Thread by @thebrettparker

#HB2757 Restores due process rights for teachers that were eliminated in 2014. Rep @marymarthagood will be carrying the bill. Follow this thread for an explanation of the debate. #ksleg

Quick note: due process protects good teachers, not bad. It only gives teachers who are fired a right to appeal to a 3rd party. If a teacher is bad, the 3rd party will uphold to district choice. If the teacher is good, the 3rd party protects the teacher from unfair dismissal.

Rep @marymarthagood properly explaining that due process is not tenure. No jobs for life, just ensures reason & justification for firing. Despite this apt explanation, we will likely still hear many ignorant comments about bad teachers not being fired (admin's fault).

Also, pointing out the value of due process as a recruiting & retention tool in a state that struggles to hire enough qualified teachers.

Rep @VCWKC34 is reinforcing the opening comments. The fact that the opening R & D comments are from Ed committee members & not Tax (where the bill that technically came from) demonstrates the long, tortured process that lead us here.

Rep. Trimmer now pointing out that due process rights reduce lawsuits. If the 3rd party sides with the district on firing the teacher, there are no grounds for a suit. Without due process, districts are open to suits when firing teachers.

Rep. Karleskint (former superintendent) pointing out that due process rights do not apply until a teacher has 3 years experience. This gives districts plenty of time to coach up struggling teachers before deciding if the teacher would be effective over the long term.

Rep. Karleskint also points out that due process for teachers leads to better administrators too.

Rep. Whitmer is bringing an amendment. Buckle up.

Amendment applies the due process protections to what sounds like all public sector employees. Considering the position of the maker of the amendment on workers' rights, this is likely an insincere attempt to weigh down the bill.

Rep. @VCWKC34 pointing out that today is a long awaited day to talk about doing right by teachers. She respectfully opposes the amendment on those grounds.

Rep. Houser supports the amendment even though he disagrees with the mandate(?).

.@RepJimWard is challenging the germaneness of the amendment. The rules committee is deliberating on whether the amendment is related closely enough to the underlying bill.

Rules chair Rep Finch rules the amendment germane. We will debate the amendment.

.@RepJimWard points out that many state employees already have a similar protection based on classified v unclassified status. Rep. Whitmer is unable to answer the implications of his amendment on state employees.

asks to vote down this amendment to stay focused. He promises to bring opportunities for the ultracons insincerely expressing their support for this idea to vote for it.

Rep. Carpenter (who also opposes due process) also speaks in favor of mandating it on all public sector jobs.

Rep. Becker points out the hypocrisy of ultracons who oppose due process trying to expand it to everyone.

Rep. Hodge asking the carrier of the amendment technical questions to which he has no answers.

The amendment fails. I voted no. Back on the bill.

Rep. Ralph now speaking against the bill. I believe he wants the school board to have the final say. Respectfully, that is not due process.

Rep. Williams now questioning Rep. @marymarthagood about legal options for teachers without due process.

Rep. Williams now attempting to co-opt the #metoo in opposition to due process.

Also calls it tenure. It's not tenure.

Rep. Houser opposes on local control grounds.

Rep. @stevecrum1 (a fellow educator) is speaking about due process as a no cost way to tell teachers they're respected.

Rep. Dierks is delivering a powerful message about her experience watching due process rights be stripped away. (Rep. Dierks is not a teacher but one of the strongest advocates for education in the House).

Rep. Aurand now bringing an amendment. If it's similar to his own "due process" bill, it creates a 2 tiered system and slowly kills off due process entirely.

Ok, that's more or less it. No need for this amendment. We have a bill in front of us that the House supported already.

Rep. Rooker is speaking against the 2 tiered proposal in the amendment that does not support new teachers.

Rep. @VCWKC34 pointing out that the amendment would remove due process from teachers who move districts.

Rep. Trimmer points out that the new system proposed in this amendment only gives the district the right to submit evidence but not the teacher. The district can ignore the ruling of the 3rd party.

Rep. @stevecrum1 points out that this proposal was killed in committee.

Rep. Aurand closing on his amendment.

Amendment fails. I voted no. Back on the bill.

Rep. Neighbor speaking as a long time school board member. She supports due process.

Rep. Humphries says giving due process to teachers is demeaning (?)

Rep. @marymarthagood is closing on the bill.

It passes 72-48. Final action tomorrow. I voted YES. End thread (mercifully).