Aight, y'all, it is party time.
The Senate Education Committee is about to begin its first meeting of #KYGA22, and what an agenda!
SB 1 would gut the power of SBDM councils.
SB 25 would give districts 10 extra remote learning days.
Follow along!
The Senate Education Committee is about to begin its first meeting of #KYGA22, and what an agenda!
SB 1 would gut the power of SBDM councils.
SB 25 would give districts 10 extra remote learning days.
Follow along!
SB 1 is up first — here's my thread from a few days ago on what it does + why it matters 👇
https://twitter.com/oliviakrauth/status/1478526367830622210
Sen. John Schickel, the bill's sponsor, says the bill does two things:
1. It puts the final say of curriculum with the citizens (technically, it moves the authority to the superintendent, refer to the above thread for an explanation)
...
1. It puts the final say of curriculum with the citizens (technically, it moves the authority to the superintendent, refer to the above thread for an explanation)
...
Um, OK, I don't think he named the second thing the bill does.
Shelby Co. Superintendent Sally Sugg is testifying in favor of SB 1.
She used an example of SBDM councils picking different curriculums for different grade levels, resulting in a "disjointed" education.
She used an example of SBDM councils picking different curriculums for different grade levels, resulting in a "disjointed" education.
Sugg believes the SBDM model, which gives teachers and parents a direct say on how the school runs, has not gotten parents more involved.
It "has not beared fruit," she says.
It "has not beared fruit," she says.
I'll interject here to say parents who pushed to reopen schools are less than pleased with this bill.
After the past two years, parents need more power, not less, they argued.
Parents have fewer votes than teachers on the councils, and then the bill axes key powers.
After the past two years, parents need more power, not less, they argued.
Parents have fewer votes than teachers on the councils, and then the bill axes key powers.
Next person to testify is Brenda Jackson, a school board member in Shelby County, aka Sugg's boss.
She is also concerned about making curriculum uniform and hiring principals.
She is also concerned about making curriculum uniform and hiring principals.
Jackson makes an important point: In districts where kids move around a lot, having a uniform curriculum across all schools makes it easier to keep them on track.
The Ky. Assn. of School Councils is against the bill, as is the KEA. Both have signed up to speak in opposition.
The KASC rep: In a time "we" — read Republicans — are opposing mandates and prioritizing local control, "I'm not sure why we want to dismantle the most local of governance."
Answering questions from lawmakers, Schickel says they've had SBDM councils with people who don't even live in Kentucky.
Um? Does anyone know where this happened?
Um? Does anyone know where this happened?
Schickel keeps saying a version of this bill has been around for six or seven years, without major changes.
Previous versions of the bill changed the voting dynamic of the councils, focused on the principal hiring power. This shifts the focus heavily to curriculum power.
Previous versions of the bill changed the voting dynamic of the councils, focused on the principal hiring power. This shifts the focus heavily to curriculum power.
SB 1 passes the Senate Education Committee, 9-1.
Off to the Senate - the bill has two readings, so it could pass this afternoon.
Off to the Senate - the bill has two readings, so it could pass this afternoon.
SB 25 is next up on the agenda.
It will give school districts 10 remote learning days to use for the rest of the school year.
These are NOT NTI days. Remote days can only be used for targeted closures, not the entire district.
It will give school districts 10 remote learning days to use for the rest of the school year.
These are NOT NTI days. Remote days can only be used for targeted closures, not the entire district.
SB 25 also continues some of the temporary changes from the September special session around hiring retired teachers to help with staff shortages.
OH WOW SB 25 allows for 10 remote learning days *per school* in each district.
This is a major change from the special session version.
Larger districts like JCPS have way more flexibility with this than they did in the fall.
This is a major change from the special session version.
Larger districts like JCPS have way more flexibility with this than they did in the fall.
SB 25 passes on an unanimous vote. It also has two readings in the Senate, so it can pass this afternoon.
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