Senate President Susan Wagle and House Speaker Ron Ryckman have attacked Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis over an issue regarding a longstanding practice of calculating transportation funding for large districts. We have heard from several legislators that this practice was not a secret, and we believe that Sen. Wagle and Rep. Ryckman’s letter to the Chairman of the State Board of Education demanding he be placed on administrative leave while they investigate whether he violated state law is dirty politics. We have seen Mr. Dennis in hearings and are among many who are grateful for his years of expertise and his willingness to share that expertise with others. We further believe that there could not be a worse time to remove Mr. Dennis from service as the Kansas legislature attempts to comply with the Kansas Supreme Court’s Gannon decision. The legislature must present a plan to the court by April 30. They should focus on that task and stop playing politics.

We also agree with Dr. Heim’s assessment of the attack on Dale Dennis and recommend that our followers who share our concerns take the actions he outlines in his letter.

Both documents originally posted to Facebook on 1/25/18.