From the Office of Senator Greg Reed
MONTGOMERY, Alabama (February 15, 2011) – A bill that many teachers and parents say has been long needed passed its first hurdle on its way to the Governor’s desk. Sen. Greg Reed (R-Jasper), sponsor of Senate Bill 257, introduced the legislation on the second day of the Session, and today the Senate Finance and Taxation Education committee unanimously gave its approval. SB257 guarantees that every classroom teacher will be given an allowance of $300 per year for supplies.
“Providing the basic supplies necessary to operate a classroom is a fundamental responsibility of government. At my company, we don’t ask our employees to bring all their own supplies to do the job we require of them,” said Senator Reed. “Why would the largest body of public servants – teachers – be asked to do any different? I’d like to thank the members of the Senate Finance & Taxation Education committee for sending this bill to the full Senate for consideration.”
Currently, the Foundation Program within the Education Trust Fund budget includes an allowance for all classroom supplies and materials. However, the Foundation Program is not always funded, especially when there are budget constraints. Senate Bill 257 makes a guaranteed carve out in the ETF for each classroom teacher in public school grades K to 12 in the sum of $300 for classroom supplies.
“Providing the proper tools benefits the students who use the items, the parents who no longer have to purchase that which should be provided by the state, and the teacher who now won’t have to dig into his or her own pocket to operate the classroom,” Senator Reed concluded.
Senate Bill 257 now awaits placement on the special order calendar by the Senate Rules Committee in order to receive a vote in the Senate before it is delivered to the House for deliberation.
