Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
03/23/2011 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Superintendent, Cordova School District | |
| HB198 | |
| HB199 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 198 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 199 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOPE ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 23, 2011
8:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Alan Dick, Chair
Representative Lance Pruitt, Vice Chair
Representative Eric Feige
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Peggy Wilson
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): SUPERINTENDENT~ CORDOVA SCHOOL DISTRICT
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 198
"An Act relating to the special education service agency."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 199
"An Act amending the funding for statewide residential
educational programs."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 198
SHORT TITLE: SPEC. EDUC. SERVICE AGENCY FUNDING/SUNSET
SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION
03/16/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/16/11 (H) EDC, FIN
03/23/11 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 199
SHORT TITLE: FUNDING FOR STATE BOARDING SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION
03/16/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/16/11 (H) EDC, FIN
03/23/11 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
JIM NYGAARD, Superintendent
Cordova School District
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an overview of the Cordova School
District.
SHEILA PETERSON, Staff
Representative Alan Dick
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 198, on request of the House
Education Standing Committee, of which Representative Dick is
the chair; introduced HB 199, on request of the House Education
Standing Committee, of which Representative Dick is the chair.
NANCY NAGARKAR, Executive Director
Special Education Services Agency (SESA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions during testimony on
HB 198.
ERIC GEBHART, Superintendent
Nenana City School District
Vice Chair
Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education
Nenana, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 198.
PAT DAVIDSON, Legislative Auditor
Legislative Audit Division
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions during testimony on
HB 198.
ELIZABETH SWEENEY NUDELMAN, Director
School Finance and Facilities Section
Department of Education and Early Development (EED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the fiscal note and responded to
questions during the hearing on HB 198; presented the fiscal
note and responded to questions during testimony on HB 199.
BRUCE JOHNSON, Executive Director
Alaska Council of School Administrators
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 198.
LUCIENNE SMITH
Special Education Services Agency (SESA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions during testimony on
HB 198.
MARGIE BROWN, President and CEO
Cook Inlet Region Incorporated (CIRI)
Alaska Native Corporation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 199.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:05:35 AM
CHAIR ALAN DICK called the House Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. Representatives Dick, Feige,
Seaton, and Kawasaki were present at the call to order.
Representatives P. Wilson, Pruitt, and Cissna arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
8:06:02 AM
^PRESENTATION(S): Superintendent, Cordova School District
PRESENTATION(S): Superintendent, Cordova School District
8:06:41 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the first order of business would be a
presentation from the superintendent of the Cordova School
District.
8:07:22 AM
JIM NYGAARD, Superintendent, Cordova School District, presented
a PowerPoint, entitled "Welcome to Cordova-Alaska." He reported
that Cordova had about 2500 people, with a student population of
350. He noted that, although the adult population had remained
stable, the student population was decreasing. He shared that
the summer population in Cordova could reach 10,000 people. He
announced that the school was a blue ribbon school, and had been
selected by US News and World Report as one of America's best
schools. He addressed the graphs which compared that the
proficiency levels of the Cordova School were all higher than
the national minimum standard for No Child Left Behind. He
pointed out that the school had always met the AYP (adequate
yearly progress), but that it was a constant challenge. He
shared that the math scores were a struggle, and he stated that
local data for whom, what problems, and what curriculum at what
level were all tools he used to monitor and resolve the
difficulties. He cited the Cordova Department of Education
website as a resource for students.
8:11:27 AM
MR. NYGAARD stated his education philosophy, "Learning by doing
promises longer retention, as understanding future application
makes the learning relevant and provides the energy necessary to
motivate these kids to go to the next level of understanding."
He commented on the winter vegetable growing program, utilizing
the by-product of the methane digesters. He spoke about the
abundance of methane gas around Cordova, and the school programs
developed around its use. He discussed the aluminum boat
building program. He directed attention to the laptop program,
which allowed each student to receive a laptop computer for use
from the 7th to the 12th grade, and reported that technology was
the link to the competitive world. Upon graduation, each
student could choose to purchase the laptop for $1. He
discussed the pre-loaded information program, Discovery
Learning, for the school servers. He explained the elementary
school computer instruction, which allowed the students usage
and training. He pointed to the graph, Laptop Proficiency,
which compared 17,000 eighth graders nationally with Cordova
students, and reflected on the higher proficiency for Cordova
students. He summarized that a Cordova community goal was to be
energy independent, and he listed programs for decreasing
consumption, especially in the school facilities, and the
subsequent savings.
8:19:15 AM
MR. NYGAARD described the Cordova School District summer lunch
program, stating that there were not any eligibility
requirements, and that the school delivered more than 13,000
meals to the kids. He detailed some other programs, which
included: Innovative Learning Program (ILP) to ensure
graduation; peer helpers class for students to turn to each
other prior to approaching an adult; student lead energy audits
throughout the city; and the Annual Alaska Association of
Student Government (AASG) to be hosted by Cordova in the spring.
8:22:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked if the peer helpers class
resulted in a higher graduation rate.
MR. NYGAARD replied that high expectations in the community, the
veteran teacher staff working with the peer helpers, and the ILP
helping students to maintain their dignity as they worked to
attain their diploma all combined for a higher graduation rate.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked how many students were in the
peer helper class, and if there was more than one teacher.
MR. NYGAARD replied that there was only one teacher, and that
the participation fluctuated throughout the year, for a total of
75 students per year. This included students who fell behind
due to family circumstances.
8:25:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked how the credit recovery program was
integrated.
MR. NYGAARD offered to provide information to the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if it was a challenge course.
8:26:43 AM
MR. NYGAARD replied that it encompassed a wide path. He
explained that if a student had dropped out, and chose to re-
enter, the credit recovery program offered counseling for the
necessary requirements to graduate. There was a similar
approach for students who had missed extensive schooling, due to
illness, to catch up their coursework. He pointed out that a
student requiring an extra class for graduation could enter the
ILP program. He emphasized that no student should go without a
high school diploma. He estimated that this program rescued 6-8
students from dropping-out each year.
8:29:09 AM
HB 198-SPEC. EDUC. SERVICE AGENCY FUNDING/SUNSET
CHAIR DICK announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 198, "An Act relating to the special education
service agency."
8:29:53 AM
SHEILA PETERSON, Staff, Representative Alan Dick, Alaska State
Legislature, introduced HB 198, paraphrasing from the sponsor
statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
House Bill 198 removes a sunset requirement and
increases state funding to the Special Education
Service Agency (SESA), a not-for-profit organization
established in statute in 1986. SESA is governed by
the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special
Education and its own independent board of directors.
The Special Education Service Agency assists local
school districts to provide needed special education
services. Sometimes districts cannot fully serve
students that have low-incidence disabilities with
their existing personnel and resources. SESA has a
pool of educators trained to give support to teachers
and administrators who work daily with students who
are deaf, deaf-blind, mentally retarded, hearing
impaired, blind and visually impaired, orthopedically
disabled, health-impaired in other ways, and severely
emotionally disturbed . . . (AS 14.30.630 (b)(1)).
The Special Education Service Agency receives state
support based on a funding formula adopted in 1998.
Each year the Department of Education and Early
Development allocates to SESA not less than $15.75
times the number of students statewide. Although
local school districts have received an increase in
state funding since 1998, SESA has not. Under HB 198,
the multiplier increases as the base student
allocation increases. Currently the computation (.4
percent of $5,680) equals $22.72 which approximates
the impact of inflation from 1998 to 2011.
The Special Education Service Agency is set to expire
on June 30, 2013. During previous performance audits,
both the Department of Education and the Legislative
Auditor recommended removing SESA from the sunset
process. House Bill 198 repeals the sunset
requirement and thus allows SESA to plan long-term.
Thank you for your support of this legislation.
8:33:06 AM
MS. PETERSON stated that the Governor's Council on Disabilities
& Special Education would become the oversight committee should
the sunset audit requirement be removed.
8:33:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON, citing the lack of a fiscal note,
asked what would be the increase over the years, and what the
plan was for the extra funding.
MS. PETERSON read from the handout, "Benefit of Increased
Funding," [Included in members' packets] and stated that:
A benefit of increase would be to enhance the district
services; to provide more distance delivery and online
[courses]; increase staff, so they could meet with
more individual students; and then increase training
for regular and special ed teachers.
She estimated that the current state funding was $2-$3 million
under the current formula for $15.75.
8:35:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON directed attention to Recommendation No. 1
in the December 18, 2003 Audit Report [Included in members'
packets] which suggested that "SESA should transition to
videoconferencing as the norm for the delivery of its service."
He asked whether that recommendation had been implemented.
8:36:28 AM
MS. PETERSON offered her belief that there was work in that
direction. She deferred to Ms. Nagarkar and Ms. Davidson for
clarification.
8:37:05 AM
NANCY NAGARKAR, Executive Director, Special Education Services
Agency (SESA), said that the agency currently received $2.021
million and, in response to Representative Seaton, she stated
that there was a lot of videoconferencing, although some school
districts did not have the equipment. She explained that Skype
was also used, noting that both of these were "value added."
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed out that this House Education
Standing Committee meeting was not videoconferenced. He
explained that the committee might be "behind the curve, as
well," noting that it would be helpful to see the testifiers.
8:39:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked how many additional staff would
be hired, and how much revenue that would generate.
8:39:51 AM
MS. NAGARKAR offered her belief that at least eight experienced
staff would be hired. She said that the revenue estimate would
depend on the child count, and she deferred for an actual
estimate.
8:41:24 AM
ERIC GEBHART, Superintendent, Nenana City School District, Vice
Chair, Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education,
stated his support for HB 198, and said that almost half of
SESA's funding was derived from grants, and that the additional
revenue from HB 198 would ensure that the mission of SESA could
be met. He pointed out that SESA was interested in increasing
the technology; however, due to the special nature of
disabilities, a physical presence was often required. He
emphasized the importance of removing the sunset clause in order
to negotiate long term leases and offer assurances to the staff.
8:45:02 AM
PAT DAVIDSON, Legislative Auditor, Legislative Audit Division,
said that four reviews had been conducted on SESA over the past
20 years, and that the majority of recommendations had been for
operational issues and service delivery, which included the
teleconferencing currently being discussed. She relayed that
the teleconferencing recommendation had sprung from the
expansion of tele-medicine. She pointed to the audit review of
1995, and stated that the recommendation had been to extend SESA
for 10 years or to remove SESA from the sunset process. She
acknowledged that the sunset process allowed for a periodic
evaluation; however, she pointed out that an audit could be
requested through the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.
8:47:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the legislative audit was
supportive of the recommendation to expand videoconferencing.
8:48:02 AM
MS. DAVIDSON replied that, with changing technology, it would be
necessary to have a follow up audit for an accurate response.
8:49:08 AM
ELIZABETH SWEENEY NUDELMAN, Director, School Finance and
Facilities Section, Department of Education and Early
Development (EED), addressed the EED fiscal note. She reported
that HB 198 would increase the SESA funding by $901,000, as it
would change the allocation from $15.75 multiplied by the
statewide average daily membership (ADM) to .4 percent of the
base student allowance (BSA) multiplied by the ADM. She opined
that the SESA increase would be included each time there was a
BSA increase. She noted that the BSA increase was "directly
attributed to the school districts for their public school
funding formula" and that each BSA increase would require a new
SESA fiscal note from EED. She pointed out that, alternatively,
the increase could be placed in statute. She stated that EED
was in support of an extension for the sunset provision.
8:51:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked what time frame was suggested for
the sunset extension.
MS. NUDELMAN replied that EED supported an extension for as long
term as was allowed by the Legislative Audit Division.
8:52:06 AM
CHAIR DICK, referring to the graph titled "While School
Districts have had their Base Student Allocation increased... ,"
[Included in members' packets] pointed out that SESA funding had
remained flat for the past 10 years, while CPI (Consumer Price
Index) and BSA had increased, which indicated a necessity to "be
linked with something sensitive to the cost."
8:52:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked what SESA would do with the extra
funding.
8:52:54 AM
CHAIR DICK directed attention to the "Benefit of Increased
Funding:" [Included in members' packets]
8:53:37 AM
MS. NAGARKAR, in response to Representative Feige, relayed that
additional specialists would be hired to provide increased
services to students; travel costs and distance delivery would
be funded; and on-line courses for additional training to
regular teachers, special education teachers, and
paraprofessionals throughout Alaska would be offered.
8:54:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked if SESA received the e-rate
subsidy.
MS. NAGARKAR replied that it had been awarded.
8:54:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON, directing attention to another
recommendation, asked if SESA had investigated the necessity to
file tax returns and pay excise taxes.
8:55:07 AM
MS. NAGARKAR replied that SESA had done this.
8:55:14 AM
BRUCE JOHNSON, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School
Administrators, stated his support for HB 198. He said that
some Alaska school districts hired school psychologists from the
Lower 48, but that this was not possible for the smaller school
districts. He opined that SESA was a good use of resources, and
an essential service, required by state and federal law, for
young people. He stated that SESA was a valued organization and
service.
8:57:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked if there had been an increase in
the number of special education students since SESA had started.
8:58:32 AM
LUCIENNE SMITH, Special Education Services Agency (SESA),
replied that the SESA caseload had increased by 39 percent since
FY2001.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON suggested that this large increase
should be reported early in testimony during subsequent
hearings.
CHAIR DICK announced that public testimony would remain open.
[HB 198 was held over.]
HB 199-FUNDING FOR STATE BOARDING SCHOOLS
8:59:28 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 199, "An Act amending the funding for statewide
residential educational programs."
9:00:02 AM
SHEILA PETERSON, Staff, Representative Alan Dick, Alaska State
Legislature, introduced HB 199, pointing out that the proposed
bill affected three school districts with residential high
schools, all of which were operating on January, 1, 2005. In
2006, the Alaska State Legislature had authorized small stipends
to these three school districts. The intent was to assist
funding for the boarding schools, yet not fully fund the
incurred costs. She listed the three school districts, Nenana,
Galena, and the Lower Kuskokwim, and added that they served 260
students from 50 Alaskan communities. She stated that proposed
HB 199 would double the funding intended for room and board.
9:01:28 AM
MS. PETERSON explained that this funding increase was for two
years, allowing for time to discuss the best means for high
school education in rural Alaska. She reported that these three
boarding schools, along with Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka,
served about 650 students. She pointed out the loss of revenue
to the home school districts for these students, when they
transferred to boarding schools. She announced that it was
important for these three school districts to receive additional
funding, and it was important for all Alaskans to discuss the
best delivery method for education in rural Alaska.
9:03:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked if there had been a formal study for
the short and long term benefits of this educational process.
9:04:00 AM
MS. PETERSON, in response to Representative Cissna, referred to
a Department of Education and Early Development (EED) study in
the early 1990s, as well as a study by the Alaska State
Legislature in the late 1980's, both of which reviewed the
benefit of boarding schools. She directed attention to the
follow-up studies by Mt. Edgecombe High School of their
students. She noted that this issue "has been wrestled with for
20 years, as far as I know, and possibly longer than that."
9:05:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, referring to proposed HB 199, page 1,
lines 7-8, read: "a district may claim room and board expenses
for reimbursement," and he noted that there was not a limitation
to the three aforementioned districts. He asked where the
restriction was listed.
9:06:12 AM
MS. PETERSON, referring to line [6], said that AS
14.16.200(b)(2) set up the residential educational boarding
school program, and determined that it was necessary for
operation to have begun by January 1, 2005, for eligibility to
the stipend. She shared the concern for the operation of
boarding schools without a statewide educational plan for rural
Alaska, hence the legislation was limited to the aforementioned
three boarding schools.
9:07:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if there were other boarding schools
not included in this bill, and if this special condition should
be maintained just for these three school districts.
9:08:32 AM
MS. PETERSON replied that no other school district had requested
inclusion, although Northwest Arctic Borough School District had
a boarding school.
9:09:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked whether the Voyage to Excellence
program in the Chugach School District, which had participation
of students from other school districts, would qualify under the
conditions of the proposed bill.
MS. PETERSON deferred to EED.
9:10:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked the reason for doubling the funds.
MS. PETERSON replied that the school districts had requested to
have the stipend tripled, and that the decision was made to
discuss doubling the funding.
9:11:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked if there was evidence to indicate
that this was a better educational approach.
MS. PETERSON suggested that the school districts share their
success stories. She pointed out that the test scores, the
course offerings, the interaction with a highly qualified
teacher for a specific course, and the social interaction at a
residential program were all benefits.
9:13:04 AM
CHAIR DICK expressed concern for the effects on families who
were not sending children to a boarding school.
9:14:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA commented on the lack of a comprehensive
understanding of the schools systems, especially in rural
Alaska, and how the educational programs could be presented.
She opined that courses delivered in a short, intense format,
designed to reach many people, would be good to research.
9:16:11 AM
CHAIR DICK shared that a task force was being considered.
9:16:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked to hear about the different
approaches from each of the three aforementioned schools.
9:17:36 AM
ELIZABETH SWEENEY NUDELMAN, Director, School Finance and
Facilities Section, Department of Education and Early
Development (EED), presented the fiscal note for HB 199. She
explained that the bill doubled the stipends currently in
statute which was payable to the three school districts included
in the residential program.
9:18:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked for the number of occupied beds in
each school program.
9:18:54 AM
CHAIR DICK responded that the count could fluctuate slightly as
students arrived and left the program.
9:19:14 AM
MS. NUDELMAN, in response to Representative Feige, indicated
that Galena reported full capacity of 192 students, the Lower
Kuskokwim was below its capacity of 35 students, and that Nenana
was almost at its capacity of 88 students, as reported in the
October student count. She offered to provide the exact counts
to the committee.
9:20:35 AM
MARGIE BROWN, President and CEO, Cook Inlet Region Incorporated
(CIRI) Alaska Native Corporation, said:
I am not a professional in the education business. I
am a product in part of the State of Alaska, and its
education system in earlier years. But I am very
interested in this issue in particular, and I note
that the materials that I sent to the chairman
actually have been distributed to you. These are my
views about the time and the need, urgent I believe,
to address how students are educated, particularly in
rural Alaska. I'm involved with several advisory
boards and committees at the University of Alaska in
Anchorage, and have been alarmed by the statistics
that show that 70 percent of the students that arrive
at that university campus require some form, sometimes
even several years, of remedial education before they
can begin their college level classes. I think that
is ominous and it should send alarm signals in all of
our brains, that we are producing a generation of
students that appear to come to the university system,
those that choose to go to the university system,
unprepared for university level classes. So, what is
the issue, particularly in rural Alaska? I am a
believer that, now 39 years past the monumental Molly
Hootch lawsuit and the Tobeluk decision that followed
that established schools in small villages throughout
Alaska, that it's time for us to think, look back,
[and] analyze what it is that is very good about those
lawsuits, and the following legal actions, and the
action by the State of Alaska to comply, and what is
it that is not working so awfully well. I am from
Takotna. I am from a family who chose to leave the
village because there was no school opportunity for me
and my siblings. I was going into the third grade
when the school closed for lack of school population.
This, of course, is territorial days and long before
the Molly Hootch decision. So I know that sacrifice
that my family made, to pick us up from the life that
they loved and move us to where we could get an
education. To the extent that the litigations, and
the state's actions, and the establishments of schools
in small villages for grade school children, and even
middle school children, has come about, I think that
is a good thing. I think grade school children need
to be with their parents and the opportunity to do
that [attend school] and stay in your village, I
think, is very important. But I do believe that we
need to look more carefully when children get older
and get to the high school age. I know we have this
issue about what happens when students go to
residential schools and what happens to their
villages, and what happens to their school in their
villages, and I think that's because we are trying to
do both. I'm not certain that we can do that [both]
and not, as you suggest Chairman Dick, harm the
students that stay back in the village. I think that
two years, and I'm just now becoming familiar with
this particular piece of legislation, and I think the
dialogue around having these two years to look very
carefully at how we organize our school system is
totally appropriate, and to the extent that this gives
these three schools better breathing room, I'm all for
that. But I am mostly for this dialogue. I sit atop
a corporation that is doing a lot of tremendously
exciting things in the state, and I would like to look
out to the people who were raised and educated in
Alaska, and look to a gainfully employable work force
of shareholders, of people who live in urban centers,
of people who come from rural Alaska. I think this
idea that we must now look at some systemic change is
totally appropriate, and I encourage the dialogue. I
would welcome, I would be happy to participate if you
would like me to do so. I do think that this is not
about changing the formula, [or] arguing about the
formula, this really has to be about systemic change,
and we do, as you suggest, need to get about that
[change]. I fear we are going to leave a whole
generation of young people behind because they exit
our school system undereducated.
9:27:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked if the CIRI Native Corporation had
considered starting a private high school for its shareholders.
MS. BROWN reported that the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, a CIRI
affiliated non-profit organization, was working to establish a
residential facility for 40 high school students, in Anchorage
near Bartlett High School. She said this may also serve to
address the issue of young homeless students from villages who
needed a safe educational environment. Bartlett High School
currently afforded space to the tribal council for a school
within a school program, and this would be incorporated into the
residential plan. She concluded that, in the Anchorage area, a
particular population of Native students was receiving attention
from CIRI.
9:28:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE queried whether other Native regional
corporations were considering similar action.
MS. BROWN stated that her agenda for the day included a meeting
with the presidents and CEO's of the twelve regional
corporations, and a meeting with the governor. She said that
education reform, and the concepts she had mentioned, would be
on the agenda. Two years ago, at a similar CEO meeting, this
concern had been expressed, and a call had been made for change
to the education delivery system in Alaska. She stated that it
was a systemic issue, not an argument for formula and funding.
She said:
We all recognize, and we've been using this term
'boarding school' an awful lot, even in this hearing,
and I'm trying to move away from that term, because we
know, as Alaska Native leaders that there has been a
lot of harm fostered on people in past years through
the boarding school concept; where the desire was to
actually remove people from their Alaska Native
culture. We recognize that, I acknowledge it. I know
in putting this paper out [speaker raised an article
titled, "Alaska must improve education options"
reprinted from the January 2011 issue of "Raven's
Circle"] that there is some risk that people will be
offended. However, I do believe our conditions are
such that we have a different kind of society now and
I believe we can find a way to have these schools and
actually empower, and encourage, and nurture Native
culture, as opposed to trying to damage it. I believe
the other CEO's are there, too. They said that two
years ago, and I think they'll say it again today to
the governor. We know that this has to be a careful
dialogue where you engage the local community. This
is not something that can be forced down on people.
This is something where you really are truly going to
have to have buy-in, and you are going to have to
engage the Alaska Native community in a very, very
heartfelt and sincere way. But I believe if we do
that, we can get there, because everybody wants their
children to have the best opportunity, and that is
good for the state, and that's good for those
communities, and that's what parents want throughout
the state. So, I think we can get there.
9:31:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked if there was a possibility that a
funding partnership with the corporations could be formed.
MS. BROWN reported that tribal and Native organizations had
access to private funding sources. However, she questioned
whether regional corporations should step up and do the work of
the state. She expressed that a cooperative effort to educate
employable people was in everyone's interest.
9:34:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA encouraged a continuation of the
conversation to build better communication regarding the basic
necessities.
9:36:12 AM
MS. BROWN emphasized that children's education and the social
impacts to the villages was a highly charged issue. She
concurred that for this to succeed the local elders and the
children needed to buy-in to the idea and feel ownership. She
provided an anecdote to illustrate her point. She continued,
stating:
We are trying to do everything. We're trying to do
the residential schools, still keep a few kids in the
high schools, and you really do not want to create a
system of haves and have not's. I like the idea of
going to school year around, I like the idea of
perhaps two or three weeks in your residential
regional center, and maybe a week back home; but for
that you go year around with some time off for
subsistence activities. Obviously we want children to
understand and value their subsistence activities.
But I think these are all part of the dialogue, where
you can keep kids engaged with their village, and back
in their village, and back with their parents. Maybe
it's not for the full four years; maybe it's for the
last two. There are so many options that need to be
considered, that we ought to be able, with all of our
collective thoughts here, to figure out a program that
doesn't diminish the villages anymore than they are
now, and yet provides these rich opportunities for
students. I believe that you have to have a student
body of some size to really deliver a high school
experience, and that doesn't happen when you have 72
schools with less than 10 students in high school,
that just doesn't happen. I think there are a lot of
formulas that could be looked at, and a lot of
different ways you could organize school, including
year round school, that would allow time back in the
village and also to participate in a regional
experience.
9:40:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE offered his belief that the good students
would leave the villages while those who remained did not place
as high a value on education. He said that many of those in
current leadership positions in the Native Corporations were
educated in boarding schools, evidence that a good education was
available at these schools. He acknowledged the "cultural
stripping" that had occurred at the boarding schools, and he
stressed the importance for the Native corporations to now
utilize their influence for affecting educational change.
9:42:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, noting the lack of successful school
district models, pointed out that local school districts had
control of the curriculum. He cited the St. Mary's City School
District, which had a 90 percent graduation rate, with 87
percent of the postsecondary students requiring no remedial
classes, as a successful model. He pointed out that the
legislature was not able to impose specific curriculum on
particular districts without creating state operated schools.
He expressed his belief to the difficulty of a one-size fits all
education plan, as it would affect the already successful
schools. He announced his concern for the restriction to only
the three school districts in proposed HB 199, and he pointed to
the futility of another task force, which would meet for two
years, and report to a potentially new House Education Standing
Committee. He asked why the legislature should agree to another
two year extension to study these three boarding school models.
He asked whether the question was about boarding schools or
toward effective versus non-effective rural schools. He
concluded by asking how to change an ineffective school system
with an efficient statewide model.
9:46:47 AM
MS. BROWN responded that the conversation should occur within
the next two years and not be delayed. She suggested that the
legislature should also use its own "bully pulpit" to instigate
the dialogue and implement change. She declared it to be the
responsibility of the State of Alaska to scrutinize the entire
school district system to ensure consistency and opportunity in
education. She agreed that there were huge challenges for urban
versus rural school districts. She stated her belief that
quality education was not achievable until high school students
were congregated in a large enough group for "a high school
experience." She opined that the larger group allowed for a
more meaningful curriculum of consistently higher quality. She
expressed her desire for action, and not just dialogue.
9:50:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA suggested that the timing was now
excellent for a video/teleconference to involve the students.
9:51:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT underscored the importance that the Native
corporations and the state were now acknowledging the need for
long term effective change.
MS. BROWN expressed her agreement.
9:52:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON offered his belief that the two year time
frame was wrong, as it was most effective to work with a
consistent committee. He explained the difficulties of spanning
two interims and then bringing the topic to a new legislature,
with a possible change in committee leadership and membership.
He encouraged a request be made through the governor's office to
compel action within this current legislative session.
9:53:46 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that public testimony would be held open.
[HB 199 was held over.]
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:55 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 198 Sponsor Statement.doc |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 198 |
| SESA Funding Comparison Chart.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 198 |
| SESA Responsibilities.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 198 |
| HB 198 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 198 |
| SESA Statutes.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 198 |
| Statutes for Residential Educ Programs.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 199 |
| HB 199 Fiscal Note - Copy.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 199 |
| White Paper by J. Covey.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 199 |
| HB 199 Sponsor Statement - Copy.doc |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 199 |
| Margie Brown Compass Piece - Copy.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 199 |
| Nenana PowerPoint.ppt |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 199 |
| Galena City School District Part 1 - Copy.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 199 |