Conservatives gain majority on Kansas State Board of Education

WICHITA, Kansas – Two conservative Republicans won seats on the Kansas State Board of Education late Tuesday, shifting the board’s ideological balance and potentially changing what is taught in public schools.

Republican Debbie Potter, a homeschooler who supports school choice, was leading in District 10 near Wichita, well ahead of Democrat Jeffrey Jarman and independent Kent Rowe, according to unofficial election results.

In District 4 in northeast Kansas, Republican Connie O’Brien — a retired teacher who served four terms in the Kansas House — led Democrat Chris Meyer with 51% of the vote.

Potter and O’Brien are both for and against parental rights. social emotional learning in public schools. on her campaign websiteO’Brien says she opposes diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, books about gender identity and what she calls “transgender nonsense.”

If Tuesday’s election results are confirmed, Potter and O’Brien will join. four other conservative board members for a 6-4 council majority.

None of the candidates responded to interview requests or provided answers to KMUW Voter Guide questionnaire.

Two incumbent Democrats — Betty Arnold of Wichita and Melanie Haas of Johnson County — appear to have retained their seats on the state board, according to unofficial results late Tuesday.

Democrat Beryl New led Republican Bruce Schultz with about 57% of the vote in District 6, which includes Lawrence and Topeka.

Arnold, a former Wichita school board member, said she was concerned that school boards in recent years have been dominated by issues such as book bans rather than student achievement.

“I’m more concerned about getting kids to read. I’m more concerned about the percentage of kids who are way behind in math,” she said during a Democratic party at Wichita State University. “I’m concerned about children feeling safe, and I’ve never seen a child killed by books.”

Potter’s campaign website describes her as an advocate for “parent empowerment and school choice.”

Speaking to the Republican Women’s Club during her campaign, Potter said she was running for state board because she was concerned about what public schools her grandchildren might attend.

“I want them not to have their faith and their parents indoctrinated into them,” Potter said at the forum. “I feel like there is a serious disruption of families.”

Jarman, a Wichita State professor and former Maize school board member, said he was not surprised by the result in his heavily Republican district. The District 10 seat is currently held by Jim McNeice, a moderate Republican and former high school principal.

Jarman said he was disheartened by his opponent’s focus on issues such as abortion and social-emotional lessons in schools.

“All the…culture wars never get to the core question: How is this going to help us improve student achievement? How will this help students prepare for college and careers?” – said Jarman. “This is an important thing that the board needs to focus on.”

Members of the Kansas Board of Education serve four-year terms. They set academic standards for subjects and graduation requirements, but do not make specific decisions about the curriculum—that is left to the discretion of local school boards.

In this and previous elections, conservatives frustrated with Kansas public school policies won seats on the State Board of Education by opposing lessons on racism, sexuality and gender identity. They also say parents should have more control over what happens in classrooms.

Currently, four of the 10 board members—Michelle Dombroski, Katie Hopkins, Dennis Hershberger and Danny Zeck—were campaigning against what they called “awakening” tendencies in public schools.

Several times they voted against or abstained on key policy decisions, including kindergarten readiness standards and federal funding for homeless students.

Suzanne Perez covers education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

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