Kentucky General Assembly

[jjwv_mu_rivals]

So, a while back I posted that the Kentucky Governor was pushing a bill through the senate and house that would basically take away our (teacher) pensions that we have paid in, and had around 57% funded already, in favor of something else that would require teachers to pay in even more from their paychecks. Well, that didn't pass.

However, there was a joint committee formed to come up with another bill. Instead of coming up with a different bill, the Republican leadership decided to attach pieces of SB 1 in to a "Sewage" bill and passed it out of the committee.

This bill was 291 pages long, and when it went out to the House floor the Speaker refused to allow any debate time, discussion, or any time to even read the bill (which is a direct violation of KY law; I believe a 24 hour time period is required). The bill was also never released to the public to review or for anyone to review for that matter.

The vote ended up 49-46 in favor of passing the bill, which means that over 90% of senators voted on a bill that THEY DID NOT READ! That's scary, beyond anything else.

I guess I'm wondering, how is this not anti-democratic? No discussion or debate or even public release of this bill. All of this was non-transparent.

I don't believe this affects me that much, but newly hired teachers are going to struggle. Plus, it was mentioned that MILLIONS was going to be taken away from school transportation budgets. In rural communities, like the one I'm working in, that is devastating. This will mean laying off teachers and potentially even more problems for anything extracurricular.

After conducting research on 4-day weeks, I proposed four years ago for my district to switch to this. My research showed that districts in Oregon and Colorado were able to save between $300,000-$1,000,000 from this type of a school calendar. It didn't meet favorable response from the school board, as expected then. But maybe now it will.

Anyways, I just wanted to speak a little about this and how this isn't what I thought elected representatives were there to do, to pass bills that they did not read or have a chance to read.

 

[WVUCOOPER]

So, a while back I posted that the Kentucky Governor was pushing a bill through the senate and house that would basically take away our (teacher) pensions that we have paid in, and had around 57% funded already, in favor of something else that would require teachers to pay in even more from their paychecks. Well, that didn't pass.

However, there was a joint committee formed to come up with another bill. Instead of coming up with a different bill, the Republican leadership decided to attach pieces of SB 1 in to a "Sewage" bill and passed it out of the committee.

This bill was 291 pages long, and when it went out to the House floor the Speaker refused to allow any debate time, discussion, or any time to even read the bill (which is a direct violation of KY law; I believe a 24 hour time period is required). The bill was also never released to the public to review or for anyone to review for that matter.

The vote ended up 49-46 in favor of passing the bill, which means that over 90% of senators voted on a bill that THEY DID NOT READ! That's scary, beyond anything else.

I guess I'm wondering, how is this not anti-democratic? No discussion or debate or even public release of this bill. All of this was non-transparent.

I don't believe this affects me that much, but newly hired teachers are going to struggle. Plus, it was mentioned that MILLIONS was going to be taken away from school transportation budgets. In rural communities, like the one I'm working in, that is devastating. This will mean laying off teachers and potentially even more problems for anything extracurricular.

After conducting research on 4-day weeks, I proposed four years ago for my district to switch to this. My research showed that districts in Oregon and Colorado were able to save between $300,000-$1,000,000 from this type of a school calendar. It didn't meet favorable response from the school board, as expected then. But maybe now it will.

Anyways, I just wanted to speak a little about this and how this isn't what I thought elected representatives were there to do, to pass bills that they did not read or have a chance to read.

That's child's play. The Feds just passed a $1.6 trillion omnibus bill that no one read.

A teacher wanting more days off?

 

[moe]

So, a while back I posted that the Kentucky Governor was pushing a bill through the senate and house that would basically take away our (teacher) pensions that we have paid in, and had around 57% funded already, in favor of something else that would require teachers to pay in even more from their paychecks. Well, that didn't pass.

However, there was a joint committee formed to come up with another bill. Instead of coming up with a different bill, the Republican leadership decided to attach pieces of SB 1 in to a "Sewage" bill and passed it out of the committee.

This bill was 291 pages long, and when it went out to the House floor the Speaker refused to allow any debate time, discussion, or any time to even read the bill (which is a direct violation of KY law; I believe a 24 hour time period is required). The bill was also never released to the public to review or for anyone to review for that matter.

The vote ended up 49-46 in favor of passing the bill, which means that over 90% of senators voted on a bill that THEY DID NOT READ! That's scary, beyond anything else.

I guess I'm wondering, how is this not anti-democratic? No discussion or debate or even public release of this bill. All of this was non-transparent.

I don't believe this affects me that much, but newly hired teachers are going to struggle. Plus, it was mentioned that MILLIONS was going to be taken away from school transportation budgets. In rural communities, like the one I'm working in, that is devastating. This will mean laying off teachers and potentially even more problems for anything extracurricular.

After conducting research on 4-day weeks, I proposed four years ago for my district to switch to this. My research showed that districts in Oregon and Colorado were able to save between $300,000-$1,000,000 from this type of a school calendar. It didn't meet favorable response from the school board, as expected then. But maybe now it will.

Anyways, I just wanted to speak a little about this and how this isn't what I thought elected representatives were there to do, to pass bills that they did not read or have a chance to read.

To have your pension reduced or taken away is a huge deal and KY teachers should raise holy hell about it especially under the shady circumstances you describe.

 

[mule_eer]

That's child's play. The Feds just passed a $1.6 trillion omnibus bill that no one read.

A teacher wanting more days off?

Well, the district saves 20% on transportation costs alone under that model. I think one district in my county moved to that model, and it's the largest district in area in the county. There's a little bit of savings in heating/cooling and lights in the school.

 

[BombadEER]

You can't reason with a Democrat. Liberalism=insanity

 

[op2]

Well, the district saves 20% on transportation costs alone under that model. I think one district in my county moved to that model, and it's the largest district in area in the county. There's a little bit of savings in heating/cooling and lights in the school.

I think they ought to make the school day a little shorter and increase the school year by a month or so. I've heard tales of what a long day it is for kids that do extracirriculars (and that to cater to them they start the school day really early so the kids doing extracirriculars don't go too late into the night, which means the kids not doing extracirriculars start pointlessly early). And also I've read that the summer break is so long that lots of kids forget what they learned.

I say start right after Labor Day and end right before July 4th. Two months is enough and the holidays could be symbolic bookends of the school year. That would be about 43 weeks from start to finish. If 3 of that is vacation/in-service days then you're left with 40 weeks of school, which is about a 10% increase from the current 36. Sounds good to me. Make it happen.

 

[mule_eer]

I think they ought to make the school day a little shorter and increase the school year by a month or so. I've heard tales of what a long day it is for kids that do extracirriculars (and that to cater to them they start the school day really early so the kids doing extracirriculars don't go too late into the night, which means the kids not doing extracirriculars start pointlessly early). And also I've read that the summer break is so long that lots of kids forget what they learned.

I say start right after Labor Day and end right before July 4th. Two months is enough and the holidays could be symbolic bookends of the school year. That would be about 43 weeks from start to finish. If 3 of that is vacation/in-service days then you're left with 40 weeks of school, which is about a 10% increase from the current 36. Sounds good to me. Make it happen.

The district that does 4-day weeks is also on a longer calendar. They do 2-week breaks for spring, maybe fall also. They have slightly longer semester breaks too, but I think summer is only 4-weeks off for them. I'm not in that district, so I don't know the calendar very well.

 

[mneilmont]

It will not happen, but there are several ways that you could save a lot of money in public education.

First consolidate all students into one building centrally located in the county. Primary on one level, elementary on one level and secondary on another level. Can distribute students equally for each grade. Transport all grades of students in one bus per area. Have 7 classes per day(1 or 2 for PE).

Central location would save on maintenance cost and personnel. Roof repair for buildings is/ $250G per building and normally last about 7 years.

Could eliminate a couple classroom positions for each class when you can allocate an even number into each class.

Too much duplication when you restrict the age groups. It is not unusual to send 2-4 busses to one residence that has kids in different age groups.

7 classes per day would allow 2 classes for PE or band or study hall. Team sports and other extra curricular activities can practice during school hours. Another benefit would require all fat asses to get some physical exercises.

These changes would save 10-20% of the annual budget. Sure others can think of ways to reasonably save more.

 

[WVUCOOPER]

Well, the district saves 20% on transportation costs alone under that model. I think one district in my county moved to that model, and it's the largest district in area in the county. There's a little bit of savings in heating/cooling and lights in the school.

Shut up, mule.