Kansas legislators returned from a four-day break Wednesday to discuss a bill that would narrow contract negotiations between teachers and public school districts.
Substitute House Bill 2027 has been criticized by as an "attack on educators" by the Kansas National Education Association.
The House Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development considered the bill today . The measure would reduce the number of issues that teachers could negotiate with local school boards.
For example, teachers could still negotiate such things as pay and sick leave, but not performance evaluations. Also, Teachers could negotiate on the amount of work completed outside school hours, but not on the length or number of class periods.
Committee Chairman Marvin Kleeb of Overland Park says he's open to suggestions from all sides for changing the measure. He says supporters are seeking innovation in public schools by giving local boards more flexibility.
