More transparency in school finances to more authority given to the leader of the state's largest school district.

Republicans in the state Senate are elevating K-through-12 public education issues to the top of their legislative agenda.

The session two of the major measures on that advance this afternoon by the Senate.

Senate Bill one gives more power to its superintendent when it comes to day to day operations and other responsibilities, and takes away power from the elected school board in Jefferson County.

It passed by a largely party line vote of 29 to 7.

Senate Bill three strengthens public transparency in school finances, requiring budgets and what's meant to be posted on school websites.

It was forwarded to the House today on a 35 to 1 vote in the Senate.

We'll bring you the debate on those measures tomorrow night on Kentucky Edition.

Meanwhile, an education advocacy group is voicing concern about Senate Bill one.

Protect our schools.

Kentucky says the bill fails to address the real issues at hand and shifts control away from local democracy.

Our Laura Rogers has more from the group.

Brant McKim is a retired public school teacher.

He is also on the board for Protect Our Schools, Kentucky and Brant.

Your group is sounding the alarm on some legislation that you don't really believe would be a positive for public schools.

One of them is Senate Bill one, which would change the governance structure at JCPs, which is where you taught, by the way.

Tell me what you all are concerned about when you read the language in this bill.

Oh, sure.

And thank you for the opportunity.

Senate bill one would actually take authority away from the democratically elected members of the school board in Jefferson County and give that authority to the superintendent, who is not elected and not directly accountable to voters.

And we're opposed to that.

We believe local control should be the operative principle.

And we think that our school board should answer to our citizens who vote.

And I like them.

And Senate Bill 114 would also change up how school boards are perhaps even put into place, as opposed to being our elected positions.

It's my understanding that these board members would be mayoral appointments in Fayette and Jefferson counties, which again, the largest school districts in Kentucky.

What is it about that bill that you think would have negative impact.

Like Senate Bill 114 is just a really bad idea, and it's really undemocratic because we elect school boards in answer to the community.

This would take that away and have the school board appointed by the mayor.

So if you live next to a school and you have an issue, let's say they're not mowing the grass and you've got issues with that right now.

If you call the school board member, they know that you vote for them and they have an incentive to try to respond to you.

If you call a school board member that's appointed by the mayor, why do they have to care about your issue with your with the grass not getting mowed?

As long as the mayor is happy with them, they're fine.

That's not how it should work.

The school board members should answer to the community.

They should be a voice of the community, and they should represent community values, not be appointed by one person.

That is a step or two removed.

Have you all also heard concerns from parents and caregivers of these students that say, hey, we don't like the idea of what this legislation would do if put in place?

Yes, we're hearing from parents and community members that are saying our school board should answer to us.

They should be elected by us.

That should not be taken away from us as citizens.

It's undemocratic and should not be given to the mayor to appoint that something for each school district.

And in Jefferson County, we have seven different districts where we elect.

And so the community is kind of divided up in the school board members answer to the, citizens that elect them in their regions.

Now, I do want to ask you about a bill.

You say you do support, and this one sponsored by State Senator Julie Rocky Adams of Louisville.

And it affects administrator pay and pay increases.

And and so you say this is one that you would like to see cross the finish line.

The teachers association supports Senate Bill two.

And we really like this bill from Senator Julie Rocky Adams.

Because what it says is that you if you're going to give a superintendent a pay raise, it should not be any more than what you gave your classroom teachers.

It's really valuing your classroom educators and saying, if you're going to give a raise, let's be equitable and fair about it and give the same race, the teachers that you give to the superintendents, because that's where the rubber meets the road in the classroom.

That's where the kids are learning.

And that's the closest that we get to the students with the educators.

And that's where we ought to have equitable pay.

Brant McKim, a retired educator and a board member for Protect Our Schools, Kentucky, we appreciate your time so much.

Thank you.

Thanks for the opportunity.

And thank you, Laura.

Protect our schools.

Kentucky also says lawmakers need to focus on funding for public education, along with addressing class sizes, student mental health, transportation and facilities.