LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Jefferson County Board of Education has an idea of what it wants state lawmakers to focus on, and what it hopes to avoid, when they head back to Frankfort in January.
The board began to outline its legislative priorities during a meeting Tuesday evening. Some of those priorities include universal Pre-k, fully-funded transportation, and a district that remains unified.
In January 2024, lawmakers will gather in the state's capitol for its next legislative session. This year, they will craft a new budget.
"Your budget is your priority list," Board member Sarah McIntosh said. "When our state funds other things, as opposed to education, that is a reflection of their values."
The board is working on its priority list for the session with its government relations coordinator.
In all, there are nine topic areas the board is focusing on: treatment of local school districts, school choice, accountability, equity, reduced board member burdens, student health and safety, school operations, and teacher recruitment and retention. Topping the list is funding.
"Sometimes, when you enter Frankfort with anything from Jefferson County, it can be met with opposition no matter how many districts it would assist and help," Board member Joe Marshall said.
The board hopes lawmakers will invest in universal Pre-k, codify full-day kindergarten, adjust state funding (SEEK) for schools so that it increases with inflation, fully fund state law that requires school security and mental health resources, fully fund transportation for districts, and more.
"Transportation continues to be significantly underfunded by the state," Board member Chris Kolb said.
JCPS opposes legislation that creates any unfunded mandates for local districts.
Also included on the list is opposition of efforts to split up the district. While the board didn't discuss the item in detail on Tuesday, state Rep. Kevin Bratcher believes a commission should look into splitting JCPS.
"We're going to have at least a yearlong discussion, you know, we might get into this task force, commission, and decide it's not the best thing to do," Bratcher (R-Louisville), said.
In August, after the first day of school's busing disaster, a group of Kentucky House Republicans sent an open letter to Jefferson County Public Schools students, parents and teachers, calling on five immediate action items. One included the creation of a commission to evaluate splitting up JCPS.
The document also addresses the district's views on school choice. It said the district opposes legislation that limits district's ability to offer robust school choice options to students and families.
It also said, "JCPS opposes any use of state tax revenue or exclusion of anticipated revenue that would divert funding away from traditional public schools, including schemes like vouchers, tuition credits, tax credits, and funding for charter schools."
Bratcher said lawmakers also want to look into that this session, and said other states offer similar credits.
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