TOPEKA — Dozens of local school superintendents and Kansas lawmakers have packed the State Board of Education’s meeting room to show their support for a high-ranking education official.
The board had a closed session Friday to discuss legal issues and planned to have another one to discuss personnel matters.
It met after House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and Senate President Susan Wagle sought the suspension of longtime Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis and members of his staff.
The Republican lawmakers’ request followed an audit questioning the legality of how some transportation funds have been distributed for years. They said they want a thorough audit of school funding.
But dozens of other lawmakers signed a letter supporting Dennis and four former governors sent their own calling for a vote of confidence in him. Former Republican Govs. Mike Hayden and Bill Graves and ex-Democratic Govs. John Carlin of Manhattan and Kathleen Sebelius signed it.
The four governors said the data provided by Dennis throughout his decades-long career has been of the highest quality.
