04/01/2011 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Superintendent, Bering Strait School District (bssd) | |
| HB38 | |
| SB1 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 38 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 1, 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 Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Sharon Cissna
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Bob Miller
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): SUPERINTENDENT~ BERING STRAIT SCHOOL DISTRICT
(BSSD)
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 38
"An Act authorizing the establishment of institutes of medicine
and law at the University of Alaska."
- HEARD & HELD
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 1(EDC)
"An Act requiring the state Board of Education and Early
Development to provide an annual report to the legislature."
- MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 38
SHORT TITLE: UNIVERSITY INSTITUTES OF LAW AND MEDICINE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KAWASAKI
01/18/11 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/11
01/18/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/11 (H) EDC, FIN
04/01/11 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: SB 1
SHORT TITLE: BD OF ED./EARLY DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS
01/19/11 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/11
01/19/11 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/11 (S) EDC, FIN
01/31/11 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
01/31/11 (S) Heard & Held
01/31/11 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
02/02/11 (S) EDC RPT CS 5DP SAME TITLE
02/02/11 (S) DP: MEYER, THOMAS, STEVENS, DAVIS,
FRENCH
02/02/11 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/02/11 (S) Moved CSSB 1(EDC) Out of Committee
02/02/11 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
02/14/11 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/14/11 (S) Heard & Held
02/14/11 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/22/11 (S) FIN AT 10:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/22/11 (S) Moved CSSB 1(EDC) Out of Committee
02/22/11 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/23/11 (S) FIN RPT CS(EDC) 6DP 1NR
02/23/11 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, STEDMAN, THOMAS, EGAN,
MCGUIRE, ELLIS
02/23/11 (S) NR: OLSON
03/07/11 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/07/11 (S) VERSION: CSSB 1(EDC)
03/09/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/09/11 (H) EDC, FIN
04/01/11 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
ROB PICOU, Superintendent
Bering Strait School District (BSSD)
Unalakleet, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a PowerPoint on the Bering Strait
School District
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 38 as the sponsor of the bill.
ALICIA MARYOTT, Staff
Representative Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed HB 38 on behalf of the sponsor,
Representative Scott Kawasaki.
MARSHALL SEVERSON
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 38.
WENDI COMPTON
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 38.
DAN KENNEDY, CPA
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 38.
WENDY REDMAN, Executive Vice President
University of Alaska Statewide Systems
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 38.
SUZANNE TRYCK
Alaska WWAMI Representative
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions, during the hearing
on HB 38.
THOMAS OBERMEYER, Staff
Senator Bettye Davis
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 1 on behalf of the bill
sponsor, Senator Bettye Davis.
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions, during the hearing
on SB 1.
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development (EED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions, during the hearing
on SB 1.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:05:18 AM
CHAIR ALAN DICK called the House Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. Representatives Dick, Wilson,
Seaton, and Kawasaki were present at the call to order.
Representatives Feige and Pruitt arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
8:06:04 AM
^PRESENTATION(S): Superintendent, Bering Strait School District
(BSSD)
PRESENTATION(S): Superintendent, Bering Strait School District
(BSSD)
CHAIR DICK announced that the first order of business would be a
presentation from the superintendent of the Bering Strait School
District (BSSD).
8:06:39 AM
ROB PICOU, Superintendent, Bering Strait School District (BSSD),
presented a PowerPoint titled "Bering Strait School District"
[Included in members' packets] and paraphrased from written
comments which read as follows: [original punctuation provided]
I am the superintendent of the Bering Strait School
District. I have been a teacher and a principal in
the state for the past 15 years. Most of my career
has been spent in three different communities on the
North Slope. I have also spent three years in the Mat
Su Valley. Now, I am proud to be the superintendent
of the most progressive rural school district in the
state of Alaska.
The Bering Strait School District has a history of
success. We are recognized around the state as a
leader in rural education. We pride ourselves on
innovation and our tenacity in face of obstacles.
While we have come a long way, we still have a long
way to go.
He directed attention to Slide 2, explaining that the BSSD Early
Childhood Education programs were 100 percent grant funded in 14
sites, were in partnership with Kawerak and RurAL CAP, and had
125 students enrolled. He noted, however, that by the end of
FY13 all the grant funded programs would be unfunded.
We are very proud of this initiative and believe it
offers the most potential to change life for many
students in our communities. Our Board is committed
to Early Childhood Education. It is one of the only
examples that I know of where there is a real
partnership taking place between a school district and
Head Start programs. Our certified ECE teachers work
with the community teachers from Head Start through
Kawerak and RurAL CAP. It has been highly successful
in both providing high quality education services to
our students most at risk and also building a
partnership within the community. However, one of our
greatest successes is also one of our greatest
challenges. We are constantly chasing money to keep
this program alive. We provide the services when we
can and then lose the funding and have to discontinue
the services. This is disheartening to families,
teachers and young children who grow so much in these
early years.
[Slide 3.] In grades 3-10, we show a 13 percent
growth in Reading which we attribute to our SFA
(Success For All) reading program. While this does
not necessarily show a dramatic growth over the last
six years, we are committed to making necessary
changes in order to obtain higher academic
achievement.
He explained that the district was implementing each of the
following: Phi Delta Kappa Audit; Curriculum Alignment; State
Standards/GLEs; Emphasis on Literacy Skills; Explicit
Instruction; Success For All; School Improvement Grant; RTi; and
AimsWeb.
[Slide 4.] This graph shows the work that we must do
with all of our students but especially with our LEP
and special ed students. The data that you just
looked at in the previous slide is impacted by our
students who do not have foundational literacy skills.
Many of our students don't have any language. They
don't speak their native language and they do not have
sufficient academic English skills to be successful in
school or in post secondary education. Again, another
reason why Early Childhood Education is so vital to
the success of our students. Only 2 out of 10 of our
special ed students are graduating from HS. Only 4
out of 10 of our LEP students are graduating from HS.
Our graduation rate overall is 46 percent. Our LEP
population is 47 percent of our total population.
[Slide 5.] We are a large district. There is no one
model of education that will work for all schools.
This graph shows the disparity between two of our
schools. When we are looking at curriculum resources,
staff development, and funding, we have two different
sets of needs. We are very excited about the work we
are doing with the State in our School Improvement
Grant. We are all on the same team. We are
implementing the AimsWeb progress monitor and an RTI
model. The issue is no longer, we taught it, they
didn't learn it, maybe they will learn it at their own
pace. It is now, we taught it, they didn't learn it,
immediately, what are we going to change to guarantee
that they learn it.
[Slide 6.] This is District Wide, first time testers.
As you can see, we went from less than 30 percent in
reading to almost 60 percent in seven years. We
attribute this growth to our implementation of the SFA
(Success For All) program.
[Slide 7.] We have a major disconnect. The
disconnect is our graduation rate and what kids are
telling us they want to do after graduation compared
to what they are actually able to accomplish after
graduation. We have kids going through their entire
school experience telling themselves and their parents
that they are going to go to college after they
graduate. The data tells us that only 10 to 15
percent actually participate in post secondary
education. Less than 5 percent actually finish. What
is left after the disappointment and sense of failure?
We have high levels of substance abuse, high suicide
rates, and domestic violence, and just apathy.
[Slide 8.] We are in a restructuring process to
provide multiple pathways to graduation. This is our
vision of a better bridge. We are building a vision
of what education should and can look like. We have
asked ourselves not why but why not.
[Slide 9.] It is important to look at these pathways
not as a tracking system. The students in any one
pathway are not placed in a pathway and they are not
stuck in a pathway. There is fluidity, flexibility
and choice. No one pathway is any less rigorous than
another pathway. All three pathways are equally
rigorous.
[Slide 10.] This is the real condition of some of our
vocational education classrooms today. Over the years
since the inception of NCLB, they have become storage
facilities. Our goal is to revitalize vocational
education by providing high quality vocational
education programs and building industry standard
vocational education classroom space. In a
partnership with Northwest Campus UAF, NSEDC, and
Bering Straits Regional Corporation, and the State of
Alaska, we plan to provide more comprehensive
vocational education services to our students and
communities. [He moved on to Slide 11.] Vocational
education is so important to the lives of children
that good teachers who understand the need have
cobbled together make shift vocational education
classrooms. We have vocational education classrooms
that are literally two connex boxes that have been put
together. The picture of a vocational education
classroom that you see here was built by students,
teachers and community members out of left over
materials from a school construction project.
Our Board has approved the building of vocational
education classrooms in all communities as funding is
available. We have identified funding for one
vocational education classroom to be built in the
community of White Mountain this year. We will then
move to the community of Shaktoolik.
[Slide 12.] As a District, we are addressing the
issues, but I would be remiss in my duties as a
superintendent if I didn't tell you that we need some
help.
These numbers are not a surprise. This is just the
cost of doing business in Alaska. The number that I
find interesting is the staff development costs. As a
District, we spend $893,750 on staff development. Of
that figure, $510,930 is spent on travel. The cost of
doing business in Bush Alaska is high. In general,
our teachers do not have the training to do the job we
are asking them to do. We have high needs in the area
of academic language skills for all of our students
but especially our LEP and special education students.
Even our English teachers do not have the skills to
address this need. As a state, we need to get serious
about staff development.
[Slide 13.] Our school board believes there are no
challenges we can't face when we look to the partners
in our neighborhood and become the one single heart
beat that pumps life into the dreams of children. We
are grateful for the partnership that our legislative
body provides and equally grateful for the partnership
provided by the Department of Education.
8:15:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked about the early childhood
development and education program.
8:15:44 AM
MR. PICOU replied that earlier funding had gone to pay for more
teachers and more services in the Head Start classrooms, as many
of the students first came to school with extremely limited
vocabulary. He extolled the partnership between the school
district and the Head Start program, and offered his belief that
this was now starting to show results.
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI, noting that the program was 100 percent
grant funded, asked if the school board had discussed a stipend
from families who wanted their children to participate in a
similar program.
MR. PICOU explained that many of the communities had extreme
poverty levels, which would preclude any stipend being paid.
8:17:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, pointing to slide 5, Limited English
Proficiency (LEP), asked if there was any involvement with the
Consortium for Digital Learning, which provided an ipad touch,
loaded with math and English games, to the students. He touted
the resulting performance enhancements.
MR. PICOU replied that the district was investigating it.
8:19:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON reflected that iPhones could be converted
to be touch educational tools, rather than be discarded.
MR. PICOU agreed, but stated that the difficulty was in training
teachers for the use of instructional techniques, "explicit
instruction."
8:20:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked why the children started school
unprepared and without language.
8:20:53 AM
MR. PICOU replied that a typical village home was small, three
bedrooms with ten occupants, and many parents did not have the
tools to supply to their children.
8:21:20 AM
MR. PICOU, in response to Representative P. Wilson, explained
that the parents needed to be trained in order to help teach the
children before they attended school.
8:21:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked if the school district had
requested any of its partners to supply children's books and
help the parents learn what can be done for early childhood
learning.
MR. PICOU replied that Imagination Library was currently in use
in the district. He said that the parents were receptive, but
they needed help to find the tools.
8:23:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked how the legislature could help.
MR. PICOU replied that early childhood education and relevant
vocational training were the two most important needs.
8:24:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON referred to Parents as Teachers (PAT)
as a childhood program, and asked whether the district needed
funding or a different program.
MR. PICOU stated that they already had a great program which
they wanted to continue.
HB 38-UNIVERSITY INSTITUTES OF LAW AND MEDICINE
8:26:12 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 38, "An Act authorizing the establishment of
institutes of medicine and law at the University of Alaska."
8:27:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI, Alaska State Legislature, stated
that HB 38 would authorize the establishment of Institutes of
Medicine and Law at the University of Alaska. He reported on
the difficulty of providing enough doctors and lawyers for the
needs of the state.
8:29:35 AM
ALICIA MARYOTT, Staff, Representative Scott Kawasaki, Alaska
State Legislature, presented HB 38, paraphrasing from the
sponsor statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Alaska remains one of only six states that have no
medical school and the only state without a law
school. Alaska has a shortage of doctors which is
likely to worsen as the state's population increases
and ages. The cost of healthcare and legal services
will only continue to rise. That is why it is time to
invest in education and build the workforce Alaska
will need for the next 20 years.
Law and medical students are required to go out of
state for their education, therefore Alaska suffers
even more. Most students tend to remain in the area in
which they earn their degrees. Conversely, the 'Alaska
Family Medicine Residency' has an extremely high rate
of return in which 70% of the 55 graduates have
remained in Alaska. By enabling the University of
Alaska to build schools of medicine and law; it
creates a better foundation for future doctors and
lawyers to stay in Alaska for their higher education.
Alaska shouldn't deny opportunity to the best and
brightest and export their talents, nor import
professionals from the lower 48 who don't have a
connection to the state. They deserve the chance to
attend medical or law school, without the high cost of
transferring out of state, possibly moving back,
tuition, and without the limitations set on programs
such as WWAMI which only allows 20 students per year
into medical school. I urge your support encouraging
the University of Alaska to train the next generation
of Alaskan doctors and lawyers through House Bill 38.
8:31:57 AM
MS. MARYOTT, addressing the fiscal note, said that the cost was
indeterminate. She relayed that HB 38 would authorize studies
to be conducted for the establishment of Medical and Law
Schools.
8:33:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked if the University of Alaska had
indicated the number of students that could attend a medical
school.
8:33:34 AM
MS. MARYOTT, in response to Representative P. Wilson, said that
currently there were only 20 students admitted to the
Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) program,
and that there was a waiting list.
8:33:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON opined that a problem with WWAMI was that
the required medical residency positions weren't available in
Alaska, and that this could also be a limitation for a medical
school.
8:34:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI agreed that residencies were a factor in
"getting doctors to Alaska." He pointed out that a pediatrics
residency had recently been established. He reported that half
of physicians licensed in the US were foreign trained as there
were not enough medical personnel graduating from US schools
each year to serve the needs of the population.
8:36:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON agreed that more doctors and nurses
were needed, but she questioned the need for more lawyers.
8:37:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI explained that Alaska was the only state
in the union which didn't have a law school. He pointed out
that many issues, such as tribal sovereignty and mineral
leasing, were unique to Alaska, and that the legal community
would be enhanced by in-state training.
8:38:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked how many unfilled physician positions
existed in Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI replied that there were not enough
physicians in the nation, and that there was a shortage in
Alaska.
8:39:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE commented that there was a balance of
students coming to and leaving Alaska to work in the medical
profession, and that a lot of other factors entered into the
attraction of a facility to medical professionals. He suggested
that the problem be more closely defined as to whether there
were other issues for attracting medical professionals.
8:42:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI, in response to Representative Feige,
referred to earlier reports defining critically needed jobs
within Alaska, and stated that medical professionals always
topped the list.
8:43:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the proposed medical school would
include dental training.
8:44:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI replied that the proposed bill had been
left "appropriately broad" to allow the Board of Regents to
address the need.
8:45:08 AM
MARSHALL SEVERSON stated his support for HB 38. He reported
that he was a lifelong Alaskan, and had been educated at the
University of Alaska. He opined that Alaskans should not have
to leave the state to further their education in medicine or
law. He pointed out that Alaska was the only state without a
law school. He expressed concern with "a legal culture wholly
formed outside the state of Alaska, taught by professors in
schools with no Alaska sensitivity or fundamental understanding
of the complex aspects of Alaska and its unique needs." He
offered his belief that a local law school would improve legal
services. He suggested that it would make better economic sense
to spend educational resources within the state on both schools
of medicine and law.
8:48:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked if he was an attorney.
MR. SEVERSON replied that he was not an attorney.
8:48:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON commented that, as there was a shortage
of nurses in Alaska, there was a need for more nurses, but she
was not sure of the need for more attorneys.
8:49:47 AM
WENDI COMPTON shared that she was a graduate of University of
Alaska, and that she supported HB 38. She expressed her desire
to attend law school, but stated that she did not want to leave
her family while she attended school outside the state. She
pointed out that there were not any incentive programs to
support Alaskan students going to law school. She stated that
the cap on federal student loans for law students, $158,000,
would barely cover tuition, whereas the cap on student loans for
medical students was significantly higher. She stated:
Alaskan students interested in pursuing a career in
law are significantly disadvantaged. We do not
qualify for in-state student discounts for the law
schools we apply to unless we change our residency.
Most law schools provide in-state student residency
discounts which can be up to 10 percent of the
student's tuition.
She continued and pointed out:
Alaskan students interested in going to law school are
required to pay more money in tuition and have to make
the hard choice to leave our families, jobs and
community ties behind while we attend school in
another state.
She offered her belief that a law school in Alaska would keep
law students in Alaska, where they would work for Alaskans, and
"help preserve the Alaskan way of life."
8:52:33 AM
DAN KENNEDY, CPA, addressed the proposed Institute of Law, and
said that his graduating high school daughter was going to
attend University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), with the desire to
then attend a law school. He pointed out that his daughter was
the valedictorian of her high school class, and he suggested
that, if she leaves Alaska for school, it would be another
example of the "brain drain" from Alaska.
MR. KENNEDY offered his comments on the medical school proposal.
He reported that his other daughter was studying at the Air
Force Academy, with a desire to become a flight surgeon. He
noted that this also required education outside Alaska. He
pointed out that both his daughters were raised in Alaska, and
he reflected on the enhanced benefits for Alaska if they
remained in the state.
8:58:30 AM
WENDY REDMAN, Executive Vice President, University of Alaska
Statewide Systems, stated support for HB 38, and acknowledged
the increasing shortage of physicians in Alaska. She noted that
there were existing medical education programs in the state,
with an ongoing review to increase these opportunities. She
reported that the University of Alaska (UA) was continually
working with the Alaska Health Care Coalition and the Alaska
Workforce Investment Board for options to expand medical
education and physician placement. She noted that the short
term options to a medical school included expansion of the WWAMI
program, cash incentives for physicians to practice in
underserved communities, enhancement of the telemedicine
capabilities, and addition of medical residencies throughout
Alaska. She said that the need for a law school was not as well
documented. She reported that the University was not currently
prepared to commit to the development of either a medical or law
school without further review and analysis of the costs and
infrastructure requirements. She pointed out that everything
that was currently being put into place were necessary elements
in order for a medical school to exist. She offered support for
HB 38.
9:03:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI pointed out that many law students do
not practice law, but that the use of an advanced degree was
valuable. He asked Ms. Redman if a law school in Alaska would
make monetary sense, and he opined that the facilities were
already available. He directed attention to the immediate
success of the nursing program at UA.
9:05:01 AM
MS. REDMAN replied that the need should justify the cost, as law
was an expensive program to offer, and that a needs assessment
was necessary.
9:06:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON questioned if the limited number of WWAMI
residencies in Alaska was a problem. He asked if there were any
residencies available in Alaska.
9:07:27 AM
SUZANNE TRYCK, Alaska WWAMI representative, agreed that it was a
limiting factor, and explained that, in 2014, there would be
more medical school graduates than there were residency training
opportunities. She listed the 12 residencies in Alaska Family
Medicine, the 4 residencies in pediatrics, and the psychiatry
and family medicine residencies that were being developed. She
reminded the committee that residencies accepted nationwide
applicants, not just from WWAMI schools.
9:09:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI restated the interest of Alaskans to
have these facilities available in Alaska.
[HB 38 was held over.]
SB 1-BD OF ED./EARLY DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT
9:11:08 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the final order of business would be
the CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 1(EDC), "An Act requiring the state
Board of Education and Early Development to provide an annual
report to the legislature."
9:11:27 AM
THOMAS OBERMEYER, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State
Legislature, introduced SB 1, paraphrasing from the sponsor
statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
This bill requires that the Alaska State Board of
Education shall prepare and present to State
Legislature not later than the 30th day of each
regular session an annual report that describes the
efforts of the Board to develop, maintain, and
continuously improve a comprehensive quality public
education system as provided for under the bylaws of
the Board. The report to the Legislature must
include:
1. a summary of resolves and rationales provided in
support of policy decisions;
2. program and curriculum changes made, discussed, or
recommended in meetings; and
3. additional information relevant to efforts made to
improve and maintain the public education system.
This bill is intended to create a greater dialogue
among Alaska legislators, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), and the Board of Education
which meets at least quarterly. Since Alaska
legislators appropriate over $1 billion per year for
state public education, which is a significant portion
of the state budget, they must be at the center of the
state's efforts to identify strengths and weaknesses
of the current system, help determine a public agenda,
set clear goals for K-12 and higher education, and
hold institutions accountable for performance. The
only way to achieve this is through cooperation and
communication with the Board and the Department.
Legislators take great pride and tremendous amounts of
time and effort every session in trying to provide the
best possible education, scholarships, and funding for
Alaska students. The annual report required by this
bill will assist both DEED and legislators early in
each session in assessing new programs, curriculum
changes, goals and priorities which may require more
information or administrative and legislative action,
during session.
9:13:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON reflected that the Board of Education
had provided an annual report to the legislature, and asked if
there was a need for additional reporting.
MR. OBERMEYER replied that an oral report was often provided at
some point during the session, but that a written report would
furnish the information earlier in the legislative process.
9:15:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed out that the proposed bill did not
specify a written report and he asked for a clarification to the
means of reporting.
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, Alaska State Legislature, replied that a
written report would be expected. She shared that her reason
for the proposed bill was to meet with the Board earlier in the
session. She stated her desire for both a written report and an
annual verbal presentation, preferably in January. She allowed
that it was not necessary for the entire Board to come to meet
in January, but that, at the least, the chair should personally
attend.
9:19:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the report, as requested in the
proposed bill, would provide the necessary analysis. He asked
for an explanation to the zero fiscal note.
9:20:31 AM
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Education and Early Development (EED), explained
that the zero fiscal note reflected the use of existing staff to
collect the documentation for the issues addressed.
9:21:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the language in the proposed bill
made clear to EED the requirement for a written report as well
as a formal in-person presentation.
9:21:54 AM
MR. MORSE replied that, currently, EED understood that there
would be a written report, to be delivered in person. He
reported that EED understood this to be the intent of the
sponsor for the proposed bill.
9:22:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON reported that a recommendation from the
Alaska Advisory Task Force on Higher Education & Career
Readiness (HECR) required a report to be issued on April 1,
though there was also a recommendation for much closer contact
between the Alaska State Legislature and the Alaska State Board
of Education & Early Development. He offered his belief that
the intent was to have a formal written report presented and
brought to the committee for discussion.
9:24:07 AM
CHAIR DICK closed public testimony.
9:24:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT moved to report CSSB 1(EDC), Version 27-
LS0001\B, out of committee with individual recommendations and
the accompanying zero fiscal note.
9:24:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON objected, and asked to verify the version
being passed.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, upon corroboration, removed his
objection.
9:25:06 AM
There being no further objection, CSSB 1(EDC) was reported from
the House Education Standing Committee.
9:26:07 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:26 a.m.
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