Legislature(2013 - 2014)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/11/2013 09:00 AM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB21 | |
| SB85 | |
| SB83 | |
| SB22 | |
| SB88 | |
| SB47 | |
| SB21 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 47 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 62 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 88 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 65 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 47(FIN)
"An Act relating to boarding schools operated by
school districts; and providing for an effective
date."
3:14:56 PM
RYNNIEVA MOSS, STAFF, SENATOR JOHN COGHILL, explained that
the bill expanded on a concept included in past legislation
introduced by the sponsor (HB 16 in 2005); prior to the
bill's passage, students had been paid a stipend to attend
a school in another area when a village school was closed.
The capability had been expanded to allow students in
grades 9 through 12 to receive a stipend while attending
boarding school facilities. The current legislation
eliminated a restriction limiting eligibility only to
schools that had been in operation prior to January 2005
(Section 1). The bill would expand to include magnet
schools, which would enable them to qualify for stipends.
Section 2 increased the stipend paid to the schools.
Section 3 provided a provision to allow school districts to
contract for room and board services. Section 4 would
repeal a provision that would limit the Department of
Education and Early Development (DEED) to approving only
three additional schools. Additionally, the bill would
repeal the definition of district operated statewide
residential education programs (the definition had been
moved to Section 1 of the bill).
Ms. Moss communicated that the bill expanded the
opportunity to magnet schools and allowed for DEED to add
additional boarding schools. She stated that the bill would
allow for magnet schools with variable terms to accommodate
some exciting things underway in rural Alaska including
schools in Kotzebue to train high school students for jobs
at Red Dog Mine; and Bethel had a program that it wanted to
expand into to airline freight industry, which would
provide an opportunity to many rural students. She
commented on the challenge facing children in rural Alaska
who wanted to go to college, but did not have the adequate
education resources to get into college. She likened the
situation to a quote by Vance Law "when you're in a slump
it's almost as if you look at a field and it's one big
glove." The goal was to "close the glove" and provide the
children with an opportunity.
3:18:00 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze recognized Senator John Coghill in the
audience.
LISA RIEGER, COOK INLET TRIBAL COUNCIL (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the legislation. She
noted that support existed statewide.
3:19:46 PM
JERRY COVEY, EDUCATION CONSULTANT, CITIZENS FOR THE
EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT OF ALASKAN'S CHILDREN AND COOK
INLET TRIBAL COUNCIL (via teleconference), spoke in support
of the legislation. He believed the increased stipend was
justified based on the delivery cost of education. He
stated that the district variable length programs were
favorable and would improve the quality of rural education.
He believed that the partnership between school districts,
non-profits, and Native organizations in relation to
residential services for students was also positive.
Co-Chair Stoltze asked whether the bill provided support
for children in public K-12 education. Mr. Covey replied
that the bill would provide residential stipend funding for
students in grades 9 through 12.
Co-Chair Stoltze asked whether the bill would provide
additional support within the public education system. Mr.
Covey replied in the affirmative.
Ms. Moss clarified that the bill covered grades 9 through
12. Co-Chair Stoltze understood that the bill related to a
subset within the grades K-12.
3:22:57 PM
Representative Wilson asked whether there was concern about
students left behind when others were taken out of public
schools and put in boarding schools. Mr. Covey replied that
when students were taken out of school districts to attend
statewide residential schools the funding traveled with
them. Under the variable length programs the students
stayed within their school districts; therefore, the
district did not lose funding.
Co-Chair Stoltze noted that the department could speak to
the question as well.
Representative Wilson was concerned that removing students
from smaller districts put the districts at risk.
Co-Chair Stoltze commented on the potential of being put in
a position to make a value judgment on whether a student
should be held back from higher or different aspirations.
3:24:59 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze asked DEED to comment on Representative
Wilson's question.
Representative Wilson noted that the bill applied to grades
9 through 12 and that no program existed for K-8 if school
districts closed. She wondered whether the department had
looked at how taking numerous students from a district
impacted the district.
LES MORSE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY DEVELOPMENT, replied that the issue had occurred with
Mt. Edgecumbe for years and had occurred since 2005 with
the additional boarding schools. He stressed that the
administration strongly supported families and children
having the choices and options. He stated that there was
definitely an impact on school districts; however, he did
not believe the impact overrode the opportunity to choose a
boarding school route.
Co-Chair Stoltze asked for clarification on the funding
trail. Mr. Morse replied that for the legislation's
variable length programs the Base Student Allocation (BSA)
would remain in the school district. He communicated that
the only [funding] item the bill addressed was a stipend.
However, when students attended boarding schools for a full
school year the BSA and stipend went to that school.
Representative Wilson asked for verification that Mr. Morse
believed that a family's ability to choose where a child
went to school was positive. Mr. Morse replied that the
choice provided by the bill was a good thing.
Representative Wilson remarked that choice was good.
Representative Holmes wondered if the variable length
programs would be greater or less than nine months and
whether the stipend would be paid for the same number of
months. She noted that the bill referred to the payment of
a stipend for nine months and included variable length and
180-day school terms.
Mr. Morse answered that the intent was for the variable
length programs to be offered within the full nine-month
scope. He used the example of multiple six-week terms and
stated that even though there would be several students
experiencing the terms they would receive one full-year
stipend. For example, it would come out to look like there
were 30 students experiencing the program in terms of the
amount of money dedicated; but, in reality it would be many
more students because there would be 30 students per
variable length term.
3:29:22 PM
Representative Kawasaki asked whether the cities where the
three boarding schools were located (Nenana, Galena, and
[Bethel]) had property taxes or another local tax base that
helped pay for the schools. Ms. Moss was not certain, but
believed that Galena had a tax.
Mr. Morse stated that the Lower Kuskokwim Learning Academy
in Bethel was in the midst of a Regional Educational
Attendance Area (REAA) and would not have a tax base.
Co-Chair Stoltze replied that the City of Galena had a
total of 487 residents with a 3 percent sales tax; he
surmised the city could not be supporting a school system
on a 3 percent sales tax and no other taxes.
Ms. Moss believed Nenana also believed that Nenana had a
tax.
Co-Chair Stoltze relayed that the City of Nenana had a 12
mil property tax.
Representative Munoz asked whether the bill applied to Mt.
Edgecumbe. Ms. Moss replied in the negative. She stated
that Mt. Edgecumbe was a state operated school that was
fully funded through the legislature by appropriation. She
noted that the cost per student of a boarding school
education was approximately half of the Mt. Edgecumbe cost.
3:32:54 PM
Vice-Chair Neuman shared that he had spent time in Galena
and had stayed at the school with the students. He recalled
that the students voiced that they were at the school
because they wanted to improve their lives. He referred to
the cost of education and stated that 80 percent to 90
percent of the students were at risk for drug or alcohol
abuse. The schools provided students with an education to
help improve students' lives. He realized the cost of the
schools, but stressed the importance of turning lives
around. He spoke to students' energy to learn different
trades. He noted that the regional learning centers each
offered different programs in order to increase options for
students. He spoke in strong support for the program. He
added that it would have a positive impact on the cost of
education in the end.
SB 47 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
3:35:18 PM
RECESSED
3:58:25 PM
RECONVENED