Jefferson County Helped to Elect THIS Guy?

The State Board of Education is our elected board responsible for managing the state’s K-12 public schools. Its mission is to prepare Kansas students for lifelong success through rigorous, quality academic instruction, career training and character development according to each student’s gifts and talents.

The Board consists of ten members; each represents a different part of the state. Jefferson County falls in District 1 with all or part of 11 other counties. Danny Zeck of Leavenworth is the board member from District 1. Previously he served 16 years on the Leavenworth school board.

After a quick review of June, July, and August 2023 State BOE minutes, here are examples of Zeck’s votes:

1. Voted against the recommendations of the Accreditation Review Council’s recommendation to accredit and conditionally accredit districts after his bloc of board members attempted to get all nine districts recommended for conditional accreditation fully accredited. The Board passed the recommendations.

2. Voted against the appointment of a specific teacher to the Professional Standard Board. The Professional Standards Board is responsible to adopt rules and regulations for professional standards governing teaching and school administrator preparation and continuing education. The Board appointed the teacher.

3. Voted against the appointment of a specific superintendent to the Licensure Review Board. Licensure Review Board is responsible to make recommendations on teacher’s licenses. The Board appointed the superintendent.

4. Voted against changes to the Kansas Registered Teacher apprenticeship Pilot Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fun. The Board voted to enacted the changes.

5. Voted against grants for the Mental Health Intervention Teams. The Board approved the grants.

6. Voted against Career and Technical Education Pathway Credentials recommendations.

7. Voted against fully funding Career and Technical Education transportation. The Board will fully fund for CTE transportation.

8. Voted against expanding Mental Health Intervention Teams. The Board voted to expand the Mental Health Intervention Teams.

9. Voted against funding to develop assessments for students who take virtual assessments. The Board will fund the development of these assessment.

10. Voted against recommendations for distribution of ESSER funds to districts (additional COVID-19 funds from the federal government). The Board voted to distribute the funds.

11. Voted against districts’ professional development plans. The Board approved the plans.

12. Voted against a contract with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters to develop public service announcements designed to recruit school nutrition staff. The Board approved the contract.

If our Jefferson County public schools are important to you, I encourage you to keep abreast of how our representative votes on the State Board of Education. You can see the monthly agenda and minutes at https://www.ksde.org/Board/Kansas-State-Board-of-Education/Agendas-Meeting-Dates-and-Minutes/2023-Meeting-Materials-Minutes.

I question whether Danny Zeck’s votes support the mission the State Board of Education has set for itself. But Zeck represents more than just me. He represents each one of you on the State BOE. You decide if he is supporting the Board’s mission. Share with him your thoughts. Share how he can best represent you and your concerns about public schools in Jefferson County. You can contact him at dzeck@ksde.org.

Looking forward, we need individuals who are willing to listen to constituents, take the advice and recommendations of the professional educators into consideration, and make decisions based upon what is best for our students on local boards of education and the state’s board of education. If you are that individual, reach out to the Jefferson County Democrats about running for one of the many school board positions that will be open the next election cycle!

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