Kansas education board candidates differ on funding, stress literacy and parent involvement

School funding, reading instruction and parental involvement are central issues for three candidates seeking seats on the Kansas State Board of Education in November. In responses to questions from The Eagle and KMUW, District 7 candidates Alana McWilliams and Ann Zimmerman and District 9 candidate Destry Brown described how they would approach challenges facing public schools.

District 7 includes 22 counties across central and south-central Kansas, including Butler, Harvey and Reno. District 9 spans much of southeastern and east-central Kansas, including portions of Butler, Chase, Marion and McPherson counties. Board members serve four-year terms, and those elected Nov. 3 will take office in January. Their responsibilities include setting subject standards and overseeing state assessments. Local boards select curriculum, while the Legislature and governor handle school funding decisions.

McWilliams, a 40-year-old Republican small-business owner and marketing professional, emphasized early reading intervention. She cited her experience attending individualized education program meetings for her child and called for full implementation of the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy. Her priorities include universal screening, individual plans for struggling readers and access to reading specialists. She said decisions should reflect evidence, student results and input from parents and teachers.

On spending, McWilliams argued that the emphasis should be on allocating money effectively, particularly toward early literacy before students need more costly remediation. To address staffing shortages, she supports making it easier for qualified teachers from other states to work in Kansas and pursuing recruitment incentives. Retaining educators, she said, also requires more planning time, consequences for poor student behavior and greater professional support. She wants districts to identify difficulties early and give parents clear, complete information.

Zimmerman, a 69-year-old Democrat serving her third term on the Salina school board, is an attorney-mediator and singer-songwriter who previously taught elementary school. A graduate of Salina South High School, Kansas State University and Harvard Law School, she said her experience resolving conflicts would help her find common ground on the state board. To improve achievement, she proposed studying successful districts and higher-performing states to identify practices Kansas could adopt.

Zimmerman said schools need more funding, particularly for special education. She said Salina transfers $6 million from its general education budget to meet special education costs that otherwise lack funding. Better funding could also support higher teacher pay, she said, while cautioning against weakening qualification standards. On parental involvement, she described participation as an established part of schooling and stressed mutual respect between families and educators.

Brown, a 64-year-old Republican retired educator and small-business owner, described a 42-year education career, including 36 years serving District 9 communities. He currently serves on the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees. He supports additional training for school personnel and access to college preparation and technical or vocational programs. While crediting progress under the current school funding formula, he called for continued investment and stronger advocacy for special education funding.

Brown also supports mentoring and apprenticeships for prospective teachers, along with a licensing process that is more consistent and easier to navigate while maintaining high standards. He said parents should be able to review curriculum, discuss concerns with school staff and contribute before curriculum adoption through committees or open meetings. He described stakeholder input and analysis of school data as safeguards against partisan influence.