2011-2012 Legislative Platform

Each fall the MAESP Legislative Committee, along with representatives from each MAESP district, develops a proposed platform, based on members' priorities, which is submitted to the MAESP Executive Committee for approval.  The Legislative Coordinating Committee developed the 2011-12 platform.  The Legislative Committee met October 19, 2011 to finalize the platform; and the Executive Committee adopted the platform on December 1, 2011.

This document was approved by the Executive Board December 1, 2011 with the understanding that Mike Lodewegen, Director of Legislative Advocacy,  will add a statement during the SAC Platform Reconciliation regarding concerns expressed of the requirement to pass on to future employers the unsubstantiated complaints of improper behavior of  employees.

Missouri Association of 
Elementary School Principals
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
2011-2012

The Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP) believes that public education is a cornerstone of American democracy and the elementary school is the foundation of all educational efforts. MAESP understands that the State of Missouri is facing unprecedented financial difficulties. Nonetheless, MAESP believes it is important for the General Assemblyto fully fund essential education programs that provide the foundation for all students to be successful.

REVENUE

MAESP believes the state must seek long-term sustainable revenue solutions in lieu of further reductions.  MAESP seeks to work with the Governor, the General Assembly, State agencies, other educational organizations and interested parties to find revenue solutions to provide long-term sustainable funding for public education.  MAESP supports revenue enhancements which include, but are not limited to, an Internet sales tax, a dedicated general sales tax, an alcohol tax, and a tobacco tax.

MAESP supports comprehensive review of Missouri’s various tax credit and incentive programs to ensure these are used effectively and efficiently.

PUBLIC SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS

MAESP believes that all students must be provided access to state-of-the-art public schools and guarantee all student have equal access to educational opportunities to best prepare them for post-secondary life, including college or career readiness.

MAESP Supports:

• Full funding of the States’ regular term foundation formula and sufficient funding to enable public schools to meet all state and federal program requirements.
• Funding for transportation sufficient to meet state statutory obligations.
• Reducing the cost of school transportation through tax exemptions on school bus fuel.
• Increasing the bonding capacity of school districts to at least twenty percent of assessed valuation or seek alternate sources of funding to support building and renovation needs.
• A simple majority vote to approve public school general obligation bonds.
• Establishing a state fund to support full day kindergarten for all school age children.
• Financial incentives for tutoring programs for students who perform below grade level.
• Funding of appropriations for technology needs.
• Funding for Safe School grants and alternative education programs.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

MAESP believes that quality early childhood education should be made available to all children through funded expansion of educational programs statewide.

MAESP supports:

• Early learning through statewide developmentally appropriate early childhood education programs which are aligned with school district curriculum and which are fully funded by the State through additional appropriations
• Funding for early childhood education programs, including the Parents as Teachers program and other programs that are research based and have been proven to be effective.
  
  

SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

MAESP supports:

• a fully-funded comprehensive statewide system of early identification, intervention, training, treatment and services for children with special needs to enhance the educational opportunities available, including but not limited to: state funded training for early childhood educators; and expansion of early childhood services.  
  
  

ASSISTANCE FOR PROVISIONALLY ACCREDITED AND UNACCREDITED SCHOOLS

MAESP believes that the State should provide assistance to provisionally accredited and unaccredited school districts to aid these districts in returning to full accreditation status. This assistance may be provided in a variety of forms, including but not limited to, additional resources and services, the assistance of public education experts, and financial assistance.

MAESP Supports:

• Providing greater accountability standards and procedures for enforcement of all public charter schools.
• The ability of the receiving school district to establish policies, procedures, and guidelines related to the placement of students from unaccredited school districts.
  

MAESP Opposes:

• Vouchers, tuition tax credits and other programs which divert resources from the public schools.
• Creating and expanding charter schools beyond those currently in existence.
• Mandating programs without appropriating funds needed to successfully implement and sustain the programs.
• Open enrollment for public school students or inter-district school choice without the consent of the affected school districts.
• Transportation costs for students from unaccredited schools being imposed on receiving districts.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

MAESP believes that employee participation is vital to the success of school districts, and employee involvement in various aspects of the decision making process is key to ensuring that districts operate effectively and efficiently.

MAESP supports:

• Ensuring that elementary principals are represented as an interested party at all negotiation sessions between the administration and bargaining units, including having a voice representing administrators at all meetings but no vote.
• Allowing elementary principals to form representation units to bargain on their behalf.

 

GOVERNANCE

MAESP believes that the State’s educational goals can best be achieved within a governance system in which elected community representatives, working in partnership with principals, teachers, families, community members and other administrators, have final authority over policies and practices directly affecting teaching and learning.

MAESP Supports:

• Strengthening and protecting local boards’ authority in decisions related to student enrollment, placement, discipline, promotion and other educational decisions.
• Protecting local boards’ authority regarding employment, assignment, professional development, compensation and termination of personnel.
• Protecting local boards’ authority to make educational, instructional, financial and administrative decisions on behalf of school districts.
• Maintaining student transportation safety through compartmentalization practices.
• Exploring solutions to address the under funding of the PSRS and PEERS retirement systems, in part to alleviate the need for ongoing increases in the contribution rate.

MAESP Opposes:

• Forced consolidation of school districts.
• Limitations on the ability of school districts to seek civil, equitable, judicial and/or other legal remedies.
• Any effort to consolidate the PSRS and PEERS retirement systems with other retirement systems.

TAXATION

MAESP supports:

• Modification of the circuit breaker law to increase the number of eligible participants but opposes property tax freezes and homestead exemptions unless protection of school district property tax revenues is guaranteed.
  

MAESP Opposes:

• Any tax initiative including fair tax initiatives.