Shaw, and we thank you for spending some of your Monday night with us.

[MUSIC] Education has emerged as a top focus for state lawmakers in Frankfort today.

The full Senate took up three bills that sponsors say are designed to support teachers, administrators and local school boards.

More about these bills in tonight's legislative update.

[MUSIC] Senate Bill two would keep pay raises for public school teachers and administrators comparable under the bill, raises for school administrators could not exceed the average percentage pay raise given to classroom teachers in the same district.

Republican State Senator Julie Adams of Louisville is the sponsor of Senate Bill two.

She says it's designed to support teacher recruitment and retention and to promote fairness and transparency.

>> Senate Bill two is a common sense priority education measure focused on fairness, balance and trust.

It reinforces the principle that classroom teachers should not be left behind in compensation decisions, while still allowing school districts the flexibility they need to operate effectively.

>> Senate Bill two passed the full Senate unanimously with no debate.

It now heads to the House for consideration there.

Another priority bill that advanced today's Senate Bill four.

It would create a five year mentorship and training program for new school principals.

Sponsor Republican Senator Stephen West of Paris, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, says the plan would put Kentucky out front regionally and school leadership development.

That's an investment of both public and private sector dollars.

>> If you're going to be a new principal in Kentucky and this is for new principals, the first cohort would be all new principals.

If you're going to be a principal in Kentucky, what do you need to know about being a principal?

What do you need to know about school security?

What do you need to know about liability?

What do you need to know about working with teachers and and helping them in the classroom, and all the things you need to know to be a good principal in Kentucky?

>> West Senate Bill four also passed the full Senate by a vote of 38 to 0, and is also headed to the House for further consideration.

Finally, Senate Bill 71 would require local school board members complete six hours of finance training every two years.

Bill sponsor Senator Matthew Dineen of Elizabethtown says news about budget concerns at some of the state's largest public school districts show this.

Needing this training is needed.

>> As we've seen across the Commonwealth, not only in our largest districts but in others.

Our school board members are newly elected.

They're required to have three hours of initial training.

This bill requires an updated and ongoing training of two additional hours every two years.

This provides them with the framework and the collaborative support system to better serve alongside their superintendents.

>> Senate Bill 71 unanimously passed the full Senate today, and is now headed to the lower