Executive Viewpoint

WRAPPING UP AND UNPACKING

Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director

The session is winding down and is expected to wrap up soon. It is always fast and furious due to the many bills filed toward the session's end. Due to the speed that legislation is presented and moved through the process at the end of the session, it is almost impossible to revise or speak in opposition. I greatly appreciate our AAEA legislative committee that has put in numerous hours throughout the session. They have spent time reviewing bills, amendments, and presentations at the legislature. The committees also discuss each bill thoroughly with their colleagues and decide what position the association should take. Some bills are straightforward to support when they help students and districts, but other bills take communication with legislators with hopes of amendments or opposition. I am proud of our fellow administrators for this essential work.

Our legislators also deserve our gratitude for using the time away from their communities to serve the state of Arkansas. Even though we are focused on education, the legislators must deal with many topics and various committees. We will not always agree with every decision, but we try to disagree with some policy changes respectfully. We must continue to inject our knowledge and wisdom anywhere we can find legislators discussing education policy. The reason is twofold. One is to ensure we can provide context and understand why things operate the way they do. The second is to hear new ideas that may help us become better educators and produce better outcomes for students.

There is certainly a lot to unpack with the new legislation that is continuing to be finalized. AAEA will continue to do the Tier I and legislative updates this summer as we prepare for next year. The most critical area is solidifying funding so districts can budget and get contracts out for staff. The House Education Committee recently adopted the funding bill with amounts for next year's foundation funding at $7,618 and $7,771 for FY25 and FY26, respectively. Districts now have to take their funding anticipated from LEARNS and the new expected foundation funding to develop a compensation package for the upcoming year. Many have questions about precisely what to do given the shorter timeline. Some districts are planning on a temporary schedule for next year and utilize their staff and school boards to develop a long-term schedule. This change will cause some discomfort in your school community. Many might be excited to get a significant raise, and some may struggle with a schedule that does not reflect seniority or educational attainment. Again, this is not a road we have been down very much in Arkansas, but I think it merits exploration. This is because many of our new generation of teachers don't hold the same allegiance to the education institution that our more veteran teachers do. Many new teachers will change schools and even career fields per the norm of today's young workforce. I have witnessed this many times over the years. Districts may figure out how to keep their current concepts of salary schedules in place, and that is ok, but we do have an opportunity to look at it differently.

I am happy that the session is coming to an end. It is always a stressful time for all involved. We will have some things that become law that are wonderful and some things that make us see red. No matter what comes at administrators, they will always rise to the occasion and do what is best for the students. Happy Easter, and we are here for you!