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Minutes for HB2382 - Committee on K-12 Education Budget
Short Title
Establishing the school district board of education member free speech and transparency act.
Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 20, 2023
Nick Myers, Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, explained to the committee that HB 2382 would require school districts to publish the names and email addresses of the local school board members on the school district's website; prohibit the school board from restricting or prohibiting another board member's questions or discussions with any person who presents public comment or testimony; require each school district board of education meeting to include a public comment portion of the meeting (Attachment 1).
Mr. Myers stood for questions.
The Chair opened the hearing of HB 2382.
Amy Cawvey, private citizen, offered testimony in support of HB 2382. Ms. Cawvey told the committee that she ran for the Lansing Board of Education on the promise of transparency. She noted that the Lansing Board of Education has already implemented many of the aspects listed in HB 2382 and they have had no issues (Attachment 2).
Dave Trabert, Kansas Policy Institute, offered testimony in support of HB 2382. Mr. Trabert noted the number of students below grade-level and stated the implementation of HB 2382 would curb the trend (Attachment 3).
Ward Cassidy, Kansas School Board Resource Center, offered testimony in support of HB 2382. Mr. Cassidy spoke to the idea that public officials know that they are aware that they will be contacted by the public and their emails should be public knowledge (Attachment 4).
The conferees stood for questions.
Shannon Kimball, Lawrence Unified School District, offered testimony in opposition of HB 2382. Ms. Kimball noted three main points of concern: allowing a single school board member to add new items on a meeting agenda, allowing a single member to impede school board meetings with unlimited public comment, and allowing citizens to submit open record requests for a members personal notes, etc (Attachment 5).
Leah Fliter, Kansas Association of School Boards, offered testimony in opposition in HB 2382. Ms. Fliter related her experiences as a former school board member to areas of concern that Kansas Association of School Boards take with HB 2382 (Attachment 6).
Ann Mah, Kansas State Board of Education, offered testimony in opposition in HB 2382. Ms. Mah stated that HB 2382 is a major legislative overreach of public officials (Attachment 7).
Jerry Henn, United School Administrators of Kansas, offered testimony in opposition of HB 2382. Mr. Henn gave a quick overview of points of opposition that previous testimonials have offered. Henn stated that he is confident almost every board of education offers emails and public comments (Attachment 8).
The conferees stood for questions.
Written:
Douglas Shane, private citizen (Attachment 9)
Michael Blankenship, private citizen (Attachment 10)
Erica Price, private citizen (Attachment 11)
Gail Jamison, private citizen (Attachment 12)
The Chair closed the hearing of HB 2382.
Meeting adjourned at 4:32 PM
Next meeting is February 21st, 2023.
