Gov. Laura Kelly has signed an executive order creating an advisory group that aims to improve education in Kansas, according to the Associated Press.

The governor told reporters Thursday that educating children is one of the most important obligations of elected leaders and one of the best economic and civic investments to make in Kansas.

The Governor’s Council on Education will look for ways to enhance early childhood education, create relationships between the education and the business community and develop partnerships to address workforce needs in Kansas.

Kelly says improving education means not only fully funding public schools, but also looking for ways to evaluate and innovate from early childhood all the way through to the workforce.

It is refreshing to hear our governor starting from a position of “how can we improve education?” instead of “how can we cut education spending?” In recent years, the Kansas Legislature has looked at a number of alarming proposals, such as amending the Kansas Constitution so it no longer requires the state to provide a suitable education for every child. In 2016, there was a proposal to consolidate school districts to one per county; Great Bend would have absorbed Hoisington and Ellinwood, supposedly eliminating the need for two superintendents.

Back in 2016, Great Bend Superintendent Brad Reed often complained that the Legislature had a “fundamental misunderstanding of how things work” and didn’t seem to realize local school districts were already operating as efficiently as possible.

The Legislature will continue to balance the needs of quality education while balancing a budget. Local taxpayers will do the same, as it’s likely sometime this year there will be a push for a bond issue to fund a Great Bend USD 428 facilities master plan. Those who plan to ask for more funds — at any level — would do well to explain the needs and aspirations behind their request. The first question must always be, “what is best for our children?”