A bill to make modest, reasonable reforms to school-based decision-making councils, sponsored by Sen. John Schickel, has been filed as
SB 3. This bill has been a top priority of KSBA’s for many years and this may be our best chance to see it pass. The bill would make the number of parents and teachers on the council even at two each, which would give a greater voice to parents. SB 3 would also give the final decision over principal selection to the superintendent after consultation with the council. No other council powers would be removed and it would not become only an advisory body. This bill enhances the role of the superintendent and school board, and therefore enhances the voice of the entire community which elects the school board. This is a reasonable, common sense approach that protects the role of the board and the council.
Also, a bill to make amendments to the teacher
tribunal process has been filed by Sen. Steve West as
SB 8. This bill will protect and improve due process afforded to teachers, while improving the fairness and efficiency of tribunals by:
- Clarifying the causes for which a teacher may be terminated;
- Requiring a trained attorney to serve as hearing officer and chairman of the tribunal;
- Removing the lay person from the tribunal;
- Establishing selection and training requirements for hearing officers;
- Establishing a prehearing conference for motions and mediation;
- Establishing the tribunal's decision as a recommended order and allowing parties to file exceptions to it; and
- Limiting tribunal decisions to upholding or overturning the decision of the superintendent (i.e.: with no ‘strings attached’), or to accepting a settlement reached by parties.
