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RIVERTON - Wyoming's three gubernatorial candidates agree school districts should be held accountable for the quality of education delivered and they like the idea of providing college level classes to high school students.
Wyoming spends more than $1 billion every two years on public elementary and secondary education, but outgoing Gov. Dave Freudenthal has been critical that the money hasn't led to higher test scores from students.
"We all know that we're not getting the results that we want, and accountability is at the core of that," Democrat Leslie Petersen said.
Libertarian Mike Wheeler said there should be accountability "down to the penny." He noted that some school districts have more administrators than what education funding models suggest is appropriate.
Republican Matt Mead said too many high school students are not ready for college when the graduate and that teachers are frustrated as anybody.
Education is the foundation of society and it's appropriate to spend money on it, he said, "but we want to see good results."
Petersen and Mead say a legislative committee needs to finish its work on how the state spends its K-12 education money.
Mead, a former U.S. attorney for Wyoming, says while he likes the idea of college level classes being available to high school students, the cost and whether it can be done must be explored first.
Petersen, a former Teton County commissioner, says such a program could help keep students from dropping school because they are not academically challenged by the course work.
Wheeler, who runs a wholesale meat company in Casper, said the state education system should also accommodate students who don't want to go on to college by improving teaching to trades in schools.
Mead and Petersen also disagreed with Wheeler on allowing farmers to grow hemp in Wyoming. Hemp is used to make paper, lotion and other products but is related to the illegal drug marijuana.
The debate was sponsored by Wyoming Public Broadcasting and other media.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed:420 MAGAZINE
Source:trib.com
Author: BOB MOEN
Contact: trib.com | Contact Us
Copyright:2010 trib.com
Website:Wyoming governor candidates debate school funding
Wyoming spends more than $1 billion every two years on public elementary and secondary education, but outgoing Gov. Dave Freudenthal has been critical that the money hasn't led to higher test scores from students.
"We all know that we're not getting the results that we want, and accountability is at the core of that," Democrat Leslie Petersen said.
Libertarian Mike Wheeler said there should be accountability "down to the penny." He noted that some school districts have more administrators than what education funding models suggest is appropriate.
Republican Matt Mead said too many high school students are not ready for college when the graduate and that teachers are frustrated as anybody.
Education is the foundation of society and it's appropriate to spend money on it, he said, "but we want to see good results."
Petersen and Mead say a legislative committee needs to finish its work on how the state spends its K-12 education money.
Mead, a former U.S. attorney for Wyoming, says while he likes the idea of college level classes being available to high school students, the cost and whether it can be done must be explored first.
Petersen, a former Teton County commissioner, says such a program could help keep students from dropping school because they are not academically challenged by the course work.
Wheeler, who runs a wholesale meat company in Casper, said the state education system should also accommodate students who don't want to go on to college by improving teaching to trades in schools.
Mead and Petersen also disagreed with Wheeler on allowing farmers to grow hemp in Wyoming. Hemp is used to make paper, lotion and other products but is related to the illegal drug marijuana.
The debate was sponsored by Wyoming Public Broadcasting and other media.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed:420 MAGAZINE
Source:trib.com
Author: BOB MOEN
Contact: trib.com | Contact Us
Copyright:2010 trib.com
Website:Wyoming governor candidates debate school funding
