Explaining Amendment One

WAAY 31 anchor Pat Simon takes a closer look at the upcoming amendment vote aimed at overhauling K-12 education what you will decide by voting yes or no.

One week from tomorrow, you vote on amendment one.

It's an alabama constitutional amendment backed by governor kay ivey and many state lawmakers.

It's aimed at overhauling k-12 education.

But you would be giving up an important vote to make that happen: your vote!

Waay 31's pat simon takes a closer look at what you will decide if you vote yes or no.

Nats - school bell rings - freeze screen of school.

The facts about alabama's k through 12 education are undeniable.

Take a quick look at a number of performance reports comparing all states on average - and alabama consistently ranks near the bottom - last in some cases... very low scores in the rest.

Results so bad - governor kay ivey - a former high school teacher - is pushing for more control over education.

That's the main element of amendment one - on next week's ballot.

A vote yes allows the governor - and not you - to choose state education board members.

The senate would need to approve them.

So, should the governor be given all of that control?

Jessica barker - grassroots activist "i think that because the governor is so far removed from the actual issues affecting people of color and impact those of the low socio-economic sector.

I think that she is so removed, whoever she appoints, they may not even be familiar with those issues."

Jessica barker -is the president of new south - an african-american grassroots group.

She believes the people - not the governor should decide what's best for children - including minorities in schools.

Mary scott hunter - former state boe member "what have we gotten from an elected board?

Former board of education member mary scott hunter argues the current elected board has too many fingers in the pot - with no one responsible for improving education.

She believes voting yes on amendment one would make one person - the governor - accountable.

Mary scott hunter - former state boe member "the governor - if they run on education and they make promises about public education, they better darn well deliver because they have the power to do that," chip cherry - president and ceo - huntsville madison chamber of commerce "it's really about the outcome and how you get there and how you do it effectively."

From a business standpoint - chip cherry - president and ceo of the huntsville madison chamber of commerce - says approving amendment one woulc create a board that speeds up improvements in education for a better educated future workforce.

"at the end of the day - our young people need as good a start as they can possibly get."

So what type of state board is best?

The top five states - with the best ranked k through 12 education.

Have at least one form of governor- appointed state board of education system.

The bottom five states - including alabama - still allow voters for the most part to choose their state board members.

Amendment one would also allow the governor's board to appoint it's own secretary of education and adopt education standards in place of the controversial "common core."

The governor's own political party is at odds with her on amendment one.

State republican party chairman terry lathan says common core should be done away with separately and not be used as a way to lure voters to approve this amendment.

Terry lathan - chairman alabama republican party "we do not need this mandated from up above and people who do not live here at all.

We can handle our own education ourself.

And with common core it's sort of a one-size fits all.

It's not a one size fit all."

If you're wondering why you did not hear from governor ivey in this story - and why she would want to take control away from you - well, i asked repeatedly.

Her staff eventually set up an interview for me.

Then they changed changed the date - and then cancelled.

In huntsville - pat simon - waay 31 news.