Takeaways: Requiring job candidates to talk about diversity, equity and inclusion during the hiring process could subject public universities in Kansas to $10,000 fines. A new law bans colleges from requiring statements of support or opposition to political ideologies or movements during admission, hiring or promotion processes. In practice, that means colleges can’t require staff […]
equity
Posted inKansas State Government
Will Gov. Laura Kelly sign or veto tax cuts? Here’s what else passed
Takeaways: Kansas lawmakers approved new tax cuts, bans on gender-affirming cares and some new crimes this year. The Republican-controlled Legislature can expect Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to veto some of the most controversial bills, setting up override votes. Legislators finished the regular session and will take a few weeks off before returning for veto session. […]
Posted inHealth, How To
More Kansas mothers, especially women of color, are dying after giving birth. Where can Wichitans go for help?
Kansas looks to be an increasingly dangerous place to give birth, especially for women of color. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that maternal deaths per 100,000 live births within a month and a half of giving birth nearly doubled nationwide between 2018 and 2021. A disproportionate number of Black mothers made […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Health
What’s driving the high maternal mortality rate for women of color in Kansas?
The pair would like to see better health insurance coverage of doulas and action from the state to study the problem more closely, examining whether women of color are dying due to systemic racism that causes health care systems to treat them differently.
Posted inLocal Government
‘Beyond necessary’: Sedgwick County hires first-ever diversity and inclusion consultant
In an effort to improve recruitment, racial equity and community relations, Sedgwick County will begin surveying its employees this month on the state of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In February, the county signed a $102,000 contract with its first-ever diversity, equity and inclusion consultant, Hicks-Carter-Hicks LLC, which will work for nine to 12 […]
Posted inLocal Government
Wichita’s boards and commissions underrepresent women and people of color. Here’s how the city plans to change that.
When Shala Perez began serving on city, county, state and national advisory boards in 2009, she was often the only woman and person of color in the room. Having worked in law enforcement — including the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the Bel Aire Police Department and the Mulvane Police Department — Perez was accustomed to this. But […]
Posted inEducation
Wichita Board of Education candidates weigh in on COVID, engagement and diversity
How should Wichita schools keep students safe during the pandemic? How can parents be more engaged? How can the school system find post-pandemic success? With nine people running for four seats on the Wichita Board of Education, The Wichita Beacon surveyed the candidates on several issues ahead of the Nov. 2 election. In the race […]
Posted inEducation
Where the money comes from to teach Kansas students
How do you budget for a classroom when you don’t know how many students will even be in it? That’s a challenge Kansas school districts face as they attempt to estimate how many students will return to their school buildings this fall. The Wichita Public Schools’ budget uses more of a high-range guess at how […]
Posted inEducation
How the science of reading could revolutionize literacy for Wichita’s struggling students
Andi Giesen remembers sitting in first grade with a book in front of her and crying because she didn’t know how to read it. “Now, my teacher was probably saying, ‘Andi, you can do this,’ but what I remember is that I was crying about it,” said Giesen, now an assistant superintendent at Wichita Public […]