Patrick Richardson
Kentucky s 30-day legislative session came to an end Tuesday with a number of bills impacting education some more controversial than others.
Among those bills making news is House Bill 258 creating a hybrid pension tier blending defined benefit and contribution components for new Kentucky teachers hired starting in 2022. It would mean that teachers hired starting next January would be required to contribute more toward their retirement benefits.
The bill would not affect teachers already enrolled in the retirement system.
Opponents said the measure would hamper efforts to recruit people into teaching while supporters said the measure was needed to relieve some pressure on the state s public pension plan for teachers.
Pulaski County Schools Superintendent Patrick Richardson
Kyle Lively
Superintendents in the three Pulaski-area public school districts seemed cautious in their response to the education-related budget items put forth Thursday during Governor Andy Beshearâs State of the Union address. While they all approved the additions, they seemed unsure as to whether the proposals would make it to the final draft.
Within the version of the budget that Beshear proposed, he included a $1,000 salary increase for teachers and classified staff, which includes cafeteria workers, bus drivers and janitors.
The proposed budget also includes a 1% increase in school federal funding, known as Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding.
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