In an email sent last week, Camden Fairview Superintendent Johnny Embry addressed Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee's education bill, known as the LEARNS Act.
In part, Embry's email states, "Please know that my priority is to do all we can to take care of every employee and student at Camden Fairview. The most important thing we can do for our students is make sure they are surrounded by high-quality educators."
Embry noted that he supported parts of the bill.
"SB294 contains some positive steps to improve public education. The new $50K state minimum teacher salary is badly needed and well deserved by those who are beginning their careers in education and should be an incentive to students who want to teach," he said in the email. "The increased availability of quality pre-k programs will help more of our students thrive before kindergarten. Increasing loan forgiveness and decreasing tuition costs for educators is also a positive step."
However, he also noted several shortfalls he felt the bill included.
"I know some legislators have said superintendents and educators were part of writing SB294, but I have not heard of one superintendent or teacher who was part of that process. Educators deserve a seat at every table where these decisions are being made," he said.
School vouchers were also among the concerns Embry had with the bill
"Fundamentally, I believe that public dollars should remain in public schools and should be utilized to best support public school students, especially our most vulnerable students living in poverty. Vouchers will remove money from public schools, which are transparent, accountable and open to every student," he said. "Vouchers will fund a network of private schools and vendors who are not required to uphold the same standards of accountability, transparency, or commitment to provide services to students who most need them."
Embry also said that the LEARNS Act does not provide funding for salary increases for veteran teachers who make close to or not much more than the new $50,000 minimum.
"Veteran educators have devoted years of service to their students and will be mentoring the next generation of teachers; they deserve more than a $2K raise. LEARNS also eliminates state required salary schedule step increases for years worked and degrees earned," he said. "Another serious concern is there is no funding for increased pay for paraprofessionals, bus drivers, janitorial staff, cafeteria crews, maintenance workers or any of the classified employees who are a vital part of Camden Fairview."
He said the removal of legal protections for teachers through the Teachers Fair Dismissal Act, which the LEARNS Act would repeal, was also problematic.
"Repealing these laws is not solving any real problem and hurts public school employees," he said. "Similarly, LEARNS forces districts to not consider seniority when implementing Reductions in Force. We have many pressing issues to deal with in public education, but removing employee protections doesn't address any of them."
He concluded the email by saying, "Remember that there will be no immediate changes at Camden Fairview associated with this bill. We'll continue to work hard every day to educate every student at Camden Fairview. If SB294 becomes law, Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will share instructions/guidance with all districts. Our leadership teams will share with you any changes that could take place in the future, and I'll do my best to keep you informed and engaged throughout the process."
The Arkansas House of Representatives passed the LEARNS Act with a 78-21 vote; all the state's Democratic representatives voted against the bill, along with two Republicans. The bill passed the state Senate on 23.
Today, the bill is set to be considered again by the Arkansas Senate Education Committee, where lawmakers will consider an amendment that includes privacy protections for schools and gives teachers the opportunity for a hearing before they can be fired. If it's passed there, it will head to the full Senate for a concurring vote before making its way to Sander's desk.