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SPIT committee recommends legislative agenda, flags teacher compensation and student funding needs
Summary
The SPIT Committee reviewed and voted to refer a proposed legislative agenda to the full board for approval. The agenda emphasizes recruitment and retention, staff compensation (certified and non-certified), new graduation-credit rules, special education funding and continuation of high-dosage tutoring.
Union County Public Schools' SPIT Committee voted Feb. 26 to refer a proposed legislative agenda to the full board for approval and to share the document with legislative liaisons and delegates for a planned legislative breakfast in late March.
Ms. Morris presented the packet and asked the committee to review the draft. "What we hope is a comprehensive legislative agenda... some of it is expanded from previous legislative agendas, some of it is new," Morris said. She told the committee staff planned outreach to the district's legislative contacts to explain why the board considers the items priorities for the General Assembly’s long session.
Committee discussion focused on funding and workforce priorities. Members confirmed that compensation and staffing retention are included in the agenda under a recruiting-and-retention heading. Morris identified the compensation item and its subparts: "5A is address staff compensation. One is certified staff and two is non certified staff." The agenda also highlights recruitment strategies targeted at high-need schools and shortage subject areas such as special education, mathematics and science.
Members raised concerns about recent changes to the state's graduation-credit requirements. Morris said a new entry in the legislative agenda (5B6) reflects those changes: "This is something that is new due to changes in the last legislative session," she said, noting that adding required courses while reducing the total number of credits can limit students' elective options.
The agenda requests increased state funding for students with disabilities and continued support for high-dosage tutoring programs (initially funded with ESSER funds). The packet also includes cybersecurity protection and funding requests; staff said they are working with Mr. Parker to highlight district cybersecurity needs to legislators.
After discussion, the committee chair called for a motion to send the legislative agenda to the full board for discussion and approval; a motion and second were made and the committee approved the referral by voice vote.
Next steps described by staff include scheduling a late-March legislative breakfast with liaisons and delegates, and returning the document to the board for formal approval at the March meeting.
