Board hears legislative update; members urged to consider Advocacy Day and cell-phone ban proposal

Members of the North Hills Board received a policy and legislative update at the Jan. 15 meeting that highlighted advocacy opportunities and pending state legislation.

Miss Kozera provided a report on service to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association legislative advocacy committee and reminded board members that registration for Advocacy Day in Harrisburg is open and scheduled for May 4. The presiding speaker noted the 50th anniversary of the statutory reporting requirement for school board meetings to appear in newspapers and said the association will continue advocacy work related to that requirement given local newspaper reductions.

The presiding speaker referenced pending state legislation, saying "there's a continued push, to ban cell phones coming from the ... the senate. So the senate bill 1014 is still up for consideration, and that would be a bell to bell ban on cell phones in all school districts in the state of Pennsylvania." The report also mentioned another bill (referred to as Senate Bill 194) awaiting action. The presiding speaker added that the governor’s budget proposal is expected in February and will start the budget process.

The board received the report as an informational update; no board action on the referenced legislation was taken at the meeting.