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Senate committee renames "classified" school staff as "education support professionals"
Summary
The Senate Education Standing Committee gave unanimous, favorable recommendation to SB 66, which replaces the term "classified employee" in state code with "education support professional" to better reflect nonlicensed school staff roles.
The Senate Education Standing Committee voted unanimously to recommend Senate Bill 66, which would replace the phrase "classified employee" in state law with "education support professional" to describe nonlicensed school staff.
Sponsor Sen. Fillmore said the change is intended to more accurately reflect the work of custodians, lunch staff, teachers' aides and secretaries who do not hold educator licenses. "So we're just changing the words classified employee to education support professional," he said during the committee meeting.
The bill drew support from public commenters including Melanie Mortensen of Davis County, who said local education support professionals struggle to get raises and funding. "I appreciate this step, and I appreciate the effort that Senator Fillmore has made to help support these employees across our state," Mortensen said.
Committee discussion was brief; no amendments or clarifying changes were offered. A motion to recommend the bill favorably was made (recorded in the hearing as "a motion by Senator Baldry") and the chair ruled the recommendation unanimous. The committee sent SB 66 forward with a favorable recommendation.
