We’ve endorsed incumbent State Board of Education member and current Board Chair Melanie Haas for re-election to the Kansas State BOE District 2. District 2 covers four State Senate Districts: 4, 6, 7, and 8.
Per its website, the 10-member State Board of Education “shall have general supervision of public schools, educational institutions and all the educational interests of the state, except educational functions delegated by law to the state board of regents.” The SBOE appoints the Kansas Education Commissioner. In the not-so-distant past, the SBOE had Kansas in the national news for hearings arranged by the State Board of Education “with the intent of introducing intelligent design into science classes.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_evolution_hearings
The importance of having a Board of Education whose members adhere to mainstream beliefs regarding public education and policies cannot be overstated.
Melanie Haas’s children attend Shawnee Mission public schools. On the SBOE, she has consistently voted to support fully-funding public schools, including special education. Realizing that allocation of funds (and setting tax policy) is the responsibility of the state legislature, she has worked on the Board to advocate for school funding. Haas expresses a sentiment that also concerns us when she says one of the biggest challenges facing public education today is “an organized effort to sow distrust in the public school system” which, in turn, is tied to teacher attrition. She notes that anti-teacher messaging also impacts teacher attrition. Haas opposes diverting public money to private schools.
Haas has concerns, as do many parents today, about the challenge of technology use within schools - both personal cell phones and district-issued devices. As a result of her request for the Dept. of Education to give guidance on this topic, a screen-time task force was established. Members include parents, teachers, and students. Haas also understands the importance of local control as it pertains to technology use in schools. A large suburban district like Blue Valley is different from rural and inner-city districts - all having unique circumstances and considerations. Our locally-elected School Board is best positioned to make specific policies for our area.
We encourage members to watch the candidate forum hosted by the Johnson County Post to hear the impressive depth of understanding that Melanie Haas exhibits about issues facing Kansas public schools and the role of the State Board of Education. Watch here: https://www.facebook.com/johnsoncountypost/videos/1087198173043930
In his remarks at the Johnson County Post forum, Haas’s opponent - whose children have been out of K-12 public schools for many years - spoke negatively about Kansas public schools, stating they are “declining.” He feels cell phones need to be banned from the classroom, but would NOT ban teachers from carrying guns at school. During the forum, he did not show a clear understanding of how public education funding and - in particular - Special Education funding works. He voiced support for tax money funding private schools.
Visit Melanie Haas’s website to read all of her positions, donate to her campaign and request a sign: https://www.melanieforschools.com/
Haas’s FB page: https://www.facebook.com/melanieforschools
SBOE District 2 voters, be sure your family and neighbors know to vote FOR our kids’ Blue Valley Schools by voting for Melanie Haas.
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