Legislation to change the makeup of the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System Board brought hundreds of protesting teachers to the state capitol Thursday.
Governor Matt Bevin, who did not comment on the protestors, says he knows nothing about the bill but adds investment expertise is needed on any retirement board.
“The people on the retirement board should be retirement professionals. They should be people who understand investment and finances. They just should,” said Bevin.
The governor said his focus is funding the teacher pension, saving the pension, and funding education.
Letcher County Middle School Teacher Gina Sparks was among the large group of teachers protesting in Frankfort. “We have teachers that are very numbers and money minded. We’re capable of research to know who we need to be putting into these positions,” said Sparks.
Sparks says participating in the rally teaches school children to fight for what’s right and stand up for what they believe in. The high number of teachers who called in sick to school districts including Lexington and Louisville resulted in classes being called off Thursday.