Bill to split board-membership dues among individual members draws sharply divided testimony

The Committee on Education heard House Bill 25-10, which would require boards of education to allocate appropriated membership-dues funds equally among individual board members so each member may elect association membership independently. The committee did not take a vote.

Jason (Revisor Long) explained the bill would require districts to equally proportion the total appropriated amount for board-member dues and pay that amount to individual members who elect to join a membership association; members who do not elect membership would not receive dues payments. The bill defines 'membership association' as a corporation whose board membership is comprised of a majority of elected school board members.

Proponents said the bill increases choice and supports volunteer board members. Amy Covey, chair of the National School Board Coalition for Kansas and a former board member in Lansing, said the bill protects individual autonomy and helps unpaid board members access training. Tracy Frederick of the Kansas School Board Resource Center said her nonprofit provides free training and that the bill would allow members to pursue additional organizations aligned to their districts. Jim Howard, a superintendent, described stepping away from KASB and said the bill helps boards and members seek alternative training.

Opponents warned of governance and legal complications. Leah Fleiter, assistant executive director of advocacy for the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB), said the association provides advocacy, legal services and policy development that save districts money, and argued HB 25-10 would treat school board members differently from other local governments and could conflict with the principle of majority rule. Leah and KASB staff raised questions about how partial membership would affect KASB's ability to represent a board legally and whether districts could provide legal representation if only some members were members of an association. Mary Sinclair of Volunteer Kansas PTA said the bill interferes with board contracting authority and would create unclear prorating logistics.

Witnesses also raised administrative concerns: opponents warned the change could increase administrative workload, reduce board cohesion and complicate collective bargaining, while proponents said members already have the option to leave an association and that the bill simply preserves individual choice.

The committee heard extensive back-and-forth on the legal and policy consequences for representation and contracting but took no formal action. Committee members asked KASB representatives and general counsel to clarify how partial membership would affect representation and whether legal or statutory barriers exist; KASB said it would research the issue further.

Next steps: The bill remains in committee while stakeholders consider technical fixes and the legal consequences of partial membership.