By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Republican Jean Clifford of Garden City has won election to the fifth district seat on the Kansas Board of Education, which includes Ellis County.
She defeated Democratic challenger Lorie Wood of Dresden, 65,139 to 39,939.
She will join Republicans Amy Cawvey, district 1; Alana McWilliams, district 7; Destry Brown, district 9; and Democrat Amy Diediker, district 3, all of whom won seats in Tuesday’s General Election.
Clifford had served on the Kansas Board of Education before, but lost reelection four years ago in the primary election to Republican Cathy Hopkins of Hays. Hopkins did not seek reelection.
“I'm sure happy to be going back to the board and to be representing the educational interests of District 5,” Clifford said Wednesday.
She said she hopes to represent the interests of rural Kansas communities on the state board.
“I'm really hoping that we will review all of the different policies and regulations that we have, and make sure that they're all pointing toward increasing the achievement of our students and helping them learn,” Clifford said.
She said the board needs to focus on student success, both in school and after graduation.
The Hays USD 489 school board discussed possible new state policy on recess for elementary school students at its meeting on Monday. A mandate for a 30-minute recess per day failed to pass the Kansas Legislature.
However, Superintendent Ron Wilson said there has been some discussion on the Kansas Board of Education giving schools direction on the issue instead.
Clifford said, “I certainly think that students, especially in the elementary grades, need that time to get outside and have some activities. I think they need that break in order to be the best in the classroom.
“I'm more than happy to consider suggestions from the state board as to how local districts could achieve that.”
However, Clifford said she thought recess scheduling should remain a local decision.
Hays elementary school students already receive 30 minutes of recess per day broken into two 15-minute sessions.
“I think we're going to have a lot on our plate,” Clifford said, “and depending on what comes to us from the state and federal levels, as well as the change in our funding formula, possibly, those things are going to permeate throughout all of the other decisions …
“I think our scope will be quite broad, and I know that we'll have our work cut out for us. I'm ready to undertake that, and I'm looking forward to being on the board.”