Dear editor,
Are you as sickened by the election propaganda as I am? The constant barrage of nasty, border-line slanderous mailings put out by those who want to overhaul Kansas government has been, in my opinion, beyond reason! Apparently it is more important to reduce taxes than it is to treat people with respect. As a superintendent for a relatively small, rural, Kansas school district, I want to encourage people to vote this month in the primary races. It is not very difficult to personally contact many of the candidates and simply ask them about where they stand on issues. Dont buy everything you have been seeing in your mailbox!
The effort to replace several representatives in Topeka has been driven by folks who are aligned to the tax policies that Governor Brownback initiated in 2012. Many of these policies crippled public education and social services after they were put in place. Several of these tax policies have been rescinded during the past two years by more moderately-minded representation. The rescinding of the 2012 tax policies have not only helped public education, but the overall economy of Kansas is also on the rebound! In Woodson USD 366, we have more resources for our students and our tax rate for the school district has gone down to a level below what is was two years ago! This is the direction our current, more moderate decision-makers have taken the state!
Are we rich now? Heavens no. But we are going to do a much better job of taking care of our students and staff.
We now have greater resources to support at-risk students and their families. One example of this kind of support is evidenced by partnership discussions with the local mental health agency. We are able to provide employees with a decent raise, which is important as we are the largest employer in the county. We are beginning to address serious maintenance issues that had to be put on hold for several years. I want to thank the decision-makers in Topeka who have supported public education with their voting record!
When I was working on my masters degree at Kansas State in 1997, one of my professors warned how we need to be aware of a movement to establish policies that will destroy public education, saying, Public schools will become schools for the poor. Everyone who can afford to send their children to private schools, will.
It saddens me greatly to see efforts to make his prophetic message come true!
Greg Brown,
Superintendent of Schools
USD 366
Yates Center, Kan.
