House proposes to create school leadership center at Emporia State

The education plan unveiled yesterday by the House of Representatives Republican Leadership includes big plans for Emporia State University.

The House Republican Education Plan, which would provide financing for Kansas elementary and secondary schools during the coming year, includes funding for a Center for Innovative School Leadership, which will be based at Emporia State University. The center will specialize in assisting Kansas school districts in identifying and implementing best practices for developing efficient and effective administrative and management functions.

“What we are doing is tapping into what I would consider some real existing expertise that resides here in the state, and that would be down in Emporia State University,” said Representative Kenny Wilk (R-Lansing) in unveiling the plan. “They are the nationally accredited teacher training institution that we have in the state, and we want to take them to a new level...in regard to their interaction with education and form the Center for Innovative School Leadership.”

The center would work with school districts serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students by forming teams of recognized experts in business, industry, and education to analyze the unique environment of PreK-12 schools, enhance their efficiency and maximize limited resources. The team would consider all possibilities in their consultative reviews, including outsourcing arrangements and cooperative opportunities as a means to address limited budgets.

“The long term view of this, if you think of Kansas State, and what Kansas State means to agriculture, we envision Emporia State being to education what K-State means to agriculture...K-state and land-grant universities all across the country have driven productivity and efficiency in agriculture and we think Emporia State can do much the same for us in the field of education,” said Wilk.

In learning of the plan, ESU President Kay Schallenkamp stated, “I am pleased the legislators working on educational issues recognize the pre-eminence of Emporia State in teacher preparation and outreach to school districts. I am especially appreciate that I had the opportunity to dialogue with Representatives Don Hill and Kenny Wilk."

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We look forward to continuing the dialogue related to the creation of such a center,” she said.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>