Educators & lawmakers discuss controversial Amendment 2 at annual KEDC breakfast

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - The Kentucky Educational Development Corporation held its annual legislative breakfast Thursday morning.

The event serves as a chance for state lawmakers and education leaders to hear from one another on various topics.

This year's hot topic was Amendment 2. If passed, the amendment to the state constitution would allow lawmakers to divert tax money to schools outside of the public school system.

"It's important to have a conversation with the lawmakers and not just listening to them or they just listening to us, but a true conversation about what's best for our students," said Nancy Hutchinson, CEO of the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation.

It was a packed room, with representatives from the House and Senate, along with superintendents representing the commonwealth from east to west.

"I get a lot of questions from people who really don't understand it. Simply put, if Amendment 2 passes, it will allow the legislature to support other forms of education with public dollars, said Representative James Tipton, R-Taylorsville.

But what does that look like?

Education Commissioner Dr. Robbie Fletcher says it's vaguely written with no parameters. He says accountability and funding are two areas that concern him.

"Public schools serve 90% of students across the state. So, if we're serving 90% there's 10% that can be in home schools, private schools or other that we're not serving. Either the pot needs to grow, or what's available there for public education is going to shrink," said Dr. Fletcher.

However, Senator Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, says this amendment would give families flexibility, and people shouldn't fear what may happen if it passes.

"It is not a policy statement. When it comes to making policy, I would hope that we could trust those people we put our trust in to bring in the professionals who have more information in their area than they do to make a workable policy that helps everyone," said Sen. Douglas.

Casey County Schools Superintendent Barry Lee says its passage could be destructive to public schools, something a few others in the room mirrored.

"When we're looking at public dollars, it has to go to the common good of all programs, whether it be for schools, whether it be for safety. Public dollars need to stay with public programs," said Lee.,

Dr. Fletcher is grateful for lawmakers' efforts to invest in public education. He says, at the end of the day, it's about keeping the relationship between educators and lawmakers strong.

"Everybody across the commonwealth has different ideas to approach a different goal, but as long as we have that same goal of improving the student experience," said Dr. Fletcher.

Of course, this wasn't the only topic discussed. Chronic absenteeism and the nickel tax on school facility improvements were also discussed.

WKYT's Bill Bryant stood in as moderator for the event.