Evolution Issue Resurfaces as KS Board of Education Elections Draw Near

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State Board of Education candidates can't escape questions about how the state's public schools should teach evolution, even as they stress other issues in their campaigns. Educators expect the board to consider new science standards next year. Five of the board's 10 seats are on the ballot in this year's elections. The August 7th primary will settle races for party nominations in two districts. In the 6th District, Usha Reddi, a Manhattan teacher, and Carol Viar, a member of a Salina-area school board, are seeking the Democratic nomination. The winner will face former state Representative Deena Horst, a Salina Republican. In the 8th District in Wichita, Kathy Busch, a retired assistant superintendent, is trying to unseat incumbent Walt Chappell in the Republican primary, with no Democratic candidate on the ballot.