COUNTY [♪♪] [♪♪] GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION ISSUES.

AS KENTUCKY STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO CLASS, OUR SCHOOLS ARE FACING CHALLENGES ON SEVERAL FRONTS.

BUS DELAYS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY FORCED SCHOOLS THERE TO CLOSE FOR A FEW DAYS.

ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE TO SENATE BILL 150, THE BILL THAT CAN LIMITS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SEXUAL MATTERS AND LIMITS SUPPORT FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.

JUST LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON RELEASED THEIR PLANS FOR EDUCATION — PLANS THAT FOCUS ON EVERYTHING FROM LEARNING LOSS TO PAY RAISES FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

WE’LL DISCUSS ALL OF THIS WITH OUR GUESTS: SALLY SUGG, SUPERINTENDENT OF SHELBY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS; ROB CLAYTON, SUPERINTENDENT, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS; STATE SENATOR REGGIE THOMAS, A LEXINGTON DEMOCRAT AND SENATE MINORITY CAUCUS CHAIR; STATE REPRESENTATIVE KILLIAN TIMONEY, A NICHOLASVILLE REPUBLICAN; BRIGITTE BLOM, PRESIDENT AND CEO, PRICHARD COMMITTEE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE; AND SARAH DURAND, VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE KENTUCKY FORUM FOR RIGHTS, ECONOMICS AND EDUCATION.

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY TWITTER AT K-Y TONIGHT K-E-T.

SEND AN EMAIL TO K-Y TONIGHT AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G. OR USE THE WEB FORM AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G SLASH K-Y TONIGHT.

OR YOU CAN CALL 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

IN THE LEXINGTON STUDIO I WAS COMMENTING BEFORE AIR TIME WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE TONIGHT AND WE'RE GRATEFUL ALL OF YOU ARE WITH US.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME BACK TO CLASS TO OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AND OTHERS IN THE EDUCATION SPACE AND I WANT TO START WITH YOU ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN SHELBY COUNTY.

IN THE NEIGHBORING COUNTY THERE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLES WITH THE BUS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THERE FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL KIDDOS.

HOW ARE THINGS IN SHELBY COUNTY?

>> WE ARE DOING WELL WE HAD A WONDERFUL START AND I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO GREAT LEADERSHIP.

OUR LEADERS IN OUR BUILDINGS AND OUR TEACHER LEADERS AND OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS ALL COME TOGETHER IN SHELBY COUNTY TO MAKE SURE WE GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT.

THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT AS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE FIND THE LACK OF TEACHERS, THE STAFFING PROBLEM NOT ONLY WITH CERTIFIED BUT CLASSIFIED BUS DRIVERS, COOKS, CUSTODIANS AND ALL OF THOSE THAT COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THE DAY RUN SMOOTHLY.

SO WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL START IN SHELBY COUNTY AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT THROUGHOUT THE FALL.

>> Renee: WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR STAFF SHORTAGES IN YOUR CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED STAFF WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

>> WE'VE WORKED HARD THIS SUMMER RECRUITING AND WE ARE DOWN TO 10 PER CLASSIFIED AND 10 CERTIFIED THAT ARE HOLES WE NEED TO FILL.

MANY OF THOSE WE DON'T LOOK TO FIND PEOPLE BECAUSE ESPECIALLY AT SECONDARY WITH SCIENCE AND MATH AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ACROSS THE BOARD.

THOSE ARE REALLY DIFFICULT PLACES FOR US TO FIND PEOPLE.

SO WE DO HAVE A LOT OF LONG-TERM SUBS AND SOME EMERGENCY CERTIFIED STAFF THAT ARE HOLDING DOWN THE FORT AND HOLDING IT TOGETHER.

EVERYONE IS PITCHING IN TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE NEW AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOPEFULLY HAVING SOME MORE GRADUATES IN DECEMBER TO COME AND FILL THOSE GAPS.

>> Renee: WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE CERTIFIED ALTERNATIVELY AND EMERGENCY CERTIFIED STAFF IN A LITTLE BIT WE'LL DRILL DOWN ON THAT.

SUPERINTENDENT CLAYTON GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACCOLADES THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR AND THE NATIONAL AWARDS YOU'VE RECEIVED FOR YOUR SERVICE IN WARREN COUNTY AND TO THE STATE IN GENERAL.

TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN WARREN COUNTY?

HOW ARE THINGS GOING FOR YOU SO FAR?

WHEN DID YOU START?

>> WE BEGAN ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST THE 9TH AS THE DOCTOR SHARED WE FEEL PROUD WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY OPEN ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT THE WORKFORCE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT.

WE'RE SEEING IT IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY WITH OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF BOTH CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED.

AND YOU MENTIONED TRANSPORTATION IT'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE THIS BEING MY 11TH YEAR I'VE WATCHED IT EACH YEAR BECOME A GREATER CHALLENGE FOR OUR STAFF.

WE'RE FORTUNATE UP TO THIS POINT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COVER MOST OF THE HOLES THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.

AND THAT'S REALLY A TREMENDOUS CREDIT TO SOME OF THE FOLKS OUR LEADERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR OUT DRIVING EVERYDAY EVEN AS LATE AS THIS AFTERNOON.

BUT ALL THINGS BEING CONSIDERED, WE DO FEEL VERY FORTUNATE WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT.

BUT, AGAIN, THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD ARE CONSIDERABLE.

>> Renee: DO YOU HAVE CURRENT SHORTAGES AND GAPS IN YOUR PERSONNEL?

>> WE DO.

WE'RE LOOKING AT 30 PLUS CERTIFIED OPENINGS IN OUR DISTRICT AND A FEW MORE THAN THAT IN THE CLASSIFIED SPACE.

SO, AGAIN IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TRIED TO BE VERY CREATIVE.

WE HAVE MORE THAN A DOZEN STUDENT TEACHERS LEADING CLASSROOMS IN OUR SCHOOL AS WE SIT HERE TODAY.

AND OPTION SIX, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THOSE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO US AND FILLING SOME OF THE VOIDS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW THAT'S NOT THE LONG-TERM FIX.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

TO OUR LAWMAKERS BECAUSE AND WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY REPRESENTED AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A SHOW TO BEAT UP ON JEFFERSON COUNTY.

BUT WE KNOW THEY HAD SIGNIFICANT S.N.A.F.U.S WITH THEIR SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND ARE REBOUNDING FROM THAT.

AND OUR FRIENDS WITH WFPL LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA SIMULATED THE BUS ROUTE AND IF YOU HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THAT STORY IT DOESN'T WORK THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED.

WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, JASON BAILEY WITH THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY HAD A PIECE THAT APPEARED IN THE HERALD LEADER AND WE TOO HAD HIM ON KENTUCKY EDITION FRIDAY YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT SHOW ON-LINE WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT IT WAS THE LEGISLATURE'S FAILURE TO FULLY FUND SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION COSTS.

REPRESENTATIVE, SINCE 2005 IT'S BEEN AS LOW AS 55% AS HIGH NOW AS 70%.

WHAT SAY YOU ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S COMMITMENT TO THAT OBLIGATION THAT WAS PART OF THE REFORM FOR A COMMON SYSTEM OF SCHOOLS TO FUND FULLY FUND TRANSPORTATION?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF DISCUSSION POINTS THERE THAT ARE WORTH MENTIONING.

OBVIOUSLY RAISING SEEK TO RECORD-HIGH LEVELS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ROLES I'VE HAD I'VE WORKED ON THE BACKSIDE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEFORE.

I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING YOUR STRUCTURES, YOUR TRANSPORTATION, MAKING SURE YOUR FOOD SERVICE IS TAKING CARE OF.

I DO BELIEVE THAT ANY ADVOCACY ON MY PART IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THAT REALM.

THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE IS DEFINITELY ONE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT.

I KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS FOR FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FIRST DAY.

I KNOW THE WORK THAT WAS PUT IN BY THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FIRST DAY.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE BY JCPS.

BUT THEY ALSO WORTH MENTIONING THEIR NEW STUDENT PLACEMENT WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING.

IT WAS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING OF A DISTRICT THAT SIZE WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE.

THERE WERE TWO THINGS THE POSITIVE IS THAT IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS WHERE STUDENTS THAT LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS GET TO GO TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS.

THAT SHOULD BE HERALDED.

BUT THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IN HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE IT'S SUCCESSFUL AND THEY STRUGGLED WITH THAT FIRST.

FINDING BUS DRIVERS.

A BUS DRIVER WORKDAY IS INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING.

I KNOW THAT YOU WORK A THREE-HOUR SHIFT IN THE MORNING AND THEN YOU HAVE A THREE-AND-A-HALF HOUR, FOUR HOUR LAYOVER AND YOU COME BACK IN THE AFTERNOON TO DO THAT.

YOU HAVE TO FIND A SPECIAL TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WORTH MENTIONING.

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE.

STUDENT DISCIPLINE ON SCHOOL BUSES THAT IS WHAT I HEARD FROM MY JPCS FOLKS THAT IS SOMETHING THE DRIVERS ARE PUSHING BACK ON THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE IN THEIR JOB IT IS A TOUGH JOB.

>> Renee: THERE ARE ROWDY STUDENTS THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS CONTROLLING WHILE THEY ARE ON THEIR SCHOOL BUS ROUTES?

>> IT WAS DOCUMENTED IN THE MEDIA THERE WERE VIDEOS RELEASED HOW CHALLENGING IT IS FOR BUS DRIVERS AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

OUR BUS DRIVERS NEED TO BE PROTECTED THEY HAVE SO MANY LIVES ON THOSE BUSES AND THEY NEED TO BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A SAFE WORKPLACE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WORTH HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT.

>> Renee: IS THAT EXCLUSIVE TO JEFFERSON COUNTY?

>> I THINK IT'S EVERYWHERE I THINK JEFFERSON COUNTY IS GETTING A LOT OF THE ATTENTION FOR IT.

>> AND REPRESENTATIVE IS SO RIGHT.

NOT ONLY IS IT ABOUT A SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVERS BUT A SHORTAGE OR A LACK OF BUS MONITORS AS HE IS DESCRIBING ON OUR BUSES.

THE LEGISLATURE DID MEET OUR BIG BOLD ASK WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IN THE LAST ROUND.

WITH $274.5 MILLION INVESTED INTO SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION.

NOW THERE IS STILL A WAYS TO GO ON THAT.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO CREDIT THEM WITH THE INVESTMENT THEY'VE MADE TO HELP SHORE UP THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDS AND MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SOME HAS BEEN DONE AND IT FREES UP LOCAL DOLLARS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL FOR REPURPOSING HOW TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN FUNDED WHICH IS A LOCAL EFFORT.

>> SENATOR THOMAS?

>> WELL, RENEE, I READ THE ARTICLE AND HIS WRITING WAS EXCELLENT AND I SAW YOUR INTERVIEW WITH HIM FRIDAY AND IT WAS AN EXCELLENT INTERVIEW.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BEAT UP ON JCPS BUT THE LEGISLATURE DOES DESERVE ITS SHARE OF THE BLAME.

IN 2021 RENEE, I SETTLED ON PASSPORTS WE MET ALL SUMMER TALKING ABOUT EDUCATIONAL FUNDING.

BRIGITTE APPEARED ON THAT TASK FORCE AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT THAT.

ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, RENEE, AT THE END OF THAT SIX-MONTH 2021 TASK FORCE WAS TO FULLY FUND TRANSPORTATION.

WE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW WE WERE DOWN TO FUNDING ONE-HALF OF OUR LEGISLATIVE COMMITMENT.

IT'S WRITTEN IN LAW THAT WE ARE TO FULLY FUND EDUCATION.

THAT WAS ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE GET TO THE 2022 BUDGET, RENEE, AND WE RENEG ON THAT.

WE DON'T DO OUR PART.

WHAT JASON'S ARTICLE POINTS OUT IS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE DENIED JCPS $104 MILLION IN FUNDING OVER 100 MILLION IN FUNDING THAT THEY ARE LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED TO RECEIVE WE DIDN'T GIVE THAT TO THEM.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DEBACLE THAT OCCURRED ON THAT FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, WE ARE PARTLY TO BLAME FOR THAT.

WE RECOGNIZED THAT TWO YEARS AGO AND DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

SO LET'S LOOK AT OURSELVES IN THE MIRROR AND SAY AS A LEGISLATURE WE DIDN'T DO OUR JOB.

>> Renee: DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD WE ARE IN NOW AND WE KNOW THAT WE WILL BE GOING INTO A REGULAR SESSION JANUARY SECOND AND IT IS A BUDGET YEAR, WILL THERE BE DISCUSSIONS AND ARE THEY HAPPENING NOW AT FULLY FUNDING THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS AT 100% AND THERE IS A $3 BILLION SURPLUS.

>> NOT ONLY DISCUSSIONS BUT WE SHOULD DO THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF YOUR AGENDA BUT THE GOVERNOR ADVOCATES THAT.

AND AS A LEGISLATURE WE RECOMMENDED THAT AT THE END OF THAT TASK FORCE IN 2021.

AND WE DIDN'T DO THAT.

WE SAW THAT PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO.

AND DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

>> EARLIER TODAY TO SENATOR CHRIS McDANIEL CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT ABOUT THE FUNDING AND LACK OF FUNDING.

AND HE SAID THAT WE GIVE JCPS45 MILLION A YEAR TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION.

I MEAN YOU HAVE 45 MILLION AND LOOK AT HOW THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WAS.

THE REAL ISSUE ISN'T THE FUNDING.

THE REAL ISSUE IS TAKING THE INITIATIVE AND HAVING THE BUS DRIVERS KNOW THEIR ROUTES.

THEY HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME FOCUSED ON SO MANY OTHER THINGS OTHER THAN THE BASICS OF GETTING KIDS TO SCHOOL, EDUCATING KIDS THAT SORT OF STUFF.

THE LAST TWO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND AS YOU MENTIONED THEY'VE HAD TO PUT SENATE BILL 150 IN PLACE THEY SPENT THE LAST MEETINGS TRYING TO SUBVERT THAT LAW FIGURING HOW THEY CAN GET AROUND IT RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON HAVING CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A CONSISTENT MESSAGE WITH JCPS HAVING CLOSED THE SCHOOLS FOR SO LONG AND ALL THE LEARNING WE'VE LOST AND NOW THIS WEEK THAT'S HAPPENED, THIS IS A BASIC FUNCTION OF ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO GET KIDS TO SCHOOL.

AND IT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE, IT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY, IT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD.

THAT WE CAN DO THE BASIC FUNCTION OF GETTING KIDS TO SCHOOL AND THIS WAS JUST SUCH A DISASTER.

>> Renee: $45 MILLION SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, REPRESENTATIVE, BUT IT'S 95,000 SCHOOL KIDS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND I THINK -- I WALK THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH A LOT OF IDEAS AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT JCPS TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.

IF KIDS ARE NOT SCHOOL PERIOD NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

I BELIEVE THERE ARE PEOPLE ARE TAKING OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THIS EVENT TO EITHER ASK FOR MORE MONEY BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO JCPS WERE NOT DROPPING KIDS OFF AT 10:00 P.M.

IT WORKED BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY ALSO DIDN'T TRY TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS MORALLY CORRECT BY MAKING SURE KIDS WERE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

I THINK THAT THEY TOOK A BIG BITE AND THEY ALL THE SUPPORTS NEEDED DIDN'T MATCHUP.

>> Renee: AND THEY DID THAT IN PART BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGES OF BUS DRIVERS THAT IS PART THE REASON FOR THE STUDENT REASSIGNMENT PLAN.

>> THERE IS A WAY TO LAYER BUS DRIVERS AND FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IT'S LIKE NEXT LEVEL INTELLIGENT AS FAR AS HOW THEY CAN SEE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY IMPLEMENTED A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT AI PROGRAM THAT WAS OFFERED TO A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT COMPANY COME AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH US ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

>> Renee: AND IN OHIO THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT SOFTWARE PROGRAM, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> WHEN YOU ARE DOING ROUTES WITH BUSES IT HELPS AND THIS IS GOING TO I AM A PROGRESS AND A TECHNOLOGY PERSON BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE HUMANS LOOKING AT IT.

AND THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF WHERE THAT CAME APART.

>> Renee: WE ALSO LEARNED THE BUS DRIVERS ARE USING PRINTED OUT SHEETS.

LIKE THE OLD WAY US GENEXERS LEARNED HOW TO USE THE RAND O'MALLEY MAPS.

THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE GPS AND NOW THEY HAVE THE BUDDY HELPING THEM IF THEY GET OFF COURSE.

SUPERINTENDENT CLAYTON I THINK YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE STUDENTS BEING A BASIC PROCESS.

IT'S BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX ASPECTS OF ANY ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF SCHOOL FUNCTIONS.

AND THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS THE LACK OF FUNDING.

AND WARREN COUNTY WE ARE DOWN A THIRD OF OUR BUS DRIVERS.

I THINK SUPERINTENDENT POLIO WAS VERY CLEAR THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS OPERATING ON HALF THE NUMBER OF BUS DRIVERS THAT THEY WERE EMPLOYED JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

I'VE WATCHED IT BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE YEAR AFTER YEAR AS I MENTIONED EARLIER BETTER THAN A DECADE.

AND THE REALITY IS YOU CAN'T TRANSPORT STUDENTS.

AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PACKAGES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS IN SOME CASES SHOW UP THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR NAME WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

I RAN INTO THAT ON THE FIRST DAY JUST BY PURE CHANCE VISITING OUR SCHOOLS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME TO CARE FOR WHEN YOU ARE TRANSPORTING.

I FIND IT DISINGENUOUS FOR FOLKS ON THE OUTSIDE TO BE MAKING THESE COMMENTS WHEN THEY REALLY HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF JUST HOW COMPLEX IT IS IN TRANSPORTING OUR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL.

NOW WHAT IS BASIC, IT IS A BASIC RIGHT THAT EVERY STUDENT DESERVES TO BE TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM SCHOOL.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDING WE ARE ROUGHLY 58% IN WARREN COUNTY.

I HEAR THE 70 AND I HEARD THE GOAL OF 80 BUT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE REALITIES AND WE'RE SPENDING $4 MILLION OF LOCAL MONEY TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS ACROSS 550 SQUARE MILES.

AND SIX YEARS AGO WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR SCHOOL START TIME SOMETHING THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY DID WE DID IT SIX YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE SAW THIS COMING AND THAT NEXT YEAR WE OPENED UP WITH 18 UNFILLED ROUTES AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE OPERATING ON 30 UNFILLED ROUTES.

ANYTIME YOU ARE GOING TO PUT THAT STRAIN ON AN ORGANIZATION TO MAKE MULTIPLE ROUTES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN SOME CASES THREE, AGAIN I MENTIONED OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR DRIVES MORNING AND AFTERNOON FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE LAST THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS.

THAT IS A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO FAIL.

WE NEED THE FUNDING TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> OUR BIG BOLD ASK WHICH WAS A SIX-YEAR INVESTMENT PLAN WE ARE ASKING THE STATE TO LOOK AT SEVEN ITEMS AND FULLY FUNDING TRANSPORTATION IS ONE OF THOSE.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN THROUGH TWO BNG CYCLES WITH THAT BOLD ASK.

OUR HOPE IS THE BUDGET SESSION IN JANUARY WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO THAT FULL FUNDING MARK ON TRANSPORTATION.

AND FOR LISTENERS LISTENING WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE LOCAL EFFORT THAT IS GOING INTO TRANSPORTATION AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL RIGHT NOW OUR SUPERINTENDENTS OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP ARE ABLE TO USE THAT LOCAL EFFORT THOSE LOCAL TAX DOLLARS TO INVEST IN THE THINGS THAT LOCAL FOLKS REALLY WANT TO SEE IN EDUCATION.

SO EVERYBODY SHOULD GET BEHIND THE BIG PUSH FOR FULLY FUNDING TRANSPORTATION.

THE OTHER THING THAT SHOULD RESONATE WITH LISTENERS, IS THE LACK OF BUS DRIVERS.

SO WE'RE ALL SEEING THAT.

YOU GO INTO THE GROCERY STORE AND RESTAURANTS, YOU SEE REDUCED HOURS.

YOU SEE REDUCED STAFF.

NOW IT'S HITTING OUR SCHOOL BUSES AND GETTING OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

THIS IS A ROOT ISSUE THAT'S TRANSCENDS EDUCATION THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT.

AND IT'S NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

THIS IS A LONG-TERM ISSUE WE ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH AS A STATE WHEN IT COMES TO WORKFORCE.

>> JCPS IS THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT MADE THE NATIONAL NEWS BECAUSE OF THIS IN SANE FIASCO THAT HAPPENED.

WE GIVE YOU $45 MILLION AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

EVERY LEGISLATOR I'VE TALKED TO SAID WHY WOULD WE KEEP THROWING GOOD MONEY AT BAD IF YOU CAN'T DO BETTER WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY WHY MORE MONEY IS GOING TO HELP YOU DO BETTER.

AND THE REPRESENTATIVE'S POINT WITH THE SAFETY IS AN ISSUE ON THE SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVERS AND ISSUE FOR THE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS WE HAVE.

WHICH IS ANOTHER JCPS ISSUE.

I LIVE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

SO I'M MORE ATTUNED TO WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.

WHEN WDRB REPORTED THEY HAD 121 FIGHTS PER DAY AT THE END OF THE 22 SCHOOL YEAR, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE A TEACHER?

WHY WOULD YOU AND WANT TO SEND YOUR CHILD THERE?

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN THE NUMBER ONE THING I WANT AIS KNOW THEY WILL BE SAFE FIRST AND FOREMOST BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE MATTERS AFTER IF THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE.

AND I HAD A SON WHO WAS IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR A SHORT TIME AND SOMEONE FILMED A FIGHT.

AND THEY SENT IT TO THE NEWS.

AND HE WENT TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY AND THE RESPONSE OF THE ADMINISTRATION WAS IF YOU GET CAUGHT FILMING A FIGHT, YOU AUTOMATICALLY ARE SUSPENDED.

NOT FIGHTING, BUT THAT WAS THE RESPONSE WAS MORE HOW CAN WE COVER UP WHAT IS GOING ON HERE AND MAKE SURE THE STUFF DOESN'T GET OUT.

UNLESS WE CAN KEEP OUR TEACHERS AND BUS DRIVERS SAFE I DON'T SEE HOW THROWING MORE MONEY IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Renee: WE CAN TALK ABOUT STUDENT DISCIPLINE LAWMAKERS DID ADDRESS THAT ISSUE IN THE LAST SESSION ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE.

DO YOU THINK THAT LEGISLATION WILL BE EFFECTIVE?

>> I DO BELIEVE IT IS.

AND I BELIEVE IT IS A CRITICAL STIRS STEP.

REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT'S PLAN BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE TOGETHER THERE WERE A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED AND MAKING SURE THAT SCHOOLS ARE SAFE FOR KIDS TO LEARN IN AND TEACHERS TO TEACH IN.

PURE AND SIMPLE THAT IS THE GOAL AND IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP THAT WE RAISE THE FLAG AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR NEXT STEP TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION FOR THE STUDENTS THAT DO FALL -- THAT AREN'T SUCCESSFUL IN THAT PLAN.

BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE KIDS THAT WILL NEED MORE STRUCTURES.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR SCHOOLS OUR TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SETTINGS CAN FOCUS ON THOSE THINGS IF STUDENTS NEED MORE INTERVENTION WE TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVES.

>> Renee: I WANT TO ASK YOU HOW YOUR DISTRICT IS DEALING WITH STUDENT DISCIPLINE.

HAVE YOU HAD AN INCREASE WITH STUDENT ISSUES IN THEIR BEHAVIOR AFTER COVID AND REENTERING THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM?

>> IT HAS BEEN DIFFERENT SINCE COVID.

I WILL TELL YOU THIS IS MY FOURTH DECADE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND WHEN I LOOK BACK ON HOW DISCIPLINE WAS HANDLED WHEN I BEGAN AS A TEACHER, IF A STUDENT HAD A DISCIPLINE NOTICE THEN THE PARENTS SUPPORTED THE SCHOOL AT HOME.

AND I UNDERSTAND OUR SOCIETY IS DIFFERENT.

THERE IS A LACK OF TRUST IN NEARLY EVERY AUTHORITY FIGURE.

THE POLICE, GOVERNMENT, AND THAT INCLUDES SCHOOLS.

SO MANY OF OUR PARENTS ARE NOT TRUSTING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS AND I FIND THAT SO UNFORTUNATE.

IT IS EASIER IN A SMALLER DISTRICT LIKE SHELBY COUNTY AND SOME OF OUR OTHER RURAL DISTRICTS WHERE WE KNOW OUR PARENTS BETTER.

WE SEE THEM AT THE GROCERY STORE AND WE HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE COMMENT ABOUT SUSPENSION OF STUDENTS WITH A VIDEO CAMERA.

AND THAT'S A SIGN OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN OUR SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF INTERVENING AND HELPING THEY CAN'T WAIT TO WHIP OUT THE CAMERA AND PUT THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE JUST A MICROCOZUM OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SOCIETY.

OUR BEHAVIOR IN SOCIETY IS REALLY ALARMING.

AND SO IT JUST FOLLOWS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT IN SCHOOLS.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN BLAME ALL OF THAT ON THE PANDEMIC.

BUT IT HAS GRADUALLY BECOME MORE AND MORE OF A PROBLEM SINCE I BEGAN LIKE I SAID, FOUR DECADES AGO.

>> Renee: SAME FOR YOU, SUPERINTENDENT CLAYTON?

YOU CAN IDENTIFY WITH THAT?

>> UNFOR THE NAUGHTLY WE SAW AN UPTICK IN OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS AND WE ATTRIBUTE THAT TO A LACK OF STRUCTURE AND ROUTINE.

>> Renee: ELEMENTARY LEVEL?

>> YES, SIR.

COMING BACK FROM THE PANDEMIC THAT WAS QUITE A CHALLENGE AND WE CAME BACK AS A HYBRID.

IF YOU THINK BACK TO THAT TIME THERE WAS A LOT OF UNKNOWN AND WE WERE TRYING TO NAVIGATE IT TO KEEP OUR FOCUS ON OUR STUDENTS NOT JUST IN TERMS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING BUT THEIR SAFETY AS WELL.

AND I THINK THAT ALSO WAS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE WEREN'T HYBRID MORE KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM COMING BACK TO US.

PARENTAL SUPPORT IS CRITICAL.

ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF PARENTS THAT ARE STILL VERY TRUSTING AND SUPPORTIVE.

UNFORTUNATELY AS THE DOCTOR IS SHARING WE DO FIND TOO MANY INSTANCES WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO COACH STUDENTS AND CORRECT BEHAVIORS AND HELP GUIDE THEM ON THE RIGHT PATH AND WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT OR CONVERSELY SOMETIMES WE'RE BEING CHALLENGED BY THE PARENT, IT DOES COMPLICATE OUR EFFORTS TO HELP THE STUDENT GROW AND IT BECOMES A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION FOR OUR STAFF.

AND AS THE DOCTOR MENTIONED WE ARE A REFLECTION OF OUR SOCIETY.

WE OFTEN SAY IN THE SUPERINTENDENT SPACE THAT A COMMUNITY WILL GET THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY WANT.

AND IT'S REALLY UP TO THEM.

WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY.

I DON'T KNOW OF A MORE IMPORTANT SAFETY MEASURE THAN HIRING, ATTRACTING HIRING AND RETAINING THE BEST PEOPLE WE CAN'T COULD THAT IN TODAY'S WORKFORCE SHORTAGE UNDER THE CLIMATE WE ARE FACED WITH WITH.

PART OF THAT IS COMPENSATION AND THE QUALITY OF THE JOB.

THERE ARE TREMENDOUS EDUCATORS AND LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE NATION IN OUR SCHOOLS BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE.

IT REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF CAPACITY TO NOT ONLY HELP OUR STUDENTS GROW BUT THEN ALSO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THESE CHALLENGES.

BECAUSE IT'S ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO BE A CHILD IN TODAY'S SOCIETY.

IT'S MORE DIFFICULT THAN EVER BEFORE TO TEACH IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH THE EXPECTATIONS, THE ACCOUNTABILITY HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER.

BUT THAT IS ALSO CAN BE SAID IN MOST SECTORS AND CERTAINLY FOR OUR KIDS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IN SHELBY COUNTY AND I HEAR INCREASINGLY ACROSS THE STATE AND I ASSUME ACROSS THE NATION IS WE HAVE TIGHTENED THE USE OF CELLPHONES AND THERE WAS SOME PUSHBACK WITH THAT WITH PARENTS.

AND OF COURSE WITH STUDENTS.

BUT WHAT WE FOUND WAS IN THE SPRING WE HAD EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THE DATA SHOWS THAT NOT ONLY THE PARENTS AND THE TEACHERS BUT ALSO THE STUDENTS IDENTIFY IT AS A PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR THEM BUT IT IS A PROBLEM THEY SEE IN THEIR FRIENDS.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

>> WE KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL.

WHEN WE CAME BACK TO SCHOOL THIS YEAR BOTH OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS INSTITUTED A NEW POLICY WE DON'T SEE CELLPHONES DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AND IT'S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

WE NEED PARENTS SUPPORT TO REINFORCE THAT AND AGAIN IT'S JUST PART OF OUR SOCIETY.

IF YOU GO ANYWHERE YOU SEE PEOPLE WITH THEIR CELLPHONE OUT AND NOT INTERACTING IN A HUMAN WAY ANYMORE.

WE NEED TO BUILD THAT RESILIENCY AND THOSE COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

>> Renee: ARE YOU COLLECTING THOSE CELLPHONES?

OR THEY HAVE TO PUT THEM AWAY?

>> WE HAVE TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.

A COUPLE OF OUR SCHOOLS BOTH OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ACTUALLY HAVE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.

ONE IS WE DON'T SEE IT IT'S IN YOUR BACKPACK AND EVERYTHING'S OK. AND THE OTHER ONE ACTUALLY HAS A POUCH THAT IS ON THE DESK ATTACHED TO THE DESK AND IT GOES IN THE POUCH.

AND WHEN YOU ARE READY TO LEAVE NOBODY TOUCHES YOUR CELLPHONE IT'S YOUR CELLPHONE ON THE DESK.

BUT WHAT I'VE FOUND IS SOME OF OUR STUDENTS THEY REALLY HAVE FELT MORE ATTACHED TO THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS AND HAD MORE CONVERSATION THAN WHEN THEY HAD THAT CELLPHONE OUT EVEN ON THEIR DESK WHERE IT WAS VISIBLE AND THEY COULD SEE IT WHEN THE MESSAGE -- >> Renee: THE NOTIFICATIONS, SURE.

>> DO YOU ALL WANT TO COMMENT ABOUT STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND WE WANT TO GET TO QUESTIONS WE HAVE GOOD ONES COMING IN.

>> NO, LADIES FIRST, PLEASE.

>> WELL, I THINK I WILL UNDERSCORE WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR SCHOOLS IS A MICROCOZUM OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SOCIETY.

WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE AND CELLPHONES, IT'S POLARIZATION, IT'S BLACK AND WHITE KIND OF THE WAY WE SEE ISSUES AND THE WAY WE DEBATE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WE'RE SEEING THAT COME TO A HEAD IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING SHOULD BE A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL OF US AS ADULTS TO GET BACK TO A CIVIL SOCIETY WHERE WE HAVE HEALTHY DISCOURSE AND WE'RE MODELING THAT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> Renee: KIND OF RELATED TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, THIS IS A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER MARTIN RIVERS WHAT ARE K-12 SCHOOLS DOING TO TEACH CIVICS TO UNDERSTAND THE FEDERAL SYSTEM AND KENTUCKY STATE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT COULD LEAD TO BETTER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE.

>> ALL OF OUR SENIORS HAVE TO PASS A TEST BEFORE THEY CAN GRADUATE THAT IS ONE THING RIGHT AWAY.

WE ALSO HAVE PUT INTO PLACE AND I THINK A LOT OF SCHOOLS HAVE, SOME SKILLS CITIZENSHIP AND LIFE SKILLS JUST WHAT IS IT TO BE A CITIZEN WHAT IS IT TO BE A CITIZEN WITHIN YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY FIRST AND THAT STARTS WITH THE YOUNGEST PRESCHOOL ALL THE WAY UP.

SO OUR PRESCHOOL STUDENTS KNOW THEY WANT TO BE SAFE, THEY WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE THEY WANT TO BE DEPENDABLE.

WE START WITH THE VERY, VERY YOUNGEST TEACHING THOSE SKILLS AND THEN WE BUILD ON THEM ALL WAY THROUGH TO THE SENIOR YEAR.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE ARE COURSES THAT STUDENTS MUST TAKE AND THEN THEY HAVE TO PASS THAT TEST.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENT ON THAT THE NEXT QUESTION WE HAVE SEVERAL GOOD ONES.

THIS TAKES US BACK TO THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION.

THIS COMES FROM JOYCE FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY.

SHE SAYS QUOTE WHEN I ATTENDED SCHOOL IN LOUISVILLE WE WERE GIVEN TOKENS TO TAKE THE CITY BUS TO SCHOOL IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP TODAY'S TRANSPORTATION SITUATION?

SENATOR WHAT ABOUT THAT IDEA?

>> IT IS NOT A BAD IDEA.

BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO Dr. CLAYTON'S POINT ON THIS.

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO TOKENS BUT Dr. CLAYTON MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED LACK OF ADEQUATE BUS DRIVERS.

HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

WE HEAR ABOUT TEACHER PAY.

BUT STAFF PAYS EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK YOUR VIEWERS NEED TO KNOW THAT TODAY TO DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS YOU NEED A CDL LICENSE.

>> Renee: COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE.

>> ONCE YOU GET THAT, RENEE, YOU BECOME MARKETABLE IN TODAY'S MARKET.

AND U.P.S.

JUST RECENTLY YOU AWARE OF THIS ANNOUNCED A SIX FIGURE SALARY FOR BUS DRIVERS.

WHEN YOU ARE A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER, YOU GET PART-TIME PAY FOR PART-TIME WORK AND YOU HAVE TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO COBBLE TOGETHER AN INCOME.

SO WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THAT PAY VERSUS WHAT U.P.S.

IS PAYING, THERE'S NO DECISION THERE.

SO WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IS WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO PAY OUR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS MORE.

LOUISVILLE WHICH IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET HAS SEEN THE BUS DRIVER PERSONNEL GO FROM 900 TO 600, RENEE, IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

SO Dr. CLAYTON'S POINT ABOUT HAVING LACK OF ADEQUATE BUS DRIVERS IS CORRECT BECAUSE SCHOOLS CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

AND BEFORE I CLOSE BY THE WAY, I REALLY LIKE YOUR IDEA ABOUT TAKING STUDENTS CELLPHONES BECAUSE IT DRIVES ME CRAZY WITH I'M WITH MY NEPHEWS OR NIECES OR GRANDCHILDREN AND WE ARE HAVING DINNER AND THEY ARE ON THE CELLPHONE.

>> Renee: BUT YOU ARE NOT ON YOUR CELLPHONE?

>> NO, I'M NOT.

>> SOMETHING REAL QUICK, I SUPPORT WHAT SENATOR THOMAS FOR BUS DRIVERS IT IS A CLASS B WITH A PASSENGER ENDORSEMENT.

SO TRUCK DRIVERS ARE A CLASS A IT IS A DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION AND IT'S RATED ON THE 0 LOAD AND THOSE THINGS.

SO IT'S -- WE IN FAYETTE COUNTY WE WILL LOSE BUS DRIVERS TO LATINX TRAN AND VICE VERSA.

>> Renee: DUE TO PAY?

>> BUS DRIVERS GET TO DO FIELD TRIPS DURING THE DAY THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AND ALSO IN THE EVENINGS IF THEY ARE ABLE TO DO SPORTING EVENTS OR CLUB ACTIVITIES AND THE SAME ON THE WEEKENDS.

SO THERE ARE WAYS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SUPPLEMENT THAT.

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I KNOW THE BIG PUSH WAS IS TO MAKE THEM EIGHT-HOUR EMPLOYEES SO THEY CLASSIFY FOR BENEFITS THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT.

BUT THERE HAS TO BE WORK BEING DONE.

IT CAN'T JUST BE WELL INSTEAD OF A THREE-HOUR SHIFT YOU ARE WORKING A FOUR-HOUR SHIFT AND THERE'S FLUFF TIME.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DRIVING STUDENTS OR THEY ARE IN THE LOCATION AND THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE BEING THE BEST STEWARDS WITH THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN THAT CASE.

>> AND NOW WE'RE GETTING TO ROOT CAUSE I THINK WITH SENATOR THOMAS AND REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WE'RE DEALING WITH AND IT'S ABOUT WORKFORCE AND THAT TAKES US BACK TO CHILDCARE AND THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF CHILDCARE WHICH KEEPS FOLKS FROM ENTERING THE WORKFORCE.

AND ENTERING JOBS LIKE BECOMING A BUS DRIVER.

SO UNRAVELING THIS ISSUE AND GETTING TO ROOT CAUSE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IF POLICY IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN STEMMING THE PROBLEM.

>> I WILL ADD TO THAT, OUR BUS DRIVERS ARE JUST ONE CLASS OF OUR CLASSIFIED WORKFORCE.

ANOTHER HIGHLY COMPETITIVE CLASS IS OUR TECHNICIANS IN TECHNOLOGY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED FOR THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE USE WITH OUR INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES.

IMAGINE SOMEONE THAT HAS VERY HIGH SKILLS IN TECHNOLOGY COMING TO WOKE FOR A SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE PAY THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE THEM.

WE HAVE TO MAKEUP FOR IT IN CULTURE AND WE DO DO THAT AND WORK THE IT REALLY HARD.

BUT WE LOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE JOBS EQUALLY TO OUR BUS DRIVING FORCE.

OUR TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE, ARE HIGHLY TRAINED AND THEY CAN GO TO MANY OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS FOR MUCH, MUCH MORE MONEY.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GET YOU IN SINCE YOU ARE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY GET YOUR TAKE ON THIS PROPOSITION FROM JOYCE ABOUT GIVING KIDS TOKENS TO TAKE A CITY BUS TO SCHOOL.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR KIDS DO?

>> FOR A HIGH SCHOOLER I CAN SEE THAT COULD BE A GREAT LIFE LESSON AS WELL.

A GOOD WAY TO GET USED TO GETTING AROUND THE CITY.

I WOULD ALSO SAY WHY NOT DO RIDESHARING.

YOU'VE GOT BUSES THAT COME INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND PARENTS WHO ARE DRIVING THE KIDS OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE OTHER KIDS ARE GETTING ON THE BUS.

TRY TO COORDINATE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT DON'T COST THE DISTRICT MONEY.

WE DO THAT WITH THE PRIVATE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

ESPECIALLY THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

ALWAYS HAVE A BUS SYSTEM GOING AND A RIDESHARE SYSTEM GOING AT THE SAME TIME.

AND IT SAVES MONEY.

>> I THINK YOUR MAJOR METRO AREAS DON'T HAVE SCHOOL BUSES ALSO.

THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO IMPLEMENT THEIR PUBLIC TRANSIT.

THE PROBLEM THERE IS YOUR PUBLIC TRANSIT DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH STOPS IS IT A VIABLE OPTION?

AND I THINK IN PROBABLY SOME OF YOUR MOW MORE DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE AREAS POSSIBLY.

BUT I THINK LIKE IF YOU ARE THINKING NEW YORK CITY OR BOSTON OR WHATNOT KIDS TAKING THE SUBWAY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, FIFTH GRADERS OR WHATEVER IT IS A PART OF THEIR LIFE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> Renee: THIS QUESTION ANONYMOUSLY WE HAVE NO ATTRIBUTION HERE WILL ANYONE BOTHER TO MENTION THE REAL REASON WE CANNOT FIND BUS DRIVERS IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DRUG TEST?

DRUG TEST REQUIRED TO BE A BUS DRIVER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN OUR SOCIETY IN MANY, MANY JOB FUNCTIONS.

I HEAR FROM OUR LOCAL CHAMBER THAT FINDING THE WORKFORCE THAT HAS THE WORK ETHIC IS A REAL PROBLEM.

SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO PUT STUDENTS ON A SCHOOL BUS WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND MONITORS THAT ARE CLEAN AND SOBER.

AND SO ABSOLUTELY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO.

>> Renee: YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING THAT PRACTICE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.

AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE JOB CLASSIFICATION OF A BUS DRIVER, YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS.

CAN THE TYPICAL PERSON FIND THIS TO BE A LIVABLE WAGE?

AND THE ANSWER IS NO.

IT'S NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE IS A SMALL SEGMENT OF SOCIETY AND THAT REALLY HASN'T CHANGED.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING 50, 60 YEARS AGO YOU WOULD HAVE A LOT OF RURAL FARMERS WHO DIDN'T HAVE BENEFITS IT WAS A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR THEM FOR THE BENEFITS.

BENEFITS HAVE SHIFTED, TOO.

SO THEY ARE NOT THE SAME EVEN AS MUCH AS A DECADE AGO.

BUT YOU ARE IN A VERY LIMITED POOL OF FOLKS THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE BUS DRIVERS.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHAT IS GOING TO ATTRACT INDIVIDUALS TO THAT POSITION.

AND WE CAN DEBATE ON ROOT CAUSES AND ALL THESE THINGS BUT WHAT I THINK WE ALL CAN AGREE UPON ENOUGH IS NOT BEING DONE.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SUPPORT TO MAKE IT A MORE DESIRABLE POSITION AND AGAIN AS Dr. SUGG MENTIONED THAT IS JUST ONE SEGMENT.

IT IS A CRITICAL PART BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTEND SCHOOL AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE THAT TRANSPORTATION.

BUT, AGAIN, IT'S A VERY LIMITED POOL OF FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY CAPABLE OF STEPPING INTO THAT ROLE.

>> WHEN YOU GO TO TAKE YOUR PHYSICAL FOR YOUR CDL YOU ARE DRUG TESTIFIED AND IF YOU TEST POSITIVE YOU PUT ON A FIVE-YEAR WAIT.

YOU CAN TRY AGAIN IN FIVE YEARS.

AT THAT POINT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE A BUS DRIVER.

>> Renee: LET'S SHIFT BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES' PROPOSALS FOR EDUCATION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SENATE BILL 150 AND HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE DEALING WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT BILL THAT SOME WOULD CALL A SWEEPING ANTI-TRANS MEASURE DEALS WITH PRONOUNCE USE AND ACCESS TO FACILITIES FOREST ROOM USE AND WHAT THEY STUDY.

Dr. SUGG CAN YOU TALK TO US HOW SHELBY COUNTY HAS ADDRESSED THIS?

>> I CAN GO BACK FURTHER.

I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN A LARGE HIGH SCHOOL IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND SO THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH US WHAT TO DO ABOUT OUR STUDENTS THAT DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE IN A PARTICULAR RESTROOM.

AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE WAS THAT STUDENT CAME AND APPROACHED A TEACHER THAT TEACHER TOOK HIM TO THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.

AND WE MADE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THAT STUDENT TO COME TO THE OFFICE AND JUST USING COMMON SENSE GUIDELINES WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS HIS NEED AND SO I FEEL LIKE FOR MANY OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR MANY YEARS.

SO I FEEL LIKE THE LEGISLATURE SPENT A LOT OF TIME HASHING THAT OUT AND PUTTING SOME THINGS INTO PLACE WHEN MANY OF US REALLY ALREADY HAD THAT WORKED OUT.

NOW, THERE ARE OTHER PIECES TO THE LAW THAT OBVIOUSLY WERE ADDRESSED THAT WE DON'T EVEN FIND IN SCHOOL.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT MOST OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS THAT I TALK TO ACROSS THE STATE HAVE ALREADY WORKED THROUGH SOME OF THOSE PROCESSES.

AND WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE SUMMER OUR BOARDS HAVE ADOPTED POLICIES THAT ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE LAW.

WE ARE MEETING THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW.

AND WE HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME KIND OF LOWERING THE BLOOD PRESSURE FOR MANY OF OUR TEACHERS AND HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, HAVING GOOD PRACTICES AND NOW MANY OF THEM ARE IN LAW.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS FEEL SAFE.

ALL OF THEM FEEL WELCOME.

AND I THINK WE CAN DO THAT WITH THE LAW AS IT EXISTS AND MANY OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE THINGS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

>> Renee: THE AND OR SITUATION THAT THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION POINTED OUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT SHELBY DOWNCOUNTY HAS TAKEN ON?

>> NO, WE HAVEN'T TAKEN THAT ON.

WE'VE STEERED CLOSER TO THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND I BELIEVE THE INTENT.

BUT THAT IS UP FOR DEBATE.

THE WORDS ARE THERE.

AND THE WORDS ARE THE WORDS THAT ARE WRITTEN.

SO OTHERS MAY DEBATE THAT.

WE ARE STICKING A LITTLE CLOSER TO, I THINK, WHAT THE INTENT OF THAT LAW WAS.

>> Renee: SAME CAN BE SAID FOR WARREN COUNTY, YOU STICKING CLOSER TO THE LETTER AND THE INTENT PERHAPS OF THE LAW?

>> WE FULLY ARE AWARE OF THE INTENT AND SO WE'RE CERTAINLY FOLLOWING THAT.

AND THE KEY FOR US IS WE WANT TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE ANY REASONABLE ASK OF OUR STUDENTS THE LAW DID NOT CHANGE THAT APPROACH.

OUR GOAL IS FOR EVERY STUDENT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T ACHIEVE THAT EACH AND EVERYDAY BUT THAT REMAINS OUR COMMITMENT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

IT'S NOT BEEN AN ISSUE FOR US.

CERTAINLY IT'S BEEN A DISTRACTION AT TIMES FOR SOME PARENTS.

AND, AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> I WANTED TO ADD ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE AS ROB MENTIONED IS BECAUSE COMMON SENSE SAYS TO GET THE PARENTS ONBOARD.

AND SO ANYTIME YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A STUDENT THAT FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE, OUR FIRST THING TO DO IS GET THE PARENTS IN AND TALK THROUGH THE ISSUE.

AND SO WHEN WE HAVE PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WORKING TOGETHER ALL THREE KIND OF GANGING UP ON KIDS IN A POSITIVE WAY, TO HELP THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE, THAT IS A WIN-WIN.

SO GETTING OUR PARENTS INVOLVED IS HOW WE HAVE ALWAYS OPERATED.

>> Renee: DONNIE FROM JAMESTOWN, KENTUCKY SAYS THIS QUOTE I HOPE REPRESENTATIVE WILL JOIN SENATOR THOMAS IN PUSHING FOR REPEAL OF SB150.

IS THAT A PLAN?

>> THAT'S THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF IT.

>> Renee: IT IS A QUESTION POSED.

BUT THIS PERSON GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THEIR DISMAY WITH THAT LAW.

>> SURE.

WE'LL LET SENATOR THOMAS GO FIRST ON THAT.

>> RENEE IN PREPARATION FOR THIS PROGRAM TONIGHT, I TALKED TO TEACHERS ABOUT SENATE BILL 150.

AND THEY GAVE ME VERY STARTLING EXAMPLES THAT I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT.

I TALKED TO A HISTORY TEACHER THAT SAYS YOU KNOW REGGIE, HOW AM I GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST THIS YEAR?

AND SHOW ALL THE NUDE BODIES, PILED UP ON TRUCK BEDS WITHOUT THREATENING OR PUSHING THE LINE ON SENATE BILL 150.

REGGIE HOW AM I GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SISTINE CHAPEL AND THE BEAUTY PAINTED BY MICHAEL ANGELO WITH ALL THE NUDITY.

AND STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH SENATE BILL 150.

IT IS A NIGHTMARISH BILL.

YOUR SPOKESPERSON I WAS SPOKEN OPPONENTS TO BILL 150 AND THE LAW NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS IMPERIL OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ALL THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH A WELL ROUNDED ROBUST EDUCATION IT IS A HINDERANCE ON THAT.

>> Renee: I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW KENTUCKY FREE ASSISTANTS ON THIS.

YOU ARE FREE ENTERPRISE, LIBERTY THINK TANK WHERE DO YOU FALLOUT ON SENATE BILL 150.

>> WE DO NOT FOCUS ON SOCIAL ISSUES AT ALL.

I WOULD CONSIDER THIS IN THAT CATEGORY OF SOCIAL ISSUES WE ARE FOCUSED ON KENTUCKY BIGGEST PROBLEMS AND THIS IS JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ON OUR RADAR.

>> Renee: ALL RIGHT.

END OF DISCUSSION ON THAT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IN THE 10 MINUTES WE HAVE REMAINING TO TALK ABOUT THE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED BY THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES ANDY BESHEAR AND REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON.

RELEASED LAST WEEK.

THEIR IDEAS ON EDUCATION AND IT SEEMS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE, THEY ARE BOTH VYING TO BE THE PRO PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATE WHICH MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY THEY WERE EXPECTING MAYBE MORE DISCUSSION FROM THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE AND THAT HASN'T BEEN UNVEILED AT THIS POINT BUT THERE'S ALSO STORIES THAT HAVE COME OUT TODAY ABOUT THE FUNDING OF ADS AGAINST THE GOVERNOR BY OTHER INTERESTS THAT DO HAVE PRO SCHOOL CHOICE INTERESTS.

TALK TO US ABOUT ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON'S PLAN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION?

>> WELL, FIRST, I THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING WHEN HE SPOKE AT THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SUMMER CONFERENCE, THE FIRST THING HE DID AND THIS WAS EYE-OPENING HE APOLOGIZED.

HE SAID IF THERE'S BEEN A REPUBLICAN I'M SORRY.

THAT HAS OFFENDED YOU IF YOU ARE AN EDUCATOR I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT.

>> Renee: HARKENING BACK TO THE PREVIOUS REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN.

>> CORRECT.

CORRECT.

AND THAT IS WORTH MENTIONING.

I THINK THAT WAS A VERY PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING.

I MEAN HE DISCUSSED OTHER THINGS AFTER THAT BUT I WAS LITERALLY LIKE WOW.

THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.

BECAUSE I DID NOT BELIEVE I NEEDED TO BE KNOCKED OVERHEAD AND DRAGGED ASHORE AS A TEACHER.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT COMMENT WAS THE OPPOSITE.

SO THAT WAS VERY, VERY TELLING FOR ME.

I KNOW HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF THE MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE TRUITT WITH THE SCHOOL DISCIPLINE BILL, I THINK THAT THE PLANS FOR EXTENDED TUTORING AND THE FUNDING THAT HE'S COMMITTED TO GOING ALONG WITH IT, THAT THE TEACHER PAY INCREASE, I MEAN THESE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THEM HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

NOW, I KNOW GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS ALSO I THINK $11,000 PAY INCREASE MINIMUM.

I DO KNOW THAT THE STATE OF TENNESSEE STARTING PAY FOR THE ENTIRE STATE IS $50,000.

I THINK ONE OF THE RALLYING CRIES FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR US IN PARTICULAR IF YOU ARE WITHIN THREE COUNTIES OF THAT TENNESSEE BORDER, THERE'S GOING TO BE -- THERE WILL BE AN EXODUS.

I KNOW AS A FORMER TEACHER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SPENDING THE SUMMER ON MY TENNESSEE LICENSURE THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT THING.

FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RAISED THEIR MINIMUM AND I'VE SEEN HOW THAT HAS COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED THE ENVIRONMENT JUST IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

I THINK THAT THE PAY INCREASE IS SOMETHING I'M BOTH A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE AND ONE WAS MORE SIGNIFICANT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW IT'S GOING TO BE HANDLED AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED.

>> Renee: JUST TO RECAP WHERE GENERAL CAMERON'S PROPOSITION LIES, ADDRESSES LEARNING LOSS AND BUMPS THAT STARTING PAY THE BASE STARTING PAY ABOUT $5,000.

16 WEEK STATE FUNDED TUTORING PROGRAM FOCUSED ON MATH AND READING.

THIS WOULD COST THE STATE $100 MILLION AND MAKING SURE OUR EXPERT IS WORKING IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SHIFTING THAT FOCUS ON EDUCATION TOWARDS FONNICS, BASED EDUCATION WHEN IT COMES TO READING.

AND THERE WILL BE A PROGRAM MONDAY NIGHT ABOUT EARLY LITERACY THAT WE HOPE YOU WILL TUNE INTO ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF READING THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO THIS DISCUSSION.

I WANT TO GET YOUR VIEW OF THIS SENATOR THOMAS ABOUT THE GENERAL'S PROPOSITION AND COMPARE AND CONTRAST TO THE -- >> LET ME CORRECT SOMETHING THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID FIRST.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S PROPOSAL IS FOR AN 11% INCREASE THAT WOULD RAISE THE AVERAGE TEACHER PAY TO $42500.

IT'S 11% INCREASE.

>> Renee: A THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN -- >> AT LEAST A THOUSAND MORE.

>> THAN WHAT GENERAL CAMERON IS PROPOSING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LET ME TELL YOU A COUPLE OF FLAWS IN GENERAL CAMERON'S POSITION.

ONE HE WANTS TO INCREASE STARTING PAY FOR TEACHERS BUT HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PAY INCREASE FOR TEACHERS NOW.

NOW, YOU TALK ABOUT A NIGHTMARE SITUATION FOR Dr. CLAYTON OR Dr. SUGGS HOW IS THE TEACHER GOING TO FEEL WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN IN A CLASSROOM TWO OR THREE YEARS AND THEY WILL BE MAKING LESS THAN A FIRST-TIME TEACHER?

THAT'S A REAL TOUGH MORALE CHALLENGE FOR THEM.

SO IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT TEACHER PAY GIVE AN ACROSS THE BOARD PERCENTAGE SO THAT ALL TEACHERS BENEFIT.

EVERY TEACHER BENEFITS FROM A PAY INCREASE.

THAT IS STEP ONE.

>> Renee: DID NOT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEN THEY DID WHAT REPUBLICANS TOUTED AS RECORD SETTING SEEK FUNDING ENABLE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS 95% OF THEM ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION HAVE GIVEN RAISES TO TEACHERS IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAS THAT HAPPENED?

>> 3%.

LET'S TALK FACTS HERE.

THEY'VE GIVEN A 3% PAY INCREASE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S BEEN PROPOSING AN 11-14% PAY INCREASE.

THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE, RENEE, IN 14%, 11%, AND 3%.

WHAT WE'VE DONE AS A LEGISLATURE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE INCREASED STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES PAY BY 14%.

WE'VE DONE THAT FOR STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES BUT YET WE'VE DONE NOTHING LEGISLATIVELY TO SUPPORT TEACHERS.

WE ARE GOING TO TRANSFER THAT ON THE BACK OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

NOW, IN THE PAST AS A LEGISLATURE, YOU ARE GOING BACK TO THE FIRST GOVERNOR BESHEAR WE AS A LEGISLATURE TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO GIVE TEACHERS PAY INCREASES.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT GOING FORWARD AND LEGISLATIVELY MANDATE TEACHER PAY INCREASES.

NOT PUTTING IT ON THE BACKS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> THE OTHER PIECES THAT I SEE IN DANIEL CAMERON'S PLAN ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED AN INTERVENTIONIST, MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS ALREADY HAVE THOSE.

I SAW ENFORCEMENT OF SRO'S, OF COURSE THAT WAS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.

AND ALSO THE TUTORING WE HAVE SUMMER SCHOOL EVERY SUMMER AND EXTENDED LEARNING.

SO A LOT OF THINGS IN HIS PLAN ARE ALREADY HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

MY QUESTION IS WHERE WILL HE FIND THE TEACHERS TO COME AND DO THESE EXTRA PIECES THAT ARE IN HIS PLAN?

KASA THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS HAS A COALITION THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A YEAR STUDYING THE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

AND THE QUESTION IS: WHAT WILL WE DO WHEN ALL THE TEACHERS ARE GONE?

AND TO YOUR POINT, STARTING PAY IS ONE THING BUT KEEPING THOSE TEACHERS THAT HAVE PUT THEIR BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS AND PAID THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET EXTENDED MASTERS DEGREES AND ABOVE, WHAT WILL WE DO WHEN THEY LEAVE US?

>> RENEE, LET ME SHARE JUST A BRIEF ANECDOTE ABOUT THE RECORD FUNDING THAT WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT OVER THE PAST YEAR AND MANY IN OUR PUBLIC ARE NOT FULLY AWARE OF WHAT ALL THIS MEANS.

AND IN 2008 TO 2023 IN THE LAST 15 YEARS EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS OPERATING ON LESS MONEY TO EDUCATE THEIR KIDS TODAY THAN 15 YEARS AGO.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO THE PENSION, YES, WE'VE MADE GROUND IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MONIES ALLOCATED TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS JUST WARREN COUNTY ALONE, WE'RE SPENDING 1.4 MILLION THAT WE WERE NOT SPENDING 15 YEARS AGO JUST ON THE UNFUNDED MANDATE FOR SRO'S.

THEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.

100% FUNDED.

15 PLUS YEARS AGO.

NOW WE'RE SPENDING 4 MILLION OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND TO COVER TRANSPORTATION.

JUST TAKE THOSE THREE PIECES OF INFORMATION.

4-AND-A-HALF MILLION OF TRANSPORTATION, A MILLION-AND-A-HALF FOR SRO'S AND DUE TO INFLATION, WE'RE OPERATING PER PUPIL WITH LESS DOLLARS TODAY THAN 15 YEARS AGO.

IT DOESN'T TAKE A MATHEMATICIAN TO SEE THAT THAT IS NOT WORKING.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE -- >> THROW STUDENT ATTENDANCE BEING LOW AND YOUR ADA HAMMERED.

>> WE'RE GETTING READY TO FACE EVERY DISTRICT IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1-3% LOWER ADA.

>> Renee: AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE.

>> AND THERE'S GOT TO BE A CORRECTION.

THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CORRECTION BECAUSE THERE WILL BE CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND MEET PAYROLL TAKING THIS BIG OF A HIT BUT IN THE SHORT-TERM WE CAN'T PLAN FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF OR WHEN THAT CORRECTION WILL COME.

IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PAY INCREASE, YOU'RE RIGHT WE ARE NOW AT 85% IN WAR REB COUNTY.

85% OF OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET IS TO PAYROLL.

THAT DOES NOT SOUND FISCALLY THEN WHY ARE WE DOING IT?

I SHARED WITH YOU THE OPENINGS WE HAVE.

COULD YOU IMAGINE IF WE DIDN'T DO A 4% PAY INCREASE TO KEEP UP WITH THE COMPETITION AND I'M TALKING ABOUT K-12 NOT THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THEY HAVE LEFT THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY LEFT US.

AGAIN, THIS IS A CHALLENGE THAT RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE SEE IT AS K-12 IT IS A COMMUNITY DEAL.

IT IS A STATE-WIDE CHALLENGE.

IT TOOK YEARS TO CREATE THIS IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS FOR US TO CORRECT IT.

AND THE VARIABLE IS TIME AND THE INTENT FOR ALL FOLKS WITH INFLUENCE TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY THE QUALITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE AT RISK HERE WITH THE CALL OF THESE K-12 INSTITUTIONS IN EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> Renee: WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THAT THE FINAL RECORD.

THIS HAS WITHIN A VERY ENLIGHTENING DISCUSSION.

WE WILL GET TO SCHOOL CHOICE ISSUES AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL TAKE THAT UP IN 2024.

WE HAVE A FEW WEEKS TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

JOIN US NEXT MONDAY AT EIGHT EASTERN, SEVEN CENTRAL FOR “EARLY LITERACY: A KET FORUM”•.WHERE WE’LL DISCUSS TEACHING KIDS TO READ AND THE SCIENCE OF READING.

BE SURE TO JOIN US EACH WEEKNIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR ‘KENTUCKY EDITION.’ AND JOIN BILL BRYANT AND A TEAM OF WORKING JOURNALISTS TO DISCUSS THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ON ‘COMMENT ON KENTUCKY,’ FRIDAY AT VE A GOOD WEEK.SEVEN CENTRAL.