Great Bend will host one of three district focus groups on June 5 at 7 p.m. at USD 428 District Office at 201 S. Patton Rd.  District 5 Board Vice-Chair Sally Cauble will lead focus groups in order to gather constituent feedback as to what they believe to be the most critical educational issues in Kansas, and the experiences and skills they feel are essential forthe next Kansas Commissioner of Education. The meeting is open and educators, parents and interested patrons are encouraged to attend. 
In April, Diane DeBacker resigned in order to take on the position of director general of the Abu Dhabi Education Council in the United Arab Emirates.  She was appointed in 2010, and during her tenure, worked for higher standards in Math and English and led the state to adopt new Smarter Balanced standardized tests.  Earlier in the year, however, the state board dropped out of the Smarter Balanced consortium in an effort to  save money and retain local control by commissioning tests from the University of Kansas.
Hiring the Commissioner of Education for the State of Kansas is the most important decision the State Board of Education is authorized to perform,” Cauble said Monday.  Other dates and locations include Sublett on Tuesday, May 20 and Colby on Wednesday, June 4.  
The last time the board held focus groups of this kind was prior to the search for Lexa Pozni, the commissioner prior to DeBacker, she said.  This time, rather than hiring a firm to conduct the groups, the board has decided to take the reins themselves.  
Cauble, of Dodge City, inherited Great Bend following the most recent redistricting.  This meeting will also provide her with an opportunity to connect with patrons in a central location.  
The results of the focus groups will receive consideration and action quickly.  A June 5 deadline has been set by the State Board of Education to narrow down the criteria they are looking for by their June 10 board meeting so they can start the search process.
“We want to have a new commissioner by November,” Cauble said.