By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Kansas National Education Association officials say the union might consider a lawsuit to determine if the state can take away tenure rights of teachers.

Silent protesters supporting Kansas teachers rallied in Hays on Wednesday afternoon prior to public appearances by Gov. Sam Brownback and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer.

At issue is a provision in the school funding bill signed Monday by Brownback.  While increasing funding for public education, the measure also reduces the due process rights of teachers if they are fired by a school district.

Republican 40th District Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, Grinnell, voted for the bill.

“I wish it (the tenure process) wasn’t tied to the funding package,” he said, “but I like that it puts it back on the local level — local school boards will make the decision. My experience has been, you better take the plan you’ve got because the next one may not be as good”:

Ostmeyer has two children and a daughter-in-law who are teachers.