do not claim to have all the answers to the complex issues in education today, I have a heart and mind to learn from others, work with other, and the determination to create solutions together; in order that all students are equipped for a lifetime of success.

Karl Peterjohn:
Both of the candidates in my race for the at large school board position bring unique qualities and attributes to this contest.

My strengths include a bachelor and masters degrees in economics, my governmental experience as a budget analyst, and my activities serving between 1995-to-2003 on the Wichita Library Board (Chaired Finance Committee, Treasurer, Secretary) and I am currently a board member of the Wichita Independent Business Association.

Both my campaign web site: http://votepeterjohn.blogspot.com and Kansas Taxpayers Network www.kansastaxpayers.com are indicators of my skills, knowledge, and experience. The latter site has over 15 years of school finance data for every Kansas school district going back to the 1980’s on it. This includes data broken down by local, state, and federal tax funding for each school district.

To quote a former professor of mine (Richard Vedder, “Going Broke by Degree,”) “The functions of (educational) institutions are eternal--the passage of knowledge from one generation to another.” I agree with this statement.

My campaign supports these specific improvements: 1) end student textbook fees (about $1.4 million in 2005-06); 2) more money for teachers’ out-of-pocket classroom expenses; 3) no tax hikes without voter approval; & 4) get the additional tax money into the classroom to improve student achievement and performance.

John Stevens:
You can’t solve a problem with the same thinking that caused the problem in the first place. My opponent is a nice lady. She is the past president of the teachers union and she is part of the problem, not part of the solution. If we are to solve the serious problems 259 has, it is going to take some new thinking and not the same old stuff cranked out by the Kool-aid dispensed at the teachers union. We need new people with new ideas and we need them quick.

My vision for USD 259 is that it needs to become the finest school system in the state. The word on the street for the young mothers needs to be move anywhere in USD 259, because it is the best. Thank you.

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