Superintendent briefs board on bills affecting governance, disclosure and teacher pay
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Summary
District leader summarized multiple bills under consideration in the legislature—Senate Bill 1 on superintendent/board governance affecting Jefferson and Fayette counties, Senate Bill 3 on financial disclosure, a recess bill, and House Bill 17 proposing one‑time stipends—while noting potential funding shortfalls and limited direct local impact.
The superintendent told the board he spent time at the legislature meeting legislators and attending a regional superintendents' luncheon to advocate for district priorities.
He highlighted several bills to watch: Senate Bill 1, described as clarifying superintendent and board governance (targeted at Jefferson and Fayette counties); Senate Bill 3, which would increase public financial disclosure requirements for districts (items the superintendent said Franklin County already practices); and Senate Bill 46 addressing passenger limits in non‑school buses (a 'may' provision rather than a mandate). He also cited Senate Bill 51 concerning property tax protections for residents 65 and older, and a recess bill (Senate Bill 11) that would require K–5 schools to provide at least 30 minutes of recess, which could affect daily scheduling.
On teacher pay, the superintendent discussed House Bill 17, which proposes a $2,000 stipend for certified staff and $1,000 for classified staff as a one‑time payment. He cautioned that the state's funding figure he had heard (referenced as $53 million) may be insufficient to cover statewide stipends and estimated the cost to Franklin County at about $1.5 million, urging that funds might be better invested through SEEK formula adjustments for sustainable pay increases.
Board members and staff discussed apprenticeship and other bills; the superintendent said the district is "ahead of the game" on certain programs and will continue monitoring legislative developments.