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Sheldon school board discusses legislation
Nevada Daily Mail
During the Sheldon School Board meeting, Superintendent Tim Judd shared news of newly introduced legislation that could affect Missouri schools.
"With the new year comes the new legislation session," Judd said as he introduced five new bills that could impact every Missouri public school district.
Five bills have been introduced that will affect the school calendar for Sheldon R-8, he said. Three of the bills introduced are attempting to take away the school board's right to start the school earlier than 10 days prior the first Monday of September.
"That's the law. You can't start 10 days before that first Monday however, if you have a hearing, public notice like we do you can start earlier," Judd said. "These bills are wanting to eliminate that."
Of the other two bills, one seeks to prevent schools starting before Sept. 1. The other bill proposes to take away state funding from a school district holding classes during the Missouri state fair. This bill, Judd said, was due to low attendance at the Missouri State Fair.
The bill about state funding and the Missouri State Fair caused immediate outrage among many of the board members.
"Are you kidding me?" said board treasurer Jerod Lamb. "This is the most [crazy] thing."
Board member Leininger wanted to know who was sponsoring these bills, and why attendance of the state fair was more important than education.
"We want some names and addresses," he said. "Of all the things they are worried about, this takes the cake?"
Judd attempted to reassure the board members by telling them, "The school Administration Coalition, of course, they are saying they are opposed," he said. Judd then read the SAC's response to the bill. "We are opposed to legislation that seeks to limit the local control of school board and community school districts."
After the meeting, Judd said the bills are not something to worry about yet because the legislative session is lengthy and the bills are not laws at the moment.
"The legislative session is no guarantee the bills will go anywhere. A lot of times they don't amount to anything. Just because they have been introduced, doesn't mean anything will happen." Judd said. "I'm not too worried at this point, it's a process; it's just started and a lot of things happen. I don't think there's much to get excited about."
Also during the meeting, the school board approved hiring Krystal McCartney and Lena Kleeman on a voluntary basis to coach cheerleading. Assistant Principal Carolyn Compton reminded the board their students had Monday, Jan. 18, off for Martin Luther King Day.