Kathy Busch (Kansas)

Kathy Busch

Republican Party

Prior offices

Kansas State Board of Education District 8

Successor: Betty Arnold

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Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Kansas State University

Graduate

Wichita State University

Kathy Busch (Republican Party) was a member of the Kansas State Board of Education, representing District 8. Busch assumed office in 2013. Busch left office on January 12, 2021.

Busch (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Kansas State Board of Education to represent District 8. Busch lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Biography

After graduating from Kansas State University with a degree in biological sciences, Busch went on to earn a teaching license and began her career as a science teacher. Busch eventually moved on from teaching to serve as a building administrator, spending 17 years at the middle and high school levels in that position. Before retiring from the Wichita Public Schools, Busch was the district's assistant superintendent of middle schools.

Education

• Bachelor's in biological sciences - Kansas State University
• Master's in science education - Wichita State University

Political career

Kansas State Board of Education (2013-2021)

Busch was first elected to the state board in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016. On January 10, 2017, Busch was elected to a two-year term as the board's vice chairman.

Elections

2020

See also: Kansas State Board of Education election, 2020

General election

General election for Kansas State Board of Education District 8

Betty Arnold defeated incumbent Kathy Busch in the general election for Kansas State Board of Education District 8 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Betty Arnold (D)	51.4	49,467
		Kathy Busch (R)	48.6	46,821

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 96,288
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kansas State Board of Education District 8

Betty Arnold advanced from the Democratic primary for Kansas State Board of Education District 8 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Betty Arnold	100.0	15,375

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,375
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kansas State Board of Education District 8

Incumbent Kathy Busch defeated Trish Hileman in the Republican primary for Kansas State Board of Education District 8 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kathy Busch	61.5	11,242
		Trish Hileman	38.5	7,043

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,285
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Candidate profile

Kathy Busch

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

• Kansas State Board of Education (Assumed office: 2013)

Biography:  Busch received a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Kansas State University and a master’s of science education from Wichita State University. Her professional experience included working as a middle and high school science teacher, a middle school principal, and as a building administrator at middle and high school levels. Leading up to the 2020 election, she served as the chairwoman of the Kansas State Board of Education.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Busch said the most significant challenge schools faced in light of the coronavirus was conducting in-person school safely. She said this could be addressed by having classes in larger spaces and having teachers, rather than students, move from class to class.

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Busch said she worked to emotionally and socially support students during her time as chairwoman of the School Mental Health Advisory Council, which began a pilot program providing mental health support for students in some schools.

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Busch said enabling students to develop postsecondary plans was a priority, and that during her time on the board they began an Individual Plan of Study program that allowed students to begin pursuing postsecondary interests in high school.

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Show sources

Sources: Kansas State Department of Education, "STATE BOARD DISTRICT 8," accessed October 15, 2020; KSN, "Kathy Busch – Republican for State BOE, District 8," September 6, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Kansas State Board of Education District 8 in 2020.

2016

On November 8, 2016, Kathy Busch won re-election to the office of Kansas State Board of Education, District 8. She ran unopposed in the general election.

Kansas State Board of Education, District 8, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Kathy Busch Incumbent	100%	52,874
Total Votes				52,874
Election results via Kansas Secretary of State.

2012

On November 6, 2012, Kathy Busch won election to the office of Kansas State Board of Education, District 8. She ran unopposed in the general election.

Kansas State Board of Education, District 8, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Kathy Busch	100%	49,337
Total Votes				49,337
Election results via Kansas Secretary of State.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kathy Busch did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Busch said the following in response to a KSN News questionnaire:

“	What should the Kansas BOE do to make sure students have the right tools and technology for at-home learning? Kansas BOE has put together teams of over 1000 teachers, administrators, and board members to work on a much more comprehensive guidance document for school districts. This guidance document, Navigating Change 2020 provides operational support and instructional support to schools for remote, hybrid, and in-person learning. Many school districts that did not previously have adequate technology for their students to be able to learn online were able to purchase electronic devices with their CARES money this summer. I believe most if not all school districts will have better access for technology. How should any additional health and safety measures be funded? School districts were provided with CARES money from the Federal Government. Many of the districts have already spent that money making sure they have technology and other supplies to deal with COVID-19. I do think schools will need additional funding depending how long this pandemic lasts. I would like to see additional stimulus money come from the Federal government and the State Board has been working with our U.S. Senators and House Congressional Representatives to encourage funding to support school needs. What is the largest challenge facing schools right now amidst the pandemic, and how do you propose the BOE helps them solve it? The largest challenge facing school district now is how to get students back in to in-person school safely. Many of our smallest school district have started school in-person and unfortunately several of those districts have experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases in their schools and have had to change the method of schooling. Going back to our Navigating Change 2020 document and the Gating Criteria will assist schools with guidance on how to safely reopen schools. The best thing would be for students in-person for schooling but we do have to put safety measures in place to allow that to happen. Those safety measures could include spreading students out in larger spaces including looking for other options in towns with larger venues. It would also help to keep students in cohort groups and have the teachers move classrooms. If we did these measures it would be easier to contain outbreaks. The Commissioner conducts frequent Zoom meetings with Superintendents going over options for reopening schools. What can schools do to promote social and racial justice? School districts can work with the Social, Emotional and Character Development standards that the state has to support all students having a more equitable opportunity in their school buildings. They can also use the history-government standards to look more critically at the history of our country and determine inequities and how to remedy those inequities. We also have a Civic Engagement component of our State Board goals. This is a prime time for schools to help their students get more involvement in civic activities in both their schools and their communities. What are the top 3 things you think deserve your immediate attention and what action would you take on them? My number one issue would continue to be social and emotional supports not only for the students but for the teachers as we go back to school in these uncertain times. The State Board established a School Mental Health Advisory Council three years ago and I am the State Board representative and Chair of this Council. We continue to meet regarding supports for students. We look at our Social, Emotional and Character Development standards and determine how to better focus our support for students. We also have a School Mental Health pilot programs going as a partnership activity between various school districts and their Mental Health Community groups throughout the state. These partnerships allow students to receive mental health support during the school day at school. The second item would be to continue to focus on postsecondary supports for our schools. We have established an Individual Plan of Study for each student that allows them to look at options for themselves for after high school. Often times these students are able to start work on their interest area during high school time so that they are more prepared to be successful after high school. My third issue would be Kindergarten Readiness. We have worked hard the past few years trying to expand the options for communities to have Pre-K programs that meet the needs of their local communities. In partnership with the Children’s Cabinet and several grants the State Board has focused on expanding the opportunities for Pre-K throughout the state. As more students are involved in Pre-K, more students will come to Kindergarten prepared. We have also implemented a Kindergarten Readiness screener so that parents and schools can determine what these incoming Kindergarteners need as they first come into school. What should the Kansas BOE do to make sure at-risk students are not being left behind? The State BOE has already given direction to local school districts to bring at-risk students back into the schools to provide services directly to them. Even if school districts are on remote learning they can bring cohort groups of 10 or fewer students in to work directly with their teachers. Districts can bring in as many cohort groups of 10 students as needed to be able to provide that instruction. Many districts are already doing this with Special Education students and other at-risk groups and the State Board is actively encouraging that practice. State Board is also encouraging local districts to begin to plan for the summer of 2021 to bring in students who the data shows are falling behind. That will allow more time and support to get students caught up. What resources do you think Kansas schools need that they currently don’t have? Schools could use additional funds to provide for the extra cleaning of schools. Once we get more school districts back in full time it will be difficult to have adequate space in order to spread students out. That may require having to rent some additional instructional space for our students. Also more COVID-19 testing protocols from the state would be very helpful in order to keep students and staff safe once they are back in the actual buildings.	”
—KSN News (2020)

See also

2020 Elections

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External links

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Suggest a link

• Kansas State Board of Education
• Kansas State Board of Education - Kathy Busch

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Walt Chappel (D)	Kansas State Board of Education District 8 2013–2021	Succeeded by Betty Arnold (D)