Board Vote Evolves Into Uproar in Kansas

Gov. Bill Graves and some legislators are talking about abolishing the Kansas Board of Education or stripping it of authority because of its vote to de-emphasize the teaching of evolution.

“It’s going to be an issue in the legislative session,” Graves, a moderate Republican, said Friday, referring to the board’s 6-4 vote earlier this week. On Thursday, Graves said the decision was “so out of sync with reality” that it minimized the board’s credibility.

Legislators say the controversy over evolution could create support for changes that have been sought for years by lawmakers in both parties.

“Probably the right wing did us a favor,” said Senate President Dick Bond, a moderate Republican. “We ought to send them a thank-you note. Maybe we can get change now.”

The board adopted new testing standards Wednesday that play down the scientific importance of evolution, particularly the theory that humans descended from apes and other lower species.

Local school districts will continue to decide what subjects are taught in their classrooms, but critics and supporters of the new standards think they could influence some districts’ lesson plans.

The Kansas Constitution gives the 10-member board the power to set education policy without legislative approval. The board, whose members are elected from districts, is so independent that it sometimes is called the state’s fourth branch of government.

Taking power from the board, abolishing it or replacing it with a board appointed by the governor would require an amendment to the Kansas Constitution and approval of voters. Only the Legislature can submit proposed amendments to a vote, and it convenes in January.

Discussions about the Board of Education’s power are not new in Kansas. Legislators have grumbled for years about its independence and submitted proposed amendments to the voters in 1974, 1986 and 1990.

Each proposed amendment failed.

Supporters of change argued that the governor and Legislature should have more control over public schools, which account for half of the state’s spending. But opponents prevailed, saying Kansans should not give up their right to select board members.

Despite the governor’s comments, even some critics of the board’s actions weren’t sure they would advocate a change.

“It would be too easy for me to be vindictive,” said Harry McDonald, a science teacher at Blue Valley High School in the Kansas City suburbs. “I’m not sure a political patronage position is the best way either.”