Robert Thomas is running for Kansas House District 61, representing parts of Jackson, Pottawatomie, and Riley counties, including Holton, Delia, Westmoreland, St. Marys, Onaga, and parts of Manhattan.

In this portion of the conversation, Thomas discusses the role of extracurricular activities within schools and suggests the possibility of restructuring how those programs are organized. He describes how schools currently host a wide range of activities beyond academics and raises the idea of moving some of those programs, such as sports and activities, into community-based systems like parks and recreation.

The discussion explores how this approach could potentially expand access to students outside of the traditional public school system, including those in private or homeschool settings, while also creating more flexibility and efficiency. Both consider how maintaining accessibility and affordability would be critical, and how shifting these programs could impact how schools, students, and communities interact.

See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 61, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com/s/kansas-house

You can now also watch on Kansas Helen Youtube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify

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