Our Critical Wichita Problem
I’m Brent Davis, and I’m running for the USD 259 School Board because I believe we can give every child an excellent education. More than 90% can be at grade level. It’s happening elsewhere in America, and it can happen here in Wichita. But it won’t happen if my opponent wins a third term on the Board. During her tenure, the district’s performance has declined across nearly every measurable metric:
Average ACT scores have dropped from 19.0 to 16.6 and are below the 30th percentile nationally.
Spending per pupil has increased nearly 50%.
Post-graduation outcomes have worsened: students today are less likely to enroll in college, technical school, or receive a job training certificate than when she first joined the Board.
Academic proficiency is alarmingly low: fewer than half of all students meet basic or higher standards in science, math, and English.
Despite these dismal trends, graduation rates have risen, masking the deep challenges our students face. We are spending more money than ever while providing our children with an increasingly inadequate education.
It doesn’t have to be this way. With the right leadership, the Board can set high standards, reward talented teachers, and focus on educational excellence instead of chasing hundreds of millions of dollars for new facilities.
If elected, I will bring accountability to district leadership, set policies that demand results, and make Wichita known as a place families want to live because of our excellent schools.
