Kansas Legislator Connecting with Education Experts

Legislators want to hear from all their constituents, but sometimes they hold meetings targeting specific issues and groups. For example, a legislator might meet just with hunters, business owners or commuters in the legislator’s district to get a sense of the group’s interests and priorities. These meetings put the legislator in a better position to advocate for the group when bills come up during the session. Also, attendance is better and the discussion is richer when people have a strong interest in the meeting topic.

Senator Elaine Bowers set up a specifically targeted meeting in advance of the 2013 legislative session in Kansas. Knowing that she would face tough votes on educational policy in the Senate, she wanted the input of the key officials in her large rural district.

After leaving the Kansas House to seek election to the Senate, much of her district was new to her. She needed to build relationships with the area school district superintendents and community college presidents and wanted the benefit of their thinking headed into the session. “Most of them don’t know me yet, but I need to make a strong connection with them so that they will tell me their problems and priorities. I want them to trust me and understand that I don’t have any agenda on education other than doing what’s best for the students, and these superintendents and presidents are the experts. I want them to know I will take their message to Topeka.”

Senator Bowers wanted to set up a “get to know each other” meeting where she would bring in some state and national experts on education, get the superintendents talking and have herself say a few words about how she wanted to keep listening and communicating with them. The experts were expected to provide relevant information and trends, but they would also show the superintendents that a legislator could use her authority to bring in additional expert assistance on any subject. She chose centrally-located Mankato as the spot for a two hour lunch meeting starting at 11:30 a.m. at the Buffalo Roam Steak House, a popular local restaurant.

The first speaker, State Dept. of Education Deputy Director Dale Dennis, described an education funding picture that is harsh: although general funding for education may hold steady, tobacco settlement funding, upon which school districts have recently relied, is ending. The funding issues clearly dwarfed all others for the superintendents and college presidents and sparked comments from the group: 

Other speakers provided state and national perspectives on teacher effectiveness and workforce training.  Overall, the meeting was a powerful first step for Senator Bowers. The discussion was fruitful and she got a better sense of the rural schools’ problems and priorities. The participants appreciated being asked to participate and to give her their thoughts, several of them staying long past the meeting's official end to talk with each other and her. She hopes to make this a regular conversation and that the superintendents and presidents will see her as a problem solver and an ally. Although she wants to communicate with all of her constituents, Senator Bowers sees the benefit of creating special discussions with her district’s education experts so she can be ready for the tough legislative decisions on education priorities and funding that lie ahead. 

• The state is expecting that online teaching will clearly reduce costs. We’re willing to use online options where it makes sense, but there are some things, like auto mechanics, that require the student to be with the teacher or expert, at least for some of the time.

• We are constantly looking for joint district learning opportunities. Meetings like this give us a chance to find out more about what everyone is doing.

• Transportation costs kill us on some of these courses where we have to get a few students into a neighboring district for a class. There has to be a cheaper alternative that will pass muster with the state education department.

• A new program at one of the community colleges with wind energy-related courses has great practical potential for area students.
   

Tips to Share

1. Use the time after an election but before the session begins to connect with key groups in your district.

2. Find a central meeting location that is accessible on main roads. This is especially true during the winter.

3. Get the word out early about your meeting. Your participants are busy people who need to plan ahead.

4. Bring in some state and national experts that will make the event a special draw.

5. Give your group a meal and some time to relax and chat before you begin the main program.

6. Tell the group how their ideas will help you be a better legislator back in the Capitol.

7. Always take time for open-ended questions. They may be concerned about something that doesn’t relate to the planned program.

8. Stress that you want to build a relationship with the participants. Having a discussion like this isn’t a “one and done” deal.

9. Don’t be in a rush to leave after the meeting. Someone always has an issue to talk about with you that he or she isn’t comfortable raising in front of the others.