From the desk of Senator Davie Pearce

Time to Work

Although the regular session of the Missouri Legislature adjourned May 13, and it is now the interim, the time between regular legislative sessions, the work never comes to a complete stop. There are always interim committee meetings, joint committee meetings, and business to attend to in the district. Instead of considering these meetings as part of my day-to-day duties as a legislator, I consider serving on these panels as an opportunity to do the work I love and to further represent the constituents of the 31^st District.

 As a matter of fact, this week I will be attending a meeting of the Joint Committee on Education. This committee is made up of 14 members from both the House and Senate and rotates leadership roles between chambers. Last session, I had the honor of serving as chair. This year, I will be serving as vice-chair. It is our responsibility to review and monitor the progress of education in the state’s public schools and higher education institutions, as well as conduct studies of topics surrounding education, teachers, and education funding.  Members typically meet during the interim to discuss information collected during the year regarding changes in and costs of education and education-related issues throughout the state.  The agenda for this week’s meeting is separated into three major sections.

 First, we will hear a report from the National Council on Teacher Quality, titled “Building Teacher Quality in the Kansas City, Missouri School District.” Next, the committee will participate in a panel discussion on effective leadership, teacher performance, and student achievement with various state and local education leaders and lawmakers. Last, we will discuss professional development funding for educators, both in terms of necessity and cost effectiveness. We will be joined by a number of directors from local professional development centers, as well as local senators and representatives in the Kansas City region, in order to participate in a well-rounded discussion.

 I enjoy the opportunity to actively participate in meetings and discussions such as this. Getting to play an integral role in Missouri’s education process is important to me, as it helps build a strong future for ourselves and our state.

 As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.

 Senator David Pearce serves Bates, Cass, Johnson and Vernon counties in the 31^st State Senatorial District.