The Senate Committee of Education and Health killed Senator
Garrett's SB340, a bill to repeal the Labor Day law, on a 9-Y 6-N vote to pass
the bill by indefinitely (PBI), sending a clear signal of the ultimate fate of
the House bills which repeal the Labor Day School closing law.
The committee also reported Senator Favola's SB660, a VEA
initiated bill to bar school boards from appointing as a hearing officer an
employee of the school board or the spouse, child, parent, grandparent, or
sibling of (i) any member of the school board or (ii) the school
superintendent." This bill is part
of our continuing effort to ensure the impartiality of hearing officers in
teacher dismissal cases. SB660 reported
on a 13-Y 1-N vote, and should be on the calendar for first reading in the
Senate tomorrow.
Our lobbying efforts in opposition to the Charter School Constitutional Amendment continue.