Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/31/2017 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB96 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 96 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 96-EDUCATION: SCHOOLS/TEACHERS/FUNDING
8:02:56 AM
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of SB 96. She noted
there would be invited testimony from Commissioner Johnson. She
said, based on his concerns, they have addressed many items in
the bill.
8:03:49 AM
MICHAEL JOHNSON, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED), stated the following:
It is an honor to be here with you today discussing
SB96 because it is an expression of your willingness
to work together to think creatively on behalf of
Alaska's students.
The committee collectively, and each member
individually have welcomed DEED into your offices to
discuss ideas, refine proposals and support a
relentless focus on closing Alaska's achievement gap.
Senator Hughes, thank you for your leadership.
Thank you for your creativity, your transparency, and
willingness to listen to input and adjust your
proposals. It is very encouraging to Alaska's
educators and families when they hear you say this is
only the beginning of a process and that you welcome
continued dialogue and deliberation. Your willingness
to lead and collaborate will benefit Alaska's
students.
This committee represents differing viewpoints and
perspectives, yet Alaska's students would do well to
follow the example that I have seen from each of you
individually as you have genuinely worked together
across party lines to develop great ideas. Washington
can learn from Alaska…as observed here on this
committee, there are examples of elected officials
from differing political perspectives who put
character above party. On behalf of Alaska's
students, thank you for teaching them how a democratic
republic works.
8:05:40 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON continued:
I want to also thank Joshua Banks. Alaskans are
getting more than their money's worth out of Joshua.
He is a willing learner and tireless worker.
I also want to note the attitude of cooperation that I
heard from several of our associations, most notably,
the Alaska Association of School Boards, the Alaska
Association of Business Officials, the National
Education Association, and the Alaska Superintendents
Association. Their statements supporting change,
innovation, and thoughtful ideas to close the
achievement gap and be more efficient are evidence
that they are already working hard to develop unity
worthy of our students.
8:06:25 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON turned to SB 96:
Now, regarding, SB 96. Senator Hughes, your comments
seem most applicable. It is a work in progress, but
it is good work and it is good progress. It is only
those with courage who have the confidence to put out
a draft and invite critique. Those who fear change
will react negatively, but those who understand the
importance of an excellence education, will roll up
their sleeves and work with us. As with any first
draft, there is still work to do, but you've heard
commitments from organizations, individuals, and
departments that are ready and willing to work
alongside you. I thank each of you for your
willingness to continue the work in Alaska's Education
Challenge.
SB 96 reflects the conversations you've been having in
this committee. It touches on student learning,
educator excellence, modernization, finance, and
community ownership, all of which is part of the
Alaska Education Challenge. By introducing this bill
to begin the conversation, you and your committee
members have elevated these topics in anticipation the
work with many different Alaskan's.
I would be remiss if I didn't restate to the committee
what I've said before and you already know. The most
pressing legislative issue for Alaska's system of
public education is the need for of a complete
sustainable fiscal plan. When the current crisis
started, today's second graders were in
kindergarten. They will be in third grade next fall.
If a complete forward looking fiscal plan is not in
place this year, they could be in fourth grade before
a fiscal plan is passed and working to sustain a
viable economy for their future. The year this year's
kindergartners were born, Alaska enjoyed revenue of 8
or 9 billion dollars from oil. This year, that is down
to 1.6 billion. That, along with rising cost of health
care, has left a mark on Alaska, including the public
system of education. Thank you for the many hours you
and your colleagues have invested in a fiscal plan.
Please continue to focus on that work so that when our
kindergartners are seniors, they will have a thriving
steady Alaska in which to plan their own families and
careers.
8:08:58 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON concluded:
It is with great respect for each of you that I say
sincerely, I have enjoyed our work together thus
far. Thank you for allowing me to join you in today's
discussion.
8:09:15 AM
CHAIR HUGHES noted there was a lot of public testimony over
concerns with Sections 10 and 11. The committee was aware of
some of those issues and has been working with Legislative Legal
to prevent unintended consequences. The committee, the
Commissioner, and the other body had a goal to free up school
facilities that made sense for savings purposes. They are trying
to be transparent and plan to write a new CS with input from
DEED that includes a list of schools to which this provision
would apply. They will change 80 percent to 70 percent school
capacity and request that recommendations be reported back in
January of 2018. She noted that this is Education Transformation
- Act I. Next session will be Act II.
8:12:39 AM
SENATOR BEGICH thanked Senator Hughes for her work and said he
is supporting her efforts and concepts in the bill.
He asked Commissioner Johnson how SB 96 fits into the Alaska
Education Challenge.
8:14:03 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON said conversations about the bill and the
Challenge have been happening together. The committee's work
elevates the concepts in the Alaska Education Challenge. He
stated that it takes courage to put a draft of a bill out. They
will be discussing and refining the elements of both.
He listed the five committees that have been developed in the
Alaska Education Challenge: Student Learning, Educator
Excellence, Modernization and Finance, Safety and Well Being,
and Community and Tribal Ownership. Each component of SB 96 can
fit into all of the committees, but they will figure out where
each one best fits. He opined that it is a wonderful opportunity
to discuss both the bill and the Alaska Education Challenge
together.
8:16:36 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL agreed with the Commissioner Johnson's comments
on the courage needed to put forth a bill and the challenge to
refine the elements of the Challenge.
8:17:03 AM
CHAIR HUGHES commented that she is rather new to the Education
Committee process and brings a fresh perspective. It does seem
like a good idea for the State School Board and their
subcommittee process to be able to make education
recommendations. She looks forward to the legislature's role in
the process.
She asked if there is anything in the bill that is going the
wrong direction from the five Challenge committees or whether it
complements them.
8:18:05 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON said, in terms of the Alaska Education
Challenge, there are two broad goals. One is that the
recommendations are good, quality, right recommendations. The
other important part of the process is unity around the public
education system and a vision for what we want. He wants those
who will work on the committees to show up committed to both the
unity and the recommendations. He said, "If we stand together to
close the achievement gap in this state, we'll have accomplished
something, even apart from the particular recommendations." This
effort represents collaboration, cooperation, and unity on
recommendations. He concluded that SB 96 is very much in line
with the direction of Alaska's Education Challenge.
8:19:36 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON agreed with the provisions in SB 96 to
modernize the system, make great teachers available to more and
more students, be more efficient, and address teacher quality.
8:20:05 AM
SENATOR BEGICH summarized that any idea that moves Alaska
forward is worthy of consideration and, in general, the bill is
moving in the right direction.
8:20:50 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON said he does not have all the answers, but
is willing to listen. He agreed with Senator Begich's comment.
8:21:15 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL pointed out that there has been talk about the
need to innovate and change education for years. She said this
is the first time it feels as though steps are being made
forward, begun by the bill, in collaboration with the
Commissioner who is looking to make things move forward. She
said it was encouraging and she appreciates it.
8:21:54 AM
CHAIR HUGHES thought that everyone who has previously led in
education has had good intentions, but there were daunting
challenges. It was encouraging to learn that other states have
poverty, racial diversity, and economic challenges as great as
Alaska's, yet were able to achieve high academic results. She
maintained that every student matters and we cannot give up on
students. We must provide tools to districts, so they can
provide opportunities for their students, such as access to
great teachers. With a national shortage of teachers, this is
the right time to address this issue. Next year the committee's
focus will be on teacher education. She is encouraged to know
that Alaska can do better and people seem to be getting on
board.
8:24:57 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON added that the state is fortunate to have
partners in this mission, such as superintendents. In states
where achievement gaps have been closed, all stakeholders were
involved in the process and worked together. He agreed that the
time is right, and the opportunities outnumber the challenges.
8:26:22 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked whether there are any particular sections
that need further work. She inquired whether Section 5, the
reporting by districts of the ratio of students, employees, and
teachers to administrators, would be helpful.
8:27:00 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON responded that this information is already
available. They will work with the committee on how it will be
reported.
CHAIR HUGHES asked about increasing the Praxis scores and
delaying the mandate to do so.
8:28:29 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON replied that he has not gotten into the
details of that section yet. It may be that teachers are already
scoring high. He wanted to spend more time looking at the data.
He agreed that teacher quality is essential.
8:29:13 AM
CHAIR HUGHES inquired whether the requirement for the department
to make available professional development for virtual education
to districts is a good idea and would provide savings to
districts.
8:29:48 AM
COMMISIONER JOHNSON thought it would. The department wishes to
provide more support for educators in the classroom. There are
districts that already provide great staff development. Also,
DEED can work with the Alaska Staff Development Network to
provide targeted staff development addressing particular needs.
8:30:58 AM
SENATOR BEGICH agreed targeted staff development was an
effective method of professional development.
He addressed broadband limitations. He said his office has been
working with Quintillion, a company that is completing fiber
optics along the North Slope to Nome. He suggested inviting them
into the process as a partner.
He noted a section in the bill that addresses percent of market
value (POMV) and adjusting how to spend the Public Schools
Trust. He said there has been testimony that says it would
double the amount of money that could be used for education. He
asked for Commissioner Johnson's opinion on that.
8:33:25 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON addressed the first question first. He said
he is encouraged by conversations about broadband and the
contacts that have come forth about broadband. There are
exciting projects out there that will be good for Alaska in the
future.
The department's position on more money through investment is
positive. They don't have expertise within the department on
investing, but have had conversations with the Department of
Revenue. They want to get the most for their money, in terms of
investment, for education.
8:34:33 AM
CHAIR HUGHES wanted to work on broadband over the interim with
the department, the delegation in Washington, D.C., and
communication companies to seek reasonable costs for school
districts in rural areas. She asked the department to be a part
of that conversation.
8:35:21 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL addressed a concern in Section 8 about the use
of "businesses". She pointed out that Quintilian is a business
and would be a good partner with school districts. She described
a teleconference between high school students and Greens Creek.
She suggested not eliminating "businesses" from the bill.
8:36:56 AM
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON said they should have a hearing on all the
ways businesses benefit public education. He thanked the
business community for their substantial contributions to
education.
8:37:43 AM
SENATOR BEGICH spoke in favor of the continuation of the tax
credit for education between the university and the business
community.
8:38:44 AM
CHAIR HUGHES appreciated the dialogue with Commissioner Johnson
and working with his team. She thanked Senator Begich's staff as
well as her staff.
8:39:17 AM
SENATOR BEGICH thanked his staff.
CHAIR HUGHES held SB 96 in committee.
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