After her budget pitch to state lawmakers today, state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra said, “I felt very supported – they’re very supportive of education and our students.”

“This is my third session,” she said. “It was relaxing, it was enjoyable.” The difference from her first year – when she was presenting “someone else’s budget,” the one prepared by former Superintendent Tom Luna, was “very noticeable to everyone here today,” Ybarra said. She said she’s been “rolling up her sleeves” to work with schools and stakeholders to build the budget.  

Asked about the strong stand she took that her office should continue to train principals on how to conduct teacher evaluations – while Gov. Butch Otter is recommendation that function be handed over to the state Board of Education – Ybarra noted that she’s a member of the state board. “I’m a constitutional officer with the direct supervision responsibility of where that money goes, and I’m still going to be part of t hat process,” she said. “Regardless of where it’s placed, I’ll still have my finger on it.”

Asked if she supports the $2.5 million Otter wants to direct to the state board for that purpose – Ybarra requested $300,000 – she said, “If they’re going to give it to me, I’m going to take it. But I’m not going to stand here and have an argument over who gets what.”

As for the $15 million line item Otter is recommending in the public school budget to cover school districts’ increased health insurance costs - while passing over Ybarra’s request for an $11.2 million increase in discretionary funds to school districts – Ybarra said, “I do support that line item, and districts support it as well.” But, she said, “The devil is in the details, and at this point we don’t know the details. … I need to see the details.”

Ybarra said funding for the teacher career ladder remains her top priority for next year. She said it’s the No. 1 priority from everyone she’s heard from – teachers, administrators, stakeholders, and more.