Political Notes
The full legislature was not in session this past week. However, the Senate has begun appropriations hearings. The hearing on education appropriations is this week.
Speaker of the House, Matthew Ryan, died last week. Speaker Ryan was recognized as someone who had great expertise and knowledge in the legislative process and will be greatly missed.
No initiatives on the governor’s proposal to eliminate tenure have been forthcoming to date. PAESSP has requested a meeting with Secretary Phillips to discuss this issue in detail.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has issued a clarification regarding the use of chaperones at school-sponsored events. If the school prom is held at an establishment where 50 percent or more of sales are food or non-alcoholic beverages, then they are exempt from rules requiring a certain number of chaperones. This exemption is referred to by the PLCB as the “Pizza Hut” rule. There are a number of proposals in both the House and Senate all with the purpose of further clarifying these rules.
Of possible concern to elementary principals is that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has established certain exemptions concerning the use of booster seats under Act 225 of 2002. Children under the age of eight were required to be in booster seats. This was interpreted to include school district vans. Principals should check with appropriate school district personnel to review how they should transport students age eight and under.