A big thank you to MASB President Burl Ghastin for presiding over the shortest Delegate Assembly in recent history....until we had a passionate discussion about childhood obesity. While delegates agreed that the issue is important to student learning, the floor resolution was defeated. MASB members unanimously reaffirmed the consent agenda, which represents continuing resolutions that haven't changed from last year. For a list of your continuing resolutions, please see the Delegate Assembly handbook. Also, if you missed your chance to get Don Wotruba's autograph on the cover of your handbook, he'll be signing them tomorrow!
The Assembly was also asked to consider three amendments. The following resolutions were amended:
4.10 Equal Rights, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying - The Resolutions and Bylaws Committee recommended an amendment to encourage member boards to consider the State Board of Education's model policy on bullying when reviewing, amending or adopting their local policy. This amendment passed unanimously.
6.50 School Year - The resolution was amended to add language supporting a change in state law that would incorporate no fewer than 180 days and 1,098 hours of student instruction per school year. This change mirrors MASB's position supporting a greater number of instructional days.
10.30 State Financial Support - The Assembly voted to amend this resolution to add language that MASB supports a "constitutional amendment to limit the allowable usage of the state school aid fund to preK-12 expenditures." This is one of the Government Relations Committee short term priorities as approved by the MASB Board of Directors for the 2011-12 legislative session.