On April 14 the Senate Education Committee met and took up several bills including, SB 12 by Sen. Florence Shapiro relating to the flexibility of the board of trustees of a school district in the management and operation of public schools in the district.
Sen. Shapiro, Education Committee Chair, laid out SB 12 noting the following provisions would be effective as long as the total FSP remains below 2010-11 levels; otherwise, the policies of this bill are void.
- Allow the furlough of all contract personnel up to six non-instructional days.
- Allow for the reduction of salaries up to the percentage rate at which the district is cut.
- The district must process these steps through a public meeting.
- Only after a district has carried out furloughs and salary reductions up to the percentage the district was cut, may the district carry out a reduction in force.
- Suspend district rating for the first report and early warning system.
- Move the notice of non renewal to the tenth day before the last day of instruction.
- Push the penalty free resignation to 30 days prior to the beginning of the next school year.
- Relieve districts of their fitness gram mandates unless a student is enrolled in physical education.
- Relieve district of the public hearing requirement if lowering tax rate.
- Void a contract for a teacher who fails to maintain certification.
- Allow a teacher ten days to request a waiver from the school board for extended time to ensure certification is maintained.
- Extend telecommunication discount for two years
- Ensure that last in, first out policies are not required when terminating contracts.
SB 12 was voted out of the committee favorably as substituted with 5 ayes and 1 nay.