The state school board will have its final hearing and may vote Monday on axing the so-called “5 of 8 rule” that requires school districts to have a minimum number of nurses, counselors, librarians and arts teachers.
A rule change that makes filling those positions an option for districts was tentatively passed by the board in December after heated debate. It now comes back for the final vote after clearing a required review to make sure the rule change would not conflict with laws and rules already in place.
The change promises to cause a contentious discussion and vote, just as it did in November and again in December before the initial vote.
The “5 of 8” rule requires districts to have people filling at least five of these eight jobs for every 1,000 students: elementary art, music or physical education teachers, school counselors, library media specialists, school nurses, social workers and “visiting teachers.”
On one side is a Republican majority on the officially non-partisan board that believes that school boards can decide better than them what support their students need. They want to eliminate the rule so that local boards can have flexibility to best serve their students.
On the other side is the Democratic minority that considers eliminating the state minimum for these positions as almost equivalent to wiping them out. Districts, they said, will cut these slots in times of budget trouble. And districts with few resources, they said, typically have students that most need those services.
Parents, teachers and associations representing the affected positions all pleaded with the board in fall to keep the minimums in place.
The board will start taking comments from the public about 10 or 10:30 a.m., said board President Tom Gunlock. If testimony needs to continue after lunch, it will, he said. The board will hear a few presentations and have a closed discussion after testimony and before the final vote, Gunlock said, so there could be a gap of a couple hours.
Gunlock said Monday’s meeting will go as long as it takes.
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