TOPEKA — Kansas Board of Training member Dennis Hershberger interrupted a presentation on college diet packages throughout his first assembly as a board member by inquiring about ideological justification for presidency spending on summer time meals for kids.
“How did that evolve?” stated Hershberger, amongst three new Republicans on the board. “What created that want?”
Along with curiosity about what justified the summer time meal program, Hershberger requested what was being finished at school cafeterias throughout Kansas to eradicate meals waste. The retired nurse and truck driver stated he learn U.S. customers threw out roughly one-third of meals purchases.
Cheryl Johnson, director of the Kansas Division of Training’s youngster diet and wellness division, stated analysis established that inadequately nourished college students didn’t study in addition to those that had their dietary wants met. Federal meals packages have been prolonged to summer time as a result of so many kids didn’t have entry to wholesome meals selections throughout that a part of the yr, she stated.
“We solely present data primarily based on true science — not all of the belongings you learn on the web,” Johnson stated. “Dietary well being really does influence your tutorial efficiency. If the kid is hungry, they can’t hear the instructor over the rumblings of their tummy.”
She stated Kansas faculties served 96 million meals within the 2022 fiscal yr and acquired federal reimbursement of $367 million for these actions.
Hershberger, a Hutchinson Republican who defeated incumbent Ben Jones within the Republican main and confronted no Democratic opposition within the November normal election, stated he was happy Johnson was actively looking for to reduce meals waste in faculties.
State Board of Training member Jim McNiece, who had a 39-year profession in private and non-private schooling as a instructor and principal, stated meals service packages contributed to college students’ tutorial progress, improved habits, made kids really feel extra linked and diminished absenteeism resulting from sickness.
He stated school-provided meals for college kids have been typically extra nutritious than meals accessible within the residence. He stated it was a mistake when board members evaluated meals packages solely from a middle-class perspective.
“I can’t overstate how essential this program is,” stated McNiece, pointing to the danger of Board of Training members neglecting starvation amongst college students. “They make selections about what packages we do and don’t do primarily based on their experiences. Not the experiences of the poor — not experiences of those that are principally overlooked.”
An moral lapse?
Danny Zeck, a brand new state Board of Training member from Leavenworth, objected throughout his preliminary assembly to proposed renewal of a contract with the board’s legal professional, Mark Ferguson of Overland Park. He’s served as authorized counsel to the state Board of Training since 2009 by a collection of one-year contracts.
Zeck criticized Ferguson for donating to a state Board of Training member’s marketing campaign in 2022. Marketing campaign finance studies present Ferguson gave $250 to Jones, who misplaced to Hershberger. In 2022, Ferguson donated $500 to Democratic legal professional normal candidate Chris Mann. He has donated hundreds of {dollars} to Derek Schmidt, a Republican who served as legal professional normal and misplaced the November race for governor to Democrat Laura Kelly.
Zeck received in November by defeating Democrat Jeffrey Howards by a margin of 61% to 38%. In November, all 5 individuals elected to the 10-person state board have been Republicans.
“Is it moral for anyone that represents 10 board members to donate to somebody’s marketing campaign?” stated Zeck, who prompt he want to reopen the search course of for a board legal professional. “We don’t interview different individuals to see if now we have the most effective one on the market?”
Ferguson stated he wasn’t the suitable particular person to reply Zeck’s query on marketing campaign ethics. He really helpful Zeck take his concern to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Fee.
“I donated to your opponent,” state Board of Training member Ann Mah instructed Zeck. “That doesn’t imply we’re not going to get alongside fabulously.” Mah, of Topeka, donated a minimum of $200 to Howards’ marketing campaign.
‘Drunk’ on federal {dollars}?
The presence of recent members on state Board of Training was evident throughout votes on whether or not to approve native college district requests for expenditure of federal COVID-19 aid funding.
The state beforehand permitted 180 proposals tied to $600 million focused at remediating tutorial points rising throughout the world pandemic. The foundations additionally enable districts to put money into one-time expenditures that contributed to bettering college operations.
Throughout the latest state Board of Training assembly, the members have been requested to vote on plans from 11 districts, together with 9 with excessive poverty enrollments, to be used of $15.5 million in aid funding. A process drive vetted every proposal earlier than they have been forwarded to the state Board of Training.
Hershberger, the brand new Hutchinson member, stated he was involved Kansas college districts may change into hooked on federal funding and undergo monetary withdrawal signs when that money ran out.
“The federal cash goes to go away. What’s the plan for the long run?” he stated. “That is the tug and pull when the federal cash is obtainable. It’s simply human nature to change into, I take advantage of the phrase drunk, on having extra cash.”
Mah stated the funding was essential to assist college students regain what was misplaced throughout the pandemic. She urged conservatives on the Board of Training to approve the $15.5 million request. If not, the cash can be despatched again to the federal authorities and an arbitrary group of native districts can be overlooked.
“I ask you to not make an announcement vote,” Mah stated. “I ask you to help our youngsters.”
Initially, the state Board of Training voted down the request. There have been 5 votes in favor of the expenditure, however six have been required. The “sure” votes have been from members Deena Horst of Salina, Melanie Haas of Overland Park, Jim Porter of Fredonia, McNiece and Mah. Zeck voted “no” whereas three members — Hershberger, Cathy Hopkins of Hays and Michelle Dombrosky of Olathe — abstained. Board member Betty Arnold was absent.
The vote not solely blocked allocations to these 11 districts, however put in jeopardy 87 pending proposals from native college districts for $151 million in federal funding tied to COVID-19. All the cash have to be spent by the top of 2023.
After the 5-1-3 vote, the state Board of Training took a recess. Hopkins, who defeated incumbent Jean Clifford within the GOP main in August and had no normal election opponent, returned from the break to request reconsideration of the COVID-19 funding proposals.
“My abstention was to not say ‘no.’ I have to make that clear,” Hopkins stated. “I used to be voting my very own conscience. The shock of the result left me speechless. I’m not okay with the result.”
Hopkins dropped her abstention, voted for the $15.5 million funding package deal and delivered the required six-vote majority.
