Moulding, however, said the state office supports its current approach. "At this point in time we have no plans to put intelligent design in the curriculum."

Next month the State Board of Education will discuss a position statement that likely supports the curriculum and includes language on teacher sensitivity to student beliefs, Moulding has said.

The position statement was requested six months ago by state board chairman Kim Burningham, president of the National Association of State Boards of Education, who saw the issue playing out nationwide.

"As I understand and as I read, the intelligent design concept is a concept that many of us have sympathy with, but it's not one based on science, and to put it in a science curriculum seems to me would be a misplaced position," Burningham said. "We always (try to) separate in this state very carefully our religious beliefs (from state operations). That general philosophy, it seems to me, needs to continue."

Buttars says he'll address the board next month. Meanwhile, he hopes for compromise.

If there is none, he said, "there will be legislation."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com