Breaking Down 2016 Building Up for 2017Hope McLaughlinDirector of Governmental Relations

2016 Legislative Session Overview 60 – day budget session

Nearly 1,500 pieces of legislation filed (KSBA tracked over 200) About 130 pieces of legislation became law

Budget negotiations dominated all conversations P-12 education, KSP and Corrections were the only areas in the final

budget with funding held constant 4.5 – 9% cuts in every other area

Final budget Unprecedented $1 Billion for pensions SEEK stable with up to $10 million for shortfall $125 Million in a permanent pension trust fund $7.5 Million per year for early childhood partnerships

Education Bills, Passed HB184 (J. Donohue, Louisville), Principal Selection JCPS – Allow an alternative

principal selection process for JCPS. Superintendent may make recommendation for principal candidate to school councils and those candidates for principal vacancies can be kept confidential and be discussed in closed session. Must make final recommendation in public meeting.

HB626 (G. Stumbo, Prestonsburg), Work Ready KY – Sets up last dollar in scholarship program or conversion loan for students to attend public/private/KCTCS when working toward associate’s degree, establishes dual-credit scholarship rate and provides scholarships to students for up to three courses, establishes Workforce Investment Fund Advisory Board and processes for grants to be awarded in each congressional district from $100M bond pool under Education & Workforce Cabinet. Vetoed, now subject to litigation, bond pool and dual credit funds still available.

SB228 (D. Carroll, Paducah)/HB316 (R. Smart, Richmond), Student Safety – Requires school districts to prohibit bullying and defines bullying. We have a session available on this topic.

SB33 (M. Wise, Campbellsville), CPR Training – Requires school districts provide CPR training to students one time while enrolled between grades 9-12. Does not require any equipment or AEDs to be purchased. KY Nurses Association will donate a mannequin to each school district.

Education Bills, Failed

HB270 (J. DuPlessis, Elizabethtown)/SB223 (S. West, Paris), School Marshals – Would have allowed local school boards to create a position of school marshal. The school marshal would have been allowed to carry a firearm on school property. School marshal would have been required to purchase the firearm and fungible ammunition. Ammunition would be required to be locked in school office. (No hearing)

HB620 (A. Wuchner, Burlington)/SB273 (M. Wilson, Bowling Green), Vouchers for students with disabilities – Would have set up a voucher system through the state treasury to be used by parents of students with IEPs, a 504 plan or students meeting the definition of disability under IDEA. Funds could be used for tuition, textbooks, private tutoring, curriculum materials, technology, transportation etc. (No hearing)

Education Bills, Failed SB1 (M. Wilson, Bowling Green), Public Education – Sweeping

education reform, would have removed program reviews, would have set up standards review process, would have reformed statewide assessment system, and developed turnaround models for low performing schools. (Passed Senate, No hearing in House)

SB50 (C. Girdler, Somerset), School Start Date – Would have required school to start Monday closest to Aug. 26. Bill amended to establish calendar committee with each local board of education and incentivize districts to start Monday closest to Aug. 26 by giving flexibility in meeting 1,062 instructional hours. (Passed Senate as amended, No hearing in House)

SB88 (D. Givens, Greensburg), Teacher Tribunal – Would have required formal hearing officers for teacher tribunals and allow for final determination to uphold or overturn the decision of the superintendent. (No hearing, modified version attached to another bill also failed)

SB253 (M. Wilson, Bowling Green), Charter Schools – Would have created charter school pilot project in JCPS and FCPS. Bill was amended to make local boards the only authorizers of charter schools. (Passed Senate as amended, No hearing in House)

Pension Issues Approximately 30 pension bills filed in 2016 – a few passed Takeaways from 2016 on pensions

Over $1 Billion included in the budget There is a strong desire to make changes to the systems to increase

transparency and find cost savings New $125 million trust fund to assist in funding pensions, $3 million for audits Auditor has issued an RFP to look into ALL state pension systems for

Overall solvency/liquidity Assessment of outstanding obligations A critical review of past revenue and expenditures to identify reasons for current

financial status of plans Analysis of the impact of alternative courses of future actions that might be

considered by the Commonwealth and their effect on the long-term solvency and successes of the plans

Other Issues

HB40 (D. Owens, Louisville), Felony Expungement – Will allow for a number of low-level felonies, such as burglary, theft and drug possession to be vacated and have records expunged. If a prior felony has been expunged or charges are pending expungement may not occur. Violent crimes and sex crimes are not included in the list of felonies that are eligible for expungement.

HB80 (C. Harris, Forest Hills), The Revenue Bill/General Govt. – Raises threshold of universities using cash from $600K to $1M before gaining approval from Capital Projects Comm, IRS Code update, SFCC may award cash grants to schools to bring them up to code under certain criteria, nickel levies will receive equalization only through the life of the bond of a project, school districts may be open on election day if no schools in a district are used as a polling place, and several other provisions.

What will the 2017 session hold?

Any changes necessary to implement ESSA SB1 from last session is likely to return in some form Pension issues

Governance Structural changes Transparency issues Potential separation of CERS from KRS

Charter school legislation

Let’s stop doing this . . .

What do you need to make public education better? Online survey highlights

95% of you want to see tribunal reform 92% of you want to see tax reform provide additional funding

to education 88% of you said superintendents should select the principal in

a low performing school 78% of you want to see tenure reform

These policy changes were also the most common answers when asked what changes could be made to improve public education

Get your phones out - Instant poll Go to the KSBA app on your phone KSBA’s Summer Leadership Inst Go to the FEEDBACK icon

Of the items below which one would you most like to see the Kentucky General Assembly act on during the 2017 legislative session? Tribunal reform Allow all superintendents to select the principal in a low performing school Tenure reform

Results to be shared during regional meetings.

How do we advocate for public education during the interim?

We are not just school board members, administrators or

superintendents. We are not even just advocates

for public education.

We are all AMBASSADORS for public education!

What’s the difference? Ambassador: A person who acts as a representative or promoter of a

specified activity. Diplomatic Building goodwill Mission Public Education

Advocate: A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. Argue Support Plead

Challenge:Be an AMBASSADOR not just an advocate

How many of you have something

amazing happening in your school district?

How many of you have shared that

amazing thing with a legislator in your

district?

Become an ambassador: Invite your local legislators to see an amazing thing

happening in your school. New programs? Arts? STEM+H? Summer enrichment? New technology? Never underestimate the power of cute kids Ask for help identifying things – Superintendent, PR, DACs,

Counselors Board meetings

Invite your legislator to a board meeting Are you approving something good for students Featuring students Receiving a recognition

How to extend an invitation www.lrc.ky.gov

Find your legislator in the drop down menu Who’s my legislator

LRC Offices: (502) 564-8100

Need help? Call or email me!

Build a network locally Build a network around public education with the PTA, school

councils, local chamber, other local elected officials and invite your network to see the amazing things happening in your district

Attend and engage at community events – talk about your schools

Include the press in school events Use social media

Legislator Twitter handles available on LRC website Follow Brad Hughes @ksbanews, Mike Armstrong @KSBAMike and Hope

McLaughlin @McLHope Tweet about your district – use board meeting breaks, student

performances, approving a building Post photos and events on Facebook

But Hope? “They don’t believe in public education.” “We need more of . . .” “There are so many mandates . . .” “They should do . . .”

Show them how, show them what is good, make them believe - The rest will come

Be and ambassador first and an advocate second A positive message is always well received Remember you get more flies with honey

Don’t Forget!

Be an ambassador

Thank you!