Two sitting state representatives, Rep. Steve Harshman and Rep. Tom Kelly, are running for superintendent of public instruction in Wyoming. They recently debated at Washington Park, discussing the state’s school-funding model and education standards.
Debate Highlights
Rep. Harshman, a longtime Natrona County High School teacher, argued that the new funding formula shortchanges Natrona County, which has 13% of the state’s students but is seeing only about 1% of the new money. He called for the bill to be repealed. Rep. Kelly, who sits on the current recalibration committee, defended the new formula, saying it corrected teacher pay that had fallen behind.
Both candidates expressed support for school choice and reducing standards and testing. Rep. Harshman questioned the constitutionality of the state’s education savings account program, which pays $7,000 to outside providers. Rep. Kelly said he would rather see pencil and paper used in early grades, but noted a court order requiring one-to-one computers from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
