Arlington’s school board is asking the legislature for full state funding and opposing the use of student test data in teachers’ and principals’ evaluations. Resolutions on both topics passed at the Jan. 26 Arlington Community Schools (ACS) board meeting.
Funding needs
The Basic Education Program (BEP) is the funding formula through which state education dollars are generated and distributed to Tennessee schools. Nine years ago, Gov. Phil Bredesen outlined plans in 2007 to overhaul the state’s education funding under BEP 2.0, but the economic recession suspended those plans.
Fully funding BEP would add $146.2 million to the budgets of Tennessee schools, providing “much needed funds to continue the work of improving student achievement in Tennessee,” the ACS resolution stated.
The resolution went to the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to ask that it be introduced, lobbied and supported.
Test data
The board’s resolution supports House Bill 1453, which proposes that students’ standardized test data (TN Ready) not be used in teachers’ evaluations for two years, beginning with the 2015-16 school year. This is the first year that such tests are fully computerized. Arlington’s school board also asks that the waiver be extended to principals as well as teachers.
The test data already will not be used this year in students’ final grades because of an anticipated delay in test results.
Legislative agenda
The school board also approved other items on its 2016 legislative agenda, clarifying the district’s stances for legislators. In addition to the TNReady waiver and the BEP funding, ACS takes positions on these topics:
- Charter school fees: The board supports letting school districts charge reasonable authorizer fees to charter schools to ensure an appropriate level of review and oversight.
- Appointed superintendents: The board supports letting the office of school superintendent remain appointed by the local board of education rather than being elected. The board opposes Senate Bill 1606 sponsored by Sen. Frank S. Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains, 8th District). As introduced, that bill would enact the Local School District Empowerment Act, which creates a pilot program for reestablishment of the office of elected school superintendent and requires the Department of Education to study the pilot program procedures for reestablishment of the office. It also adjusts the duties of local boards of education in systems in which the office of elected school superintendent is reestablished.
- Voucher programs: The board opposes any expansion of the special education voucher program, as well as any new legislation that would divert money intended for public education into private schools. The board opposes House Bill 1049, sponsored by Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville, District 16) and Senate Bill 999 by Todd Gardenhire (R-Chatta-nooga, District 10), which enact the Tennessee Choice & Opportunity Scholarship Act. This act would establish a scholarship program for eligible students to attend participating private K-12 schools.
- Records fees: The board supports letting school districts charge reasonable fees when the district must prepare numerous documents and/or spend time to comply with the public’s requests for inspection of records.
- Retired teachers’ employment: The board supports Senate Bill 1664, which lets retired teachers go back to work as teachers under certain conditions without loss or suspension of retirement benefits. Appointments may be for up to one year at the salary level of a first-year teacher, and the teacher may be reappointed. The teacher will not be eligible for tenure or accrual of additional retirement benefits, leave, or medical insurance coverage. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville, District 14).
Other business
In other business at the Jan. 26 meeting, the Arlington school board:
- Reviewed the 2014-15 audit report provided by Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC, an independent auditor based in Jackson, Tenn.
- Amended Policy 5.305 on family and medical leave. This was the policy’s second reading.
- Approved the district’s mission and vision.
- Approved Policy 6.414 on how to prevent and treat sudden cardiac arrest. This was the policy’s first reading, and the second reading was waived.
Budget timeline
The school board also approved a draft timeline for work on its 2016-17 school budget. Dates include:
- April 11-15, board members meet to discuss the proposed budget
- May 16, proposed budget goes online for inspection by interested citizens
- May 17, school board work session for budget discussions
- May 24, school board meeting to approve the initial FY2016-17 budget
- May 25, proposed budget delivered to mayor and town board
- June 6, mayor and board of alderman vote on budget approval
- Aug. 1, budget submitted to Tennessee Commissioner of Education
