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House Bill 322 Sent Back to Education Committee
Because of your outstanding advocacy to protect the authority of school-based councils to hire principals the House acted Thursday to send the bill back to the House Education Committee for further discussion. This action removes the bill from the Orders of the Day so that further discussion can take place in the education committee.
The original version of HB 322 would have given school superintendents complete authority to name school principals, undoing 20 years of this authority being vested in school councils made up of the outgoing principal, parents and teachers. |
KEA opposed the original version of HB 322.
In the House Education Committee on Feb. 9, a committee substitute was passed that would have restricted school councils’ choices and time to make a decision. |
KEA opposed HB 322HCS.
Since Feb. 9, KEA negotiated with the sponsors of HB 322 (Representatives Stevens, Stone and Belcher), Committee Chair Rollins and Representatives Graham, Flood, Richards, Moberly and others to craft a compromise through which the school council would maintain its authority at the same time superintendents have a mandated role in principal selection. If councils and superintendents could not agree, the Commissioner of Education would intervene and select the principal.
Following much work and collaboration the superintendents, administrators and school board groups rejected the compromise outright and requested that the bill be voted on by the entire House. Many legislators led by Education Committee Chairman Rollins rejected this idea and requested that the bill be recommitted to the Education Committee. |
Our work isn’t done!
Administrator groups continue to advocate for the adoption of the original HB 322 and are being aided by outside groups like the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. It is essential that you continue your phone calls, e-mails and other contacts with House members and tell them to Protect the authority of the school-based council to hire the principal! |
Budget Proposals Beginning to Move
The close of this week brought more meaningful discussion on budget proposals as the leaders of the House met with members of the respective caucuses to begin presenting some possibilities to balance the nearly 1.5 billion dollar budget deficit. While nothing is certain at this point, KEA lobbyists are hearing discussion about potentially eliminating two instructional days from the school calendar and some changes to the state employee group health insurance plan as possible ways to save money.
Please note that any reduction in the number of instructional or non-instructional days would be accompanied in a reduction in school employee salaries.
KEA is very concerned about these and other potential budget issues and we are waiting for more details so that we can objectively measure the impact any changes in the budget would have on schools and school employees. We will continue to provide more information on the budget proposals as they become available but your voices need to be heard now. Please contact your legislators (both House and Senate) and ask them to protect public schools from harmful budget cuts which destroy our children’s future! |
Stay ConnectedIn addition to the weekly publication of the KEA Advocate, KEA also provides legislative updates through our legislative advocacy site www.keepkentuckylearning.org and you can "friend" us on Facebook at"Ky Education's Advocates." Please keep connected and stay engaged. KEA's members and supporters are our best lobbyists!
Leave a message for your legislators by calling the toll free Legislative Message line at 1-800-372-7181 or send an email by visiting www.keepkentuckylearning.org and click on the contact legislators link. |
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