Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
Kansas lawmakers in recent years have passed legislation that allows for open enrollment in public schools, as well as pushed measures that would expand a system of tax credits for families who send their children to private schools. Supporters of such moves say they give more freedom to families in making decisions about their child’s education. Opponents see them as threats that place new and unfair burdens on public schools. Where do you stand on such measures? Do you support moves like open enrollment and school vouchers? Why or why not?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:
District 23
Adam Thomas (Republican)
I support the Governor’s position on open enrollment. Every child deserves the best education in the environment that suits them best. We have constitutionally funded our schools through Republican led legislation (despite constant opposition) for 6 years now, and the Governor has signed these bills.
We have passed Current year funding, so growing districts like Spring Hill, fastest growing in the state, can access funds to assist with the constant student growth they are experiencing. They were also able to give their teachers a big pay raise this year using those funds.
We passed a bill that will create Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in each school, protecting student athletes from the #1 killer of student athletes, cardiac events. We have also made sure we increase safe and secure funding for our schools.
Stacey Knoell (Democratic)
Our public schools are our community’s greatest asset. I support keeping public taxpayer money in the public school system. For me, it comes down to a question of oversight, accountability, and accessibility. I have worked in the public schools as both a sign language interpreter and a math teacher, so I have seen up close all the things public schools are tasked with doing, and the idea that “the money follows the child” will only leave the public schools depleted of resources, while not reducing the expectations.
Private schools exist because that group of people did not wish to abide by the societal agreed-upon standards, be that around a separation of church and state, what passes as “science”, or as was often historically the case, around securing the ability to deny admission to a specific population.
If we are going to allow public money to go into the private system, there needs to be the same oversight and accountability. Moreover, public schools are tasked with educating everyone across political, religious, and all demographic categories from race to sexual orientation. If public money is to follow into private schools, I think they should be held to the same standards and expectations.
