By TARA HETTINGER
The New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. board is saying they will not take a position on the proposed teacher licensure changes, proposed by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett.
Board President Roger Whaley announced that at Monday night’s school board meeting after a fellow board member brought up a letter from a Monroe County school district, which said they are against the revisions and are asking other boards to make their opinions known.
However, one board member wasn’t shy in saying her personal opinion.
“What this boils down to is money,” Rebecca Gardenour said, adding that most of those opposed to the changes work for universities. “They are afraid they are going to lose money.”
She said she sees good things out of the proposals, such as teachers being able to count professional development hours toward renewing their licenses, as opposed to having to pay for additional college credit hours.
Gardenour compared the various reactions around the state to the movie “Chicken Little,” saying everyone is scared the sky is falling.
Jim Zoeller, who brought up the letter, said he’s in favor of the board getting teaching candidates with many years of experience in a field of study.
Whaley said he agreed with Gardenour, but he added that the board will not take an official position.
The proposed changes being considered would open up the door for more people changing careers to teaching, requiring them to get a minor in education and pass a test showing they have the content knowledge to teach. Those going to college would have more of a focus on content areas.
Bennett said last week that he hopes to have a vote on whether to implement the changes before the end of the year. If it passes, he said it will go into effect in July.
Also at the meeting:
• The board approved setting aside $75,000 in emergency money to pay for repairs that are needed to Highland Hills Middle School’s pool.
The estimated cost of the repair is $69,500. The difference between the two figures is for contingency funds.
The need for repairs was discovered in August, when the pool was drained to install new drains that are compliant with the new Virginia Graham Baker Act. When those were tested, leaks were found in the piping system. The repairs are intended to fix those leaks.
• The board approved the use of emergency funds to pay for damages incurred at Floyd Central and New Albany high schools due to the recent flooding. Damage to FCHS’s baseball field have cost $8,861. Various damages at NAHS added up to $5,623.99.
A special meeting is scheduled for Nov. 30
