Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
04/04/2011 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Superintendent Anchorage School District | |
| HB199 | |
| HB198 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 199 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 198 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 4, 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
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): SUPERINTENDENT ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 199
"An Act amending the funding for statewide residential
educational programs."
- MOVED CSHB 199(EDC) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 198
"An Act relating to the special education service agency."
- MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
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
03/23/11 (H) Heard & Held
03/23/11 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/30/11 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
03/30/11 (H) Heard & Held
03/30/11 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/04/11 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
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
03/23/11 (H) Heard & Held
03/23/11 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/30/11 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
03/30/11 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
04/04/11 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
CAROL COMEAU, Superintendent
Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a PowerPoint overview of the
Anchorage School District.
ELIZABETH SWEENEY NUDELMAN, Director
School Finance and Facilities Section
Department of Education and Early Development (EED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during discussion of HB 199.
ERIC GEBHART, Superintendent
Nenana City School District
Nenana, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during discussion of HB 199.
CRAIG CULBERT, Assistant Superintendent
Galena City School District
Galena, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during discussion of HB 199.
SHEILA PETERSON, Staff
Representative Alan Dick
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during discussion of HB 198, on
behalf of the bill sponsor, the House Education Committee.
PATRICK REINHART
Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education
Division of Senior and Disabilities Services
Department of Health and Social Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 198.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:05:06 AM
CHAIR ALAN DICK called the House Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. Representatives Dick, Wilson,
Feige, Kawasaki, and Seaton were present at the call to order.
Representatives Pruitt arrived as the meeting was in progress.
^PRESENTATION(S): Superintendent Anchorage School District
PRESENTATION(S): Superintendent Anchorage School District
8:05:33 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the first order of business would be a
presentation from the superintendent of the Anchorage School
District.
8:06:12 AM
CAROL COMEAU, Superintendent, Anchorage School District,
presented a PowerPoint, titled "Anchorage School District."
[Included in members' packets] She reported that the school
district was the 94th largest in the United States, with more
than 6,000 employees, 49,091 students, and more than 100 schools
and programs. She offered her belief that the poverty rate was
increasing, as 1 in 3 students were from low income families.
She noted that there were 91 languages spoken by the students,
and that 14 percent of the students received special education
services. She directed attention to the student diversity,
which brought its challenges, but was also an asset for working
in a global environment. She said that 53 percent of the
student population represented ethnic groups other than White.
She directed attention to a graph which depicted the rise in
graduation rates to 69.69 percent, and a decline in the dropout
rate to 3.59 percent.
8:09:45 AM
MS. COMEAU described the efforts and the funding for the 10 pre-
school programs. She declared that the program resulted in
better prepared kindergarteners. She explained that all the
student progress was analyzed, so that intervention could be
offered more quickly to increase student achievement should it
become necessary. She reported that elementary summer school
would be offered for five weeks, for remediation only.
8:12:49 AM
MS. COMEAU directed attention to the slide titled, "Middle
School." She reported that stimulus funding had been budgeted
for extensive training for middle school principals by the
Center for Educational Leadership at the University of
Washington. She shared that this training focused on improving
the quality of classroom instruction. She pointed out that the
career guides had been reinstated for support to students with
career technical education preparation and planning. She said
that summer school, summer camp, and after school programs would
also explore other career options. She mentioned the success of
the middle school summer school program for remediation in
reading and math.
8:14:38 AM
MS. COMEAU moved on to the next slide, "High school." She
reported that targeted programs had been selected, graduation
support coordinators had been hired to help keep kids on track
for graduation, and the career and technology education
curriculum had been expanded. She noted that more than 5000
students attended summer school in the prior year. She said
that the on-line courses had provided flexibility for many
students.
8:17:36 AM
MS. COMEAU said that a number of students were not literate in
English or their own language. She explained that the secondary
newcomers center had been established to work through the
language barrier. She explained that students were moved from
their home school each day for half day intensive class time.
She pointed out that each student was assigned an English as a
Second Language (ESL) counselor, and that the parents were also
welcomed to attend evening English classes.
8:20:13 AM
MS. COMEAU relayed that 14 percent of the student population
were using special education services, and that extra counselor
positions had been added at the high school level. She detailed
the Collaborative Autism Resources and Education (CARE) training
to help address the growing population of autistic students.
She said that special education support continued in summer
school.
8:21:58 AM
MS. COMEAU reported on Title VII, Indian education, and
mentioned a new grant project, Project Ki'l, which focused on
Alaska Native boys. She discussed that Project Pugigtut,
meaning smart people, an online high school success program with
culturally responsive core courses, had been implemented. She
spoke of the technological and staff support for both of these
programs. She reported an increase to the number of students
returning to school.
8:24:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked that an analysis of the data results
from the pre-k programs be forwarded to the committee.
MS. COMEAU replied that, as there were no standards based
assessments until the third grade level, there was a limited
amount of data available, other than anecdotal.
8:26:38 AM
MS. COMEAU, in response to Representative P. Wilson, said that
the Explore assessment was specific to student strengths and
areas of interest. She said that Explore and WorkKeys were
developed by ACT, although there was no relationship.
8:27:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, referring to the special education
students, asked if the Consortium for Digital Learning (CDL) had
demonstrated use of the ipad touch.
8:28:54 AM
MS. COMEAU said that it was being considered. She mentioned the
one-to-one laptop initiative which had been presented earlier by
the CDL.
8:29:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON explained that an iPhone could be recycled
as an iPad touch type instrument.
HB 199-FUNDING FOR STATE BOARDING SCHOOLS
8:31:22 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 199, "An Act amending the funding for statewide
residential educational programs."
8:32:36 AM
ELIZABETH SWEENEY NUDELMAN, Director, School Finance and
Facilities Section, Department of Education and Early
Development (EED), clarified that the statute covered the
programs that operated for the full school year.
8:33:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked how the amounts in the statute
were originally established.
8:34:24 AM
MS. NUDELMAN replied that these were stipend rates from another
program.
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI, noting that the stipend amount would be
determined on a regional basis with an established cap, asked
about money that was granted but was then found to be not
necessary.
8:35:11 AM
MS. NUDELMAN replied that it had never been an issue.
8:35:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE inquired about the actual costs of the
housing and food programs.
8:35:40 AM
MS. NUDELMAN offered to provide the information to the
committee.
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE stated that, as the programs had been
operating for a number of years, it would be good to have an
understanding of the actual costs.
8:36:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, directing attention to Exhibit F
[Included in members' packets], asked if EED agreed that the
figures provided were accurate.
8:37:57 AM
MS. NUDELMAN said that EED had not reviewed the document, but
she noted that the program costs had continually exceeded the
cost of the stipend.
8:39:06 AM
ERIC GEBHART, Superintendent, Nenana City School District,
directed attention to page 2 of a handout titled "Nenana Student
Living Center 2010 Actual Expenditures [Included in members'
packets]. He pointed out that the revenues and expenses for the
actual amount for 2010 and the budgeted amount for 2011 were
listed side by side. He confirmed the revenue deficiency for
2010 of $704,868, and the projected deficiency in 2011 to be
$819,593.
CHAIR DICK asked where the operating money was obtained.
MR. GEBHART replied that it was from foundation funding, and
local funding from the city, among others.
8:41:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT, referring to the budget document being
discussed, noted that the expenses were for nine months, and he
asked how many months the requested stipend would cover.
MR. GEBHART replied that, although nine months were currently
taken, a tenth month would be welcomed and was necessary.
8:42:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE, referring to the budget document, inquired
about the increase in wages, salaries, and benefits.
MR. GEBHART, in response, said that there were increases in
salaries and health insurance, as well as the addition of
another staff.
8:43:07 AM
CHAIR DICK pointed out that staff needs extended beyond the
school year.
8:43:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE, referring to the aforementioned cost
increase for additional staff, asked if the number of students
had also increased.
MR. GEBHART replied that some services were currently not being
met, including the need for a counselor and a certified person
for academic support.
8:44:34 AM
CHAIR DICK reported on his visit to the facility, and said that
he had found it to be a bare bones operation with a need for
additional staff.
8:45:14 AM
CRAIG CULBERT, Assistant Superintendent, Galena City School
District, reporting on the program costs, stated that the food
cost for 255 students was $17,136, of which the state paid about
$5800. He detailed that a four year grant, received through
Senator Lisa Murkowski's office, would most likely not be
renewed.
8:46:27 AM
CHAIR DICK asked about the fuel costs.
MR. CULBERT replied that about $1.1 million worth of fuel had
been donated from the military, but that future costs would also
need to be addressed. This would bring the deficit total to
almost $2 million.
8:47:46 AM
CHAIR DICK agreed that the bill would make time available to
research a long term solution.
MR. CULBERT said that EED had the valid costs for comparison.
8:48:56 AM
CHAIR DICK closed public testimony.
8:49:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 27-
LS0594\B.1, Mischel, 3/21/11, which read:
Page 1, following line 2:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Section 1. AS 14.16.200 is amended by adding a
new subsection to read:
(c) In addition to the programs eligible for
reimbursement of costs under (a) of this section, the
department may approve three district-operated
statewide residential educational programs that began
operating after July 1, 2011, for reimbursement of
costs incurred by the district in operating the
program under regulations adopted by the department."
Page 1, line 3:
Delete "Section 1"
Insert "Sec. 2"
8:49:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI objected for discussion.
8:49:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON explained that proposed Amendment 1 would
allow a procedure for EED to accept up to three applications and
proposals for full year programs.
8:51:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked if there were any other boarding
school programs between 2005 and 2011.
8:51:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that some residential programs had
been offered but not on a year around basis. He explained that
the proposed amendment removed the restriction for any applicant
who met all the qualifications, but did not require EED to
accept any applications.
8:52:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked if the specified dates in the
proposed amendment excluded any schools.
8:52:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON agreed that there was no intent to
exclude, however, the date in the proposed amendment could be
amended to encompass all the schools.
8:53:29 AM
CHAIR DICK asked if the proposed amendment would affect the
fiscal note and inhibit the bill's passage.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON offered his belief that the proposed
amendment would not cause any changes, but that EED would be
able to better answer.
8:54:41 AM
MS. NUDELMAN opined that the proposed amendment would not
increase the fiscal note, as EED would solicit proposals with
stated criteria.
8:55:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to
proposed Amendment 1, which read:
Page 1, line 6:
Delete "July 1, 2011"
Insert "January 1, 2005"
8:56:26 AM
There being no objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 to proposed
Amendment 1 was passed.
8:56:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI removed his objection to proposed
Amendment 1.
8:56:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE asked for an explanation as to how this
would have a zero fiscal note.
8:57:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, in response, said that proposed Amendment
1 merely stated that EED may solicit applications with a process
for approval; hence, it was permissive, but not mandatory,
language. He agreed that a future fiscal note to fund may be
necessary.
8:58:30 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
8:59:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Amendment 1, as amended.
9:00:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT objected and asked to clarify what was
being added to the bill. He stated that there was no additional
funding, as it merely stated that three more schools could be
approved.
9:00:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON explained that proposed Amendment 1
removed the existing statutory restriction for adding eligible
schools. He offered his belief that it should not require re-
titling.
9:01:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT asked if the process could lead to
approval prior to FY 2012.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that EED had testified that the
process was lengthy, and that EED would not approve an unfunded
program.
9:02:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT opined that a long term outlook would
reflect a return to the current stipend level after 2013.
9:02:50 AM
MS. NUDELMAN explained that, at a future date, if new
residential programs were added to the statute and funded via
appropriation, then the costs would increase.
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT offered his belief that there were costs
associated with this proposed amendment, even if they did not
occur this year.
9:04:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT removed his objection.
The committee took a brief at-ease.
9:04:42 AM
There being no further objection, Amendment 1, as amended, was
passed.
9:05:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI acknowledged that there was a current
existing need, but he offered his belief that boarding schools
had not yet been determined to be the best approach to the needs
of Alaska education. He said that he would not oppose the bill.
CHAIR DICK expressed his agreement.
9:06:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT moved to report HB 199, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 199 (EDC) was
reported from the House Education Standing Committee.
9:07:23 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
HB 198-SPEC. EDUC. SERVICE AGENCY FUNDING/SUNSET
CHAIR DICK announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 198, "An Act relating to the special education
service agency."
9:08:57 AM
SHEILA PETERSON, Staff, Representative Alan Dick, Alaska State
Legislature, reviewed the proposed bill, stating that it removed
a sunset requirement and increased state funding to the Special
Education Service Agency (SESA). This program offered support
to small school districts with high special needs children. She
reported that funding to SESA had remained static for the prior
13 years, and that the proposed bill would compute the funding
to now be .4 percent of the base student allocation.
9:10:36 AM
CHAIR DICK opened public testimony.
9:11:20 AM
PATRICK REINHART, Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special
Education, Division of Senior and Disabilities Services,
Department of Health and Social Services, stated the support of
the Council for HB 198. He reported that the Council was
represented on the Board of Directors of SESA. He directed
attention to the handout, titled Special Education Service
Agency Recommendations for Statutory Change. [Included in
members' packets]
9:12:39 AM
CHAIR DICK closed public testimony.
9:12:45 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
9:13:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report HB 198 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 198 was reported from the
House Education Standing Committee.
9:14:35 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:14 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Rep Seaton Conceptual Amendment.pdf |
HEDC 4/4/2011 8:00:00 AM |