The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, told the Courier-Journal on Monday, that he thought several bills would pass the Senate this week - a week usually reserved for organizational matters. The Courier reported that "significant action on several major bills would be unprecedented during the first week of a short regular legislative session..."

Williams released the GOP agenda which included (the good) creating a commission to recommend changes in the state tax code and allowing local school districts to establish charter schools, (the bad) moving new state workers into a 401(k)-type pension plan, and (the ugly) adopting an Arizona-style immigration law.

There were complaints from the Governor and Democratic legislators, who told C-J they had not seen drafts of any of the bills. Williams assured C-J that "the majority Senate Republicans strongly backs all of the bills." Apparently, Senate GOP bill drafts were made available to the media, but only to some members of state Senate.

But, Democrats control the House and Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, told CNHI's Ronnie Ellis he doesn’t expect the House to conform to Williams’ accelerated schedule, instead using the first four days for organization. He seemed lukewarm about most of the provisions Williams is pushing and suggested Williams might be motivated by politics. Stumbo doubts Tax Modernization will go anywhere, but a proposed study passed a Senate committee today. The panel also passed Senate Bill 13 which would expand on a privately funded program called Advance Kentucky that already gives cash incentives to math and science teachers in 44 participating schools across the state.

Williams, a declared candidate for governor is on the fast track. But he did find time to squelch dissent on education issues by throwing Louisville's Tim Shannessy off the Education Committee.

First up for education? SB 3: Charter Schools and "Neighborhood Schools" bills.

But a hearing that was supposed to take place today on SB3 was moved back to Thursday. Committee Chairman Sen. Ken Winters (R-Murray) apologized for the delay saying, "We have some of the sponsors who are involved in a meeting out of town and they will not get back before we adjourn.”

This from KSBA:

The Senate Education Committee has now set an 11 a.m. ET Thursday, Jan. 6 hearing on SB 3.

SB 3 would allow local school boards to create public charter schools free from many existing state and local rules for operating schools in an effort to improve educational opportunities for students attending those schools; allow unsuccessful charter applicants to appeal denials or restrictions required by the local school board to the Kentucky Board of Education, which could overturn them; and would require charter schools be given three to five years to demonstrate their impact before facing possible loss of their operating authority.

SB 3 also would create a new set of student enrollment rules relating to the distance between their homes and the public schools in which they enroll. Although the controversy over the Jefferson County Public Schools’ student assignment system has been tied to the bill by both sponsors Seum and Williams, the language of the bill would apply statewide.

The Senate Education Committee did approve Senate Bill 12, which would have principal vacancies filled by the superintendent, after consultation with the school’s site-based decision making council.

So far, 35 Bills have been filed that may impact education.

Education, Elementary and Secondary
11RS
WWW Version

African-American male student achievement, study of - HCR 15

Attendance
areas, establishment by local boards - SB 3
in schools closest to residence - SB 3

Body
mass index, preventative healthcare examination forms - SB 32
mass index, school physical examination forms - HB 89

Charter
school, requirements for - HB 103
schools, application and approval of - HB 103
schools, establishment of - SB 3
schools, renewal or revocation of charter - HB 103

Compulsory attendance, age limit, raising of - HB 75

Digital citizenship, inclusion in discipline code and professional
development - HB 30

Early
childhood assessment and intervention, district-wide
implementation of - HB 17
education assessment and intervention, implementation of - HB 86

Evaluation, certified personnel - HB 120

Foster children, dual credit and dual enrollment courses,
tuition waiver - HB 13

Great Schools Tax Credit Program, establish - HB 98

Juvenile status offense actions, requirements for - HB 123

Laptop computers, middle school students, study - HCR 7

Mandates on public schools, financial support for - SB 35; HB 39

Persistently low-achieving schools, development of charter
schools in lieu of - SB 3

Physical
activity of children, assessment of and data use - HB 16
activity of children, increasing - HB 88

Principal selection, appointment by the superintendent after
consultation with the school council - SB 12

Programs, career and technical education - SB 36

Scholarship eligible high school student, definition of - HB 112

School
attendance - SB 21
buses, commercial advertising on - HB 62, 67
calendar, starting date - SB 31
meal program, clarification of access to - HB 81

Scientific theories, critical analysis, teaching of - HB 169

Student
assignment plans, funds for implementation of - SB 28
religious expression, support of - HR 25

Students with disabilities, alternative high school diploma for - HB 171

Suicide prevention, Rachael's Law - HB 134

Teachers of advanced science and mathematics, monetary awards for - SB 13

Photo By David Perry at H-L; Hat tip to KSBA

Principal Hiring Change Reconsidered in House Ed Cmte

Bill to give superintendents more say in principal hiring fails

This from KSBA:

The House Education Committee failed Tuesday morning to pass an amended version of the principal hiring bill that would have given superintendents a stronger role in the selection of building principals.

One version of House Bill 322 passed the committee Feb. 9 but was recommitted after strenuous objections by the Kentucky Education Association. ... Discussion among the committee members became acrimonious over the negotiations between Feb. 9 and today. KEA President Sharon Oxendine testified against the bill at the committee hearing...

More from KSBA:

Legislative unhappiness over negotiation process a big factor in defeat of principal hiring bill Measure to give superintendents a more signficant role now faces uncertain future

Amid questions about whether school groups and legislative proponents had negotiated in good faith, the House Education Committee Tuesday morning defeated a measure that would have given Kentucky superintendents more say in the selection of school principals...

“I see compromise made by the superintendents. This bill offers fairness in that the superintendent needs to be at the table and have a voice,” said Rep. Jeff Greer of Brandenburg. Greer, a former Meade County school board member, repeatedly asked if there had been compromise by KEA representatives in the negotiations since the measure’s original passage out of the committee.

Committee Chairman Carl Rollins said, “All parties worked in good faith. KEA did not want any limit on the number of applicants that could be reviewed. That was a stopping point. We’ve had several meetings trying to negotiate this bill (but) you get to a place where you have to have a solution if you want to have a bill.”

Rep. Harry Moberly of Richmond countered that KEA “was more conciliatory than I’ve ever seen. Nothing could be further from the truth that only superintendents made compromises. I think KEA has accommodated very much in this. Now we have this committee substitute that’s a sort of a jumble. I know we can do better than this.”

A major point of debate among the legislators was over the fact that after an initial meeting of education groups on both sides to seek a compromise, negotiations then took the form of suggested amendments passed back and forth between the groups by Rollins and the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Kent Stevens of Lawrenceburg, a retired principal, and Rep. Wilson Stone of Scottsville, a former Allen County school board member and KSBA president....