SB243-Sponsor: Faris Public School Education Fair Hearing Act Is Reviewed by House Education Committee HB 1921 by Rep. Barbara Nix, D-Benton, to amend the Public School Employee Fair Hearing Act came before a packed room in the House Education Committee today. The bill provides for fair and just treatment for classified employees regarding any recommended nonrenewals of their contracts. Rep. Nix presented a thorough presentation of the bill. She demonstrated her ability as a skillful and caring educator, as well as an articulate representative. AEA Executive Director Rich Nagel joined her at the table to help answer questions from committee members. The Chair of the Committee, Rep. Bill Abernathy, D-Mena, recognized that this was going to be a controversial bill, and he encouraged the committee to give it their full attention as a bill of great substance. Several individuals representing the different groups alternated in speaking for and against the bill. The Arkansas Administrators Association and the Arkansas School Board Association spoke against the bill by citing that classified evaluations would be too distracting and cumbersome for administrators and that the provisions for a fair hearing go far beyond fairness. School boards would be compelled to determine the truth of the reasons given for the nonrenewal. AEA President Dan Marzoni made an impassioned plea for this bill because it was one that was particularly close to his and AEA’s heart, because it demonstrated fairness and respect for all school employees. He emphasized the need for evaluations for classified employees in order to provide some satisfaction and security that job expectations are met. If deficiencies are noted, employees can have the opportunity to improve. He stressed the need for good and fair measures to help prevent supervisory “egos”. Dictatorial leadership styles do not need to be the continuing standard for nonrenewals in too many of our schools. Clark Hopper, retired bus driver and AEA member from Benton, spoke for the bill by relating the value and relationship that classified employees bring in connecting schools to the communities they serve. He explained that too often classified employees are treated as “second class citizens” and that good management practices recognize the value of " hard working happy employees” verses “intimidated and scared ones – Management 101.” Sam Stueart, retired teacher, former AEA president and current president of the Benton School Board, followed the School Board Association's attorney in his compelling support of the bill. He contradicted and disagreed with the objections that the bill goes far beyond fairness. He outlined that his district already has these same provisions in district polices. The policies have served the district and employees well. He made it clear that he did not appreciate implications during opposing testimony that there appeared to be an attempt to portray the supporters of the bill as disingenuous or devious. He closed by saying that he would not want for himself, what he would deny to others. Rep. Nix felt the need to withdraw the bill to amend it further in an effort to gain more committee support for the bill. It should come up again next week. AEA requests that you contact members of the committee to vote in support of the bill. | |
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