Broken promises lead to plunging pensions.

A recently passed bill is angering teachers because of its poor analysis and many downsides.

Thursday afternoon, the House State and Local Government Committee passed a substitute to a bill called SB151. It involves changes in teachers pensions, which many are furious about. This has lead to several districts across Kentucky closing as a result of several teachers calling in sick and not coming to school.

Originally, the bill was titled “An Act Relating to the Local Provision of Wastewater Services.” Thursday afternoon, however, much of the wastewater services language in the bill was replaced with wording regarding teachers pensions. Much of this wording about pensions was seen in the previously proposed bill SB1 which didn’t make it through. “Basically what they did was kept senate bill 1 in tact for new teachers and they took out the pieces that made current teachers angry which was reduction in the COLA (cost of living adjustment) raise. That was the main thing. I guess they were hoping that would make current teachers happy but it didn’t,” said athletic director, Troy Barr.

This bill effects new teachers more than anything because of its switching from a pension to a 401k retirement plan. Unlike a pension, with a 401k once the money runs out it’s gone which concerns a lot of people because it’s not reliable.

Several school districts all across Kentucky were closed today due to a substantial amount of teacher absences. Out of the districts that closed, Oldham County was one of them. This surprises some people because all four of their legislators voted in favor of the bill with the vast majority of Oldham County residents being republicans.

Superintendent Keith Davis also debated on closing school today as a result of teacher absences. Davis sent out an email around six this morning to all staff and administration that said “I share your anger, but if you are considering a sick out, I urge you to reconsider and fulfill your duty today. This kind of thing could turn the public against us. We have a job to do and we will have higher moral ground by doing our job and showing some class that giving them an excuse to call us names. There will be time for a rational response.”

Many people are concerned this bill will result in a lack of future teachers due to the decreased amount of benefits. “Not having a sure-thing pension, paired with the low pay – relative to others with the same level of education – will make some of the best and brightest that are currently sitting as students in our schools – think twice about becoming teachers. There will still be many who will out of a pure sense of mission, but it will certainly have an effect,” said Davis to the Pioneer News. This bill poses a lot of concerns and will affect students and teachers now and in the future.

This morning, Attorney General Andy Beshear tweeted “Last night the House and Senate violated the inviolable contract and broke their word-but I am going to keep mine. I will file suit to stop SB 151.” He claims to be angry about the bill and the way it was passed like several others across the state.