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Senate committee ramps up for school finance hearings
After a four-week wait in the session, the governor's school finance plan, SB 361, will get a public hearing in the Senate Education Committee. For hearing purposes, the Senate will consider the three major topics of the bill on separate days, as follows:
- Monday, Feb 6 - School funding formula;
- Tuesday, Feb 7 - Career & technical education;
- Wednesday, Feb 8 - Teacher evaluation & alternative certification.
All hearings will be held in room 152-S of the Capitol. A number of school administrators are on deck to testify on the various bill pieces.
Given the complexity of the bill - especially that there are pieces many tend to like and a number that many don't like - Chairman Jean Schodorf (R-Wichita) has asked that people testify on the pieces they like, as well as ways they'd like to see the bill amended. Those testifying, therefore, do not have to designate signing up as either proponents or opponents, rather they may simply provide their concerns and suggestions.
Also getting a hearing in the same committee is the Democrats' school funding plan, SB 350, which applies a three-year graduated increase of the BSAPP. This plan has been widely endorsed by administrators statewide, as it keeps the current school finance formula in place and raises the Base to the statutory level in three years time. The public hearing on SB 350 is on Thursday, Feb 9, in room 152-S.
Feist takes on school bullying bill
The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday held a hearing on SB 278, a bill that would significantly expand the current law on bullying. The bill sets very narrow timelines for schools to act and file reports on bullying incidents, which Principal Jacque Feist (Dodge City USD) maintained would serve adversely and actually impede the process of working these situations.
The bill would also impeded the confidentiality of those involved in bullying incidents, which Feist said is critical to many who report being bullied. It also broadens the definition of bullying and expands the scope of schools' responsibility for bullying, in and out of school.
Feist did an excellent job of describing the process schools already use in handling the multitude of bullying incidents and talked about the programs instituted, including using peers to discourage bullying incidents.
Sue Givens (El Dorado USD) also provided testimony against the bill, as did KASB and school counselors.
The bill is being championed by State Board member Walt Chappell (Wichita), although he is not representing the Board on this legislation. The parents and some peers of a young Wichita student who committed suicide following severe bullying by peers pled with the committee to do more to prevent others from getting caught in a similar situation.
No date has been set for the committee to take action on the bill.
Special education administrators appear on seclusion and restraint
On Thursday, the House Committee on Children and Families held a hearing on HB 2444, a bill related to the seclusion and restraint of K-12 students. Districts currently use guidelines established by the Kansas State Department of Education to inform current practice.
Administrators expressed concern that the bill was too restrictive and unnecessary given the current guidelines and due process rights available for parents. Bob Coleman (ANW), Terry Collins (Doniphan West), Mike Bilderback (Wamego) and Deb Meyer (Shawnee Mission) appeared in person; Katherine Kersenbrock-Ostmeyer (NKESC) provided written testimony.
State Board member Sue Storm appeared as a neutral party on the bill. She suggested that it would be helpful to allow KSDE more time to collect data and analyze it before passing legislation.
Post-retirement KPERS bill advances
SB 259, which would maintain the current system of working after retirement for school employees participating in KPERS, has advanced in the Legislature. The Senate passed the bill on Thursday, 35-4. The bill now moves on to a House committee for hearings.
Hearings of interest: Week of February 6, 2012
Monday, Feb 6
1:30 p.m., Senate Education, Room 152-S
Hearing on:
- SB 361- The Excellence in Education Act (governor's plan), School Funding Formula
3:30 p.m., House Government Efficiency, Room 546-S
- Legislative Post Audit Report: KAN-ED (click here to view full report; click here to view the audit highlights)
Tuesday, Feb 7
9:00 a.m., House Education, Docking room 784
Presentation:
Hearings on:
- HB 2552 - Superintendent qualifications
- HB 2477 - Compulsory school attendance law; requiring alternative learning plan & administrator's signature
1:30 p.m., Senate Education, Room 152-S
Hearing on:
- SB 361 - The Excellence in Education Act, Career-Technical Education
Wednesday, Feb 8
1:30 p.m., Senate Education, Room 152-S
Hearing on:
- SB 361 - The Excellence in Education Act, Teacher Evaluation; alternate certification
Thursday, Feb 9
1:30 p.m., Senate Education, Room 152-S
Hearing on:
- SB 350 - Graduated raise in BSAPP (Democrats' funding plan)
If you would like to provide written and/or oral testimony on any of these bills, please contact Cheryl Semmel, executive director, at csemmel@usakansas.org or (785) 232-6566 as soon as possible.
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