A group from the Russellville Independent Schools will go to Frankfort Thursday to meet with their representatives in the Kentucky General Assembly about the latest blow to public education in Kentucky by the Republican-dominated state government led by relentless actions from Gov. Matt Bevin.
The one that has education leaders around the state particularly upset is HB 242 filed by Rep. Toby Herald (R-91). It wouldabolish all existing school boards and school districts, and re-create them to consist of only 55 school districts. Rep. Herald represents Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Madison (part), and Owsley counties.
Russellville Superintendent Bart Flener says Herald’s bill would merge many districts “with seemingly no methodology to base the new boundaries on. This would occur over a two-year period, with the state board largely being in complete control of all school affairs in the meantime (including “managing” literally all school property in the state).”
It would most likely do away with the Russellville School District.
Flener tells The LoJo, “At this time we do not believe the bill is likely to move this session. Still, it is a distraction that we can ill afford, given our budget and pension crisis and the many threats already facing our public schools. It is also unfortunate that this will put this topic into the discourse at this time, when legislators and educators need to focus on the budget, tax and pension reform, and the implementation of the new assessment/accountability system and the review and update of academic standards.”
Those making the trip to Frankfort are a representative group of Russellville Independent Schools educators, including Sherry Bouldin and Robin Cornelius from Stevenson Elementary School, Corey Waters and Ben Bruni from RJSHS, Cassie Reding, Linda Shelton, Kim McDaniel, and Flener from the Central Office, and RISD Board Member Davonna Page.
They will meet with Logan-Todd Representative Jason Petrie and Senator Whitney Westerfield at noon EST to share their concerns and to advocate for all things public education.
Flener has called on those who believe in the value of public schools like Russellville to take the following action.
This is what I’m asking you to do on behalf of our students, our educators, and public education in Kentucky.Please call the LRC Message Line today and tell your legislators that for a whole host of reasons they should not even bring HB 242 to a hearing, and that they must instead focus on fully investing in our students in the budget bill and consider tax reform as part of that process. Eviscerating our cherished community schools and gutting staff are not the answers to the problems we face!”
Call the toll free number, 1-800-372-7181. The person who answered took my name, address, phone number, and asked me who I wanted to leave a message for. I indicated that I wanted to leave it for Representative Jason Petrie and Senator Westerfield.
I basically paraphrased the following message:
For a whole host of reasons they should not even bring HB 242 to a hearing, and that they must instead focus on fully investing in our students in the budget bill and consider tax reform as part of that process. Eviscerating our cherished community schools and gutting staff are not the answers to the problems we face!
She indicated that she would send the message right over.
The message center is open from 9 a.m. EST -7 p.m. EST Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. EST-6 p.m. EST Friday.
If you are successful in leaving a message, please send an email to me. I’m trying to collect some stats so I can inform our legislators in our Thursday meeting how many of our adult team members in Russellville have already made their voices heard!
.If you have additional wishes or concerns you would like us to share on your behalf, please email Cassie.Reding@russellville.kyschools.us as she has been charged with preparing our presentation for the meeting.