There were hearings on Sen. Abrams’ proposed school funding plan earlier this week. We agree with the assessment in this editorial. “Districts would receive ‘success’ ratings based on the number of graduates who within two years earned an industry certification, completed basic military training, enrolled in a third consecutive semester at a college or worked at a job earning an income of at least 250 percent of the poverty level ($29,425). “How are districts supposed to keep track of all their graduates, many of whom may move to other communities or out of state? That could be a...
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Governor signs block grant bill
We find it appropriate that the governor signed the block grant bill repealing the current school funding formula in a closed ceremony yesterday with no teachers, students, school board members or superintendents. Only legislative leadership stood with him, and they didn’t even notify the press until after 6 pm. “David Reber, a teacher from the Lawrence school district, posted this on the governor’s Facebook page: ‘Governor, I’m curious. Why did you sign this bill … behind closed doors, with no advanced notice, and no invitation for the press or any outsiders? “’If this is so good for schools,...
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Leave a Comment Melcher amended bill to limit teacher negotiations fails in Senate
Good news! On March 25, the Senate didn’t pass the bill which would have limited teacher negotiations. After the call of the Senate, which forced all to remain in the chamber and cast a vote, the tally stood at 19-21 against the bill. At that point, once it became clear the bill was going to be defeated, several senators who had voted in support changed their vote. http://m.cjonline.com/news/2015-03-25/senate-rejects-limiting-teacher-contract-negotiations#gsc.tab=0 On roll call the vote was: Yea – (13): Abrams, Arpke, Baumgardner, Bruce, Knox, Lynn, Masterson, Melcher, Olson, Pilcher-Cook, Powell, Pyle, Tyson, Nay – (27): Bowers, Denning, Donovan, Faust-Goudeau, Fitzgerald, Francisco,...
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Leave a Comment Senate votes to expand corporate tax credit “scholarship” program
A bill to expand the corporate tax credit “scholarship” program passed the Senate yesterday. This provision was originally crammed into HB 2506 in the final hours of the 2014 session despite failing to pass out of committee. It is an ALEC concept that provides “scholarships” to low-income students to attend “nonpublic” schools, without placing any requirements or any accountability provisions on the schools receiving the scholarships. This bill expands the definition of eligible students by eliminating the requirement that students come from a title I focus or priority school. We oppose this bill and believe its passage is...
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