The bill creates a governing council made up of one school board member from each of the 23 St. Louis school districts. The council would oversee the actions and the budget of the existing school board in the St. Louis Special School District. Sponsor Wayne Goode says testimony about special school district problems led to this legislation...
Bill sponsor Wayne Goode says the regulated increase is not a bad idea, since the federal telecommunications act opens competition in local markets. Proponents say a regulated increase would prevent already established companies from jacking up phone rates to make money before competition could move in and force rates down.
For the next two years, school board members would be appointed, not elected, by a new governing council if the school board bill is passed by the House. The council would be made up of 23 members selected by each of the school boards in St. Louis county. Normandy Senator Wayne Goode says the measure puts authority over the special school district's annual budget in the hands of the governing council.
But Bill Sponsor, Wayne Goode says those increases will be offset when long distance carriers start competing for local phone business in many areas of the state.
After three hours of debate on topics ranging from rate increases to the future of the telecommunications industry, law makers decided to quit for the night. However, Sen. Wayne Goode, D-St. Louis County, said the Senate will probably re-open debate today.