Carl Rollins Keeps Louisville in A Rut
Last week, the Kentucky Senate passed SB 3, a bill that would allow the creation of charter schools in Kentucky. It would also allow better parental choice in Louisville, where they have serious problems. In an effort to force-change the racial makeup of Louisville neighborhoods, the Jefferson County School Board has created impossible busing plans that leave children with multi-hour commutes to and from school. It's untenable, and it hasn't produced any positive results. As Richard Innes of the Bluegrass Policy Institute put it:
So far, Jefferson County has wasted millions on busing over the past 40 years, but the schools in the West End are not materially improving, adults living in the East and West sides of town are still quite segregated, hence the continued demand for busing (after 40 years, if that was going to change, it would have) and thousands of students still get left behind.
Even the Jefferson County School Board recognizes the serious problems:
Carol Haddad, a member of the Jefferson County Board of Education, made the following comments, accompanied by a palpable share of emotion. Some of Ms. Haddad's comments:
"In spite of some of the low test scores - and we know we have to deal with that"
Yet the only plan put forward by the School Board is complete opposition to any discussion of SB 3. They don't just oppose the bill, they don't even want to talk about it.
Asked whether he plans to hold a hearing on the bill, Rollins said, "Not if it is my decision," adding that he believes the bill is dead.
"My intention is not to hear the bill," he said.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, "stands with the chairman on this issue," spokesman Brian Wilkerson said Tuesday.
Kentucky education is suffering from a tremendous lack of leadership.
Governor Beshear refuses to even read the bill that has been available since August:
While many Democrats and Jefferson County educators oppose the bill, Gov. Steve Beshear said Tuesday that he is still reviewing it and hasn't reached a conclusion on whether he supports or opposes it.Asked why he hadn't reviewed the bill, which was prefiled in August, Beshear said: "A governor is busy with a lot of things, and you prioritize things. When the legislative session rolls around is when you start paying more close attention to the legislation that is filed."
The Commissioner of Education frets that "All I know is we've got to do something," but
In a meeting with The Courier-Journal Editorial Board Tuesday, Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday would not offer his opinion on the neighborhood schools bill, calling it a moot point because of the House's likely refusal to take it up.
It is ridiculous and tragic that everyone in Kentucky recognizes the problem, but Carl Rollins and Greg Stumbo refuse to even discuss the only proposal available.
