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February 7, 2003

House Committees hear KASB bills

On Wednesday the House Education Committee began hearings on House Bill 2059 and House Bill 2060. The first bill would allow school boards to void employee contracts without regard to the negotiations act, due process, the continuing contract law or notice if funding was reduced by the governor or legislature after budgets were adopted. The second would eliminate due process protections for teachers. Both bills were proposed by the Kansas Association of School Boards. Pat Baker represented KASB before the committee while KNEA General Counsel David Schauner spoke for KNEA. Both bills are part of KASB's desire to consolidate total authority and subject teachers to the whim of local boards.

Voiding teacher contracts at will…

Baker tried to convince the committee that HB 2059 would not allow for arbitrary decisions on which contracts to void but committee members saw through her testimony and reminded her that the bill specified that voiding contracts was not subject to the Professional Negotiations Act, Due Process, the Continuing Contract Law or Notice. A number of committee members called the bill a "slap in the face to teachers." The bill was tabled in committee on a voice vote on a motion by Bill Mason.

No due process for teachers…

With HB 2060, KASB proposed returning to the days when teachers could appeal a nonrenewal or termination only to the board that made the initial decision. Pat Baker worked to convince the legislators that it would be cheaper if teachers simply went to court using their constitutional due process. KASB was banking on the belief that teachers would rather just walk away than defend themselves in lengthy and expensive court proceedings. Frank Miller's motion to move the bill out of committee with a favorable recommendation failed. Voting against the bill were Representative Phelps, Crow, Peterson, Loganbill, Flaharty, Storm, Reardon, Winn, Jim Morrison, Craft, Hutchins, Horst, and Williams. Representatives Barbieri-Lightner and Yonally were absent.

But you can't recall an incompetent board member!

Earlier in the week the House Ethics and Elections Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2061 (also introduced at the request of KASB) that would remove "misconduct in office" and "incompetence" from the reasons for launching a recall campaign. KNEA lobbyist Mark Desetti represented KNEA in opposing the bill citing incidents in which citizens might like to recall school board members but would not be able to under the remaining reasons (conviction of a felony and failure to carry out duties prescribed by law). Action on the bill was postponed."I find it ironic that while KASB thinks school boards should have the authority to fire teachers at will without regard to contracts or due process, they would deny the voters in the Piper School District the opportunity to recall board members for violations of the open meetings act," said Desetti. Fortunately the House Education Committee supported KNEA on HB 2059 and 2060.

Parent leave for school activities proposed

KNEA lobbyist Mark Desetti testified before the House Commerce and Labor Committee in support of House Bill 2022 which would require employers to provide up to 24 hours of leave in a 12 month period so that employees can participate in school activities including conferences, field trips, student performances, and class activities. Also covered would be medical appointments. Also supporting the bill were representatives of Kansas Communities in Schools, the Kansas AFL- CIO, Kansas Parents and Schools Together, and Kansas Parent Information Resource Center. Opponents of the bill were the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry. No action was taken on the bill.

Education Committees take up professional development

Both education committees listened to a presentation on professional development by Michelle Exstrom of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and Stephanie Hirsh of the National Staff Development Council (NSDC). Kansas was lauded for being in the forefront on quality professional development and encouraged to find ways to fund it. The House Education Committee also held a hearing on House Bill 2006 which renames the state in-service education act as the education professional development act. While the change is small, it is appropriate given current thinking about improving practice. KNEA President Christy Levings testified in favor of the change. On Friday, the bill passed the committee and was placed on the Consent Calendar for the whole House.

Is Wal-Mart a good reorganization plan for Kansas Schools?

On Thursday, both Education Committees listened to a presentation by Sharol Little (Manhattan-Ogden Superintendent), Morris Reeves (Retired Dodge City Assistant Superintendent), Ken Kennedy (Pratt Superintendent), and Gary Norris (Salina Superintendent) on a proposal to reorganize school districts using a business model not unlike that used by McDonald's, Wal-Mart, or hospital reorganization. The plan would result in 40 school districts of about 11,000 students each. While the proposal has not generated any legislation, it is one of a number of concepts being shared with legislators. The last reorganization study they discussed was the 1999 Augenblick and Meyers Boundary Study that recommended 255 school districts. In the meantime, the legislature has provided some "perks" for school districts that do consolidate.Also discussed this week was the effectiveness of the consolidation perks found in SB 551 which passed last year. Since then there has been one consolidation, two were proposed (one of which was just called off this week) and several more districts have inquired about the process. Legislators appear to want more school districts to consolidate for efficiency.

Keep a watch on this one!

Frank Miller's proposal, HB 2153 bears some watching. Among its effects would be the elimination of QPA, elimination of the professional negotiations act, elimination of due process, the accreditation of schools solely on the basis of "No Child Left Behind," and a limiting of curriculum that would dramatically de-emphasize the arts.Read the bill on line by going to the Kansas Legislative Service Web Page: http://www.kslegislature.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi. Type "2153" in the bill number line and hit search. You will want to watch the "Legislative Alert" button on the KNEA website in case this bill gets a hearing.

KNEA Legislative Contacts

Blake West, President
Mark Desetti, Director, Legislative and Political Advocacy
Terry Forsyth, Director, Political Action

The KNEA Lobby Team consists of elected leaders and staff. The Lobby Team welcomes member feedback on issues before the Legislature and on this site.