03/15/2008 09:00 AM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Moore V. State of Alaska | |
| SB119 | |
| HB386 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 285 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 386 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 119 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 15, 2008
9:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Peggy Wilson, Chair
Representative Bob Roses, Vice Chair
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Wes Keller
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Paul Seaton
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Senator Donald Olson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION - MOORE v. State of Alaska
- HEARD
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 119(RLS)
"An Act relating to grant programs to support libraries."
- MOVED SB 119 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 386
"An Act relating to an energy subsidy for public schools."
- HEARD AND HELD
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 285(FIN)
"An Act relating to the power and duties of the Department of
Education and Early Development for improving instructional
practices in school districts; and providing for an effective
date."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 119
SHORT TITLE: SCHOOL LIBRARY GRANTS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) OLSON
03/14/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/14/07 (S) HES, FIN
04/25/07 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/25/07 (S) Moved SB 119 Out of Committee
04/25/07 (S) MINUTE(HES)
04/27/07 (S) HES RPT 4DP
04/27/07 (S) DP: DAVIS, ELTON, THOMAS, COWDERY
01/30/08 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
01/30/08 (S) Heard & Held
01/30/08 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/08/08 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/08/08 (S) Moved CSSB 119(FIN) Out of Committee
02/08/08 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/11/08 (S) FIN RPT CS 6DP NEW TITLE
02/11/08 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, STEDMAN, ELTON, THOMAS,
DYSON, OLSON
02/18/08 (S) RLS AT 11:00 AM BELTZ 211
02/18/08 (S) Moved CSSB 119(RLS) Out of Committee
02/18/08 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
02/19/08 (S) RLS RPT CS 2DP 2AM NEW TITLE
02/19/08 (S) DP: STEVENS, ELLIS
02/19/08 (S) AM: THERRIAULT, GREEN
03/03/08 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/03/08 (S) VERSION: CSSB 119(RLS)
03/04/08 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/04/08 (H) HES, FIN
03/11/08 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
03/11/08 (H) Heard & Held
03/11/08 (H) MINUTE(HES)
03/15/08 (H) HES AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 386
SHORT TITLE: ENERGY SUBSIDY FOR SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LEDOUX
02/19/08 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/19/08 (H) HES, FIN
03/15/08 (H) HES AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
EDDY JEANS, Director
School Finance and Facilities Section
Department of Education and Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the presentation on Moore
v. State of Alaska.
NEIL SLOTNICK, Assistant Attorney General
Labor and State Affairs Section
Civil Division
Department of Law
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the presentation of Moore
v. State of Alaska.
LES MORSE, Director
Assessment and Accountability
Department of Education and Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Participated in the presentation of Moore
v. State of Alaska.
DARWIN PETERSON, Staff
to Senator Bert Stedman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on SB 119 on behalf of
the Senate Finance Committee.
CLARK GRUENING, Lobbyist
Alaska Library Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on SB
119.
CATHY BOUTIN, Librarian
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an individual, in support of
SB 119.
GINNY AUSTERMAN, Staff
to Senator Donald Olson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered a question during the hearing on
SB 119.
THOMAS BROWN, Intern
to Representative Gabrielle LeDoux
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 386 on behalf of
Representative LeDoux, sponsor.
JIM NYGAARD, Superintendent
Cordova School District
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 386.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR PEGGY WILSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 9:02:47 AM.
Representatives Fairclough, Keller, Gardner, Roses, and Wilson
were present at the call to order. Representative Cissna
arrived as the meeting was in progress. Senator Donald Olson
was also in attendance.
^Presentation: Moore v. State of Alaska
9:03:13 AM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the first order of business would be
a presentation on Moore v. State of Alaska.
9:03:54 AM
EDDY JEANS, Director, School Finance and Facilities Section,
Department of Education and Early Development (EED), informed
the committee that the presentation was on the ruling by
Superior Court Judge Sharon Gleason in the Moore v. State of
Alaska lawsuit.
9:05:07 AM
NEIL SLOTNICK, Assistant Attorney General, Labor and State
Affairs Section, Civil Division, Department of Law, stated that
the Moore v. State of Alaska case is one of the most important
education cases in the state since statehood. The Alaska
Constitution contains an education clause that requires that the
state legislature provide a public education system. The public
education system is delegated by authority through local school
districts that establish the schools and provide an education to
children. The lawsuit claimed that the public education system
was inadequate, due to insufficient funding, and that the
legislature was responsible for an increase in funding to the
local school districts. The judge looked at all aspects of the
adequacy of education in Alaska, and found that there are four
elements in an adequate education system: sufficient funding,
standards, an assessment system, and state oversight. The judge
found the elements were satisfied except for insufficient state
oversight in some rural school districts.
9:12:28 AM
MR. SLOTNICK continued to explain that the state was given one
year to investigate the lack of oversight in some outlying
districts. For example, the judge ruled that there was not
enough state oversight of the Yupiit School District. The state
was given one year to investigate all of the school districts
where there was evidence that students were not successful, to
exercise more oversight, and to report on its actions. In
addition, under the requirement of the due process clause, the
judge found that there must be a meaningful opportunity to learn
in order to require the passage of a high school exit exam to
obtain a diploma. Mr. Slotnick opined that the cure for both
requirements is the same. The former Commissioner of Education
decided to immediately provide to the court more information on
the oversight and intervention procedures that the state already
had in effect; however, the judge maintained that the
legislature must determine whether the EED is in compliance.
Therefore, the EED will present evidence on its intervention and
oversight actions to the committee.
9:18:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER requested a copy of the legal transcript.
She then asked how the role of a student's attendance is
measured into their opportunity to learn.
9:19:53 AM
MR. SLOTNICK observed that attendance and other personal
problems outside the control of the school district affect
student outcomes, even though the opportunity to learn is
guaranteed. However, the judge found that, in the Yupiit School
District, there was a long standing history of a lack of success
and there were deficiencies that the EED had previously
identified. There can be an improvement in the opportunity to
learn, although the known improvement may not bring about
change.
9:22:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER further asked whether poor attendance is
a defense that the court would take in account.
9:22:21 AM
MR. SLOTNICK said yes. The court made findings about poor
attendance and other factors.
9:22:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA observed that in Alaska, due to the very
different backgrounds and "worlds", schools with equal teaching
offerings will still have different outcomes. She asked whether
making the same offering of education in all regions is a factor
to the court.
9:23:58 AM
MR. SLOTNICK acknowledged the difficulty of finding a balance.
He noted that a culturally appropriate method of delivering
education is a strategy that is being followed throughout
Alaska, although certain approaches to learning are successful
in all cultures. He opined that the legal line is difficult to
draw.
9:25:48 AM
CHAIR WILSON asked whether the assessment system is based on
federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation.
9:26:17 AM
MR. JEANS stated that Alaska enacted a state standards and
assessment system in 1998 for grades three, six, and eight.
This system was expanded when NCLB became law.
9:26:50 AM
CHAIR WILSON observed that Alaska schools teach the Alaska
standards, but any assessment system is connected with NCLB
testing.
9:27:34 AM
MR. JEANS re-stated that the state's accountability system in
reading, writing, and math was established in 1998.
9:27:53 AM
CHAIR WILSON asked whether the testing in use can identity one
or two children in a small group. She opined that there could
be more schools with problems similar to the schools in the
Yupiit School District that are not indentified because the
small categories are not counted.
9:28:52 AM
MR. JEANS explained that the EED was not looking at individual
schools at that time. The judge indicated that all schools are
included in the state's data on assessment and the obligation of
the legislature is to operate and maintain all public schools.
The state focuses on proficiency in reading, writing and math,
NCLB data also includes data on special education and limited
language proficiency students. He warned that the EED is
reluctant to specify the percentage, above 50 percent, of
proficient learners that is required to meet the standards. Mr.
Jeans listed the school districts in which the EED has
intervened, and those that are being watched closely.
9:31:46 AM
CHAIR WILSON re-stated her request to compare Alaska state
assessments with those of NCLB.
9:31:50 AM
LES MORSE, Director, Assessment and Accountability, Department
of Education and Early Development, informed the committee that
the NCLB evaluation is on the school as a whole, regardless of
size. For all of the subgroups such as; race, special
education, limited English proficiency, and economic
disadvantage, there is a numerical limit of 26 or more students.
However, judging a school for state accountability is based on
every student.
9:33:47 AM
CHAIR WILSON opined that, with NCLB assessments, subgroups do
not get counted.
9:34:20 AM
MR. MORSE expressed the state's interest in looking at every
student, regardless of their subgroup. In addition, schools
should determine whether subgroups have deficiencies NCLB does
require the reporting of student performance in subgroups that
number five or more students.
9:35:46 AM
CHAIR WILSON remarked:
I think that it's important to have on the record,
because of the fact that, a, a, what the state is
doing versus what they could be doing, that wasn't
quite as deep.
9:35:54 AM
MR. JEANS added that the NCLB targets go up; in fact, 100
percent proficiency is required by 2014. The EED has to deal
with the federal law and the state assessments, using the same
data for different intervention strategies.
9:37:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES compared the state assessment system and
that of NCLB. He stressed that the Moore v. State of Alaska
case was brought under the state assessment and report card.
9:39:01 AM
MR. MORSE assured the committee that the federal and state
growth models are being aligned.
9:39:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked whether the committee is
"setting the case for Judge Gleason to review."
9:39:55 AM
MR. SLOTNICK asked for the question to be repeated.
9:40:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked whether the judge will review
the records of the hearing to determine if the legislature has
fulfilled its role. Representative Fairclough said that, as a
legislator, she sees her role to defend the state. The EED has
two issues, one of which is whether the legislature has met its
constitutional responsibility. She cautioned committee members
that if the committee's discussion becomes part of the judicial
question, members must speak to Alaska's constitutionality and
not the requirements of NCLB. Representative Fairclough advised
that if members' questions address whether the legislature has
fulfilled its commitment to providing education, and there is
agreement that it has not, these statements may need to be
defended in a lawsuit at a later time.
9:42:43 AM
CHAIR WILSON expressed her belief that the committee should not
temper its questions under any circumstances.
9:43:44 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 9:43 to 9:51 a.m.
9:51:44 AM
CHAIR WILSON clarified that the committee was hearing the
presentation in preparation for consideration of the
accompanying bill. The accompanying bill will determine the
authority for intervention in the school districts.
9:52:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked whether a lawsuit that is filed
against the state is actually against the legislature or the
administration, and which is responsible.
9:53:20 AM
MR. SLOTNICK advised that, ultimately, the legislature is
responsible; however, the court can not make the legislature
respond. The executive branch responds to, and defends, a
lawsuit that is filed against the state.
9:54:30 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES expressed his opinion, for the record, that
the intent of the presentation is to prepare to look at the bill
that will identify the mechanism by which the EED will obtain
funding for school intervention programs. He suggested
scheduling a work session to address questions on the lawsuit
and for a deeper look at EED procedures and policies.
9:56:35 AM
CHAIR WILSON indicated her decision to hear the remainder of the
presentation without discussion. There will be further
discussion during the hearing on SB 285 that is scheduled for
March 25, 2008.
9:57:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA expressed her concern that the committee
is discussing policy decisions for areas of the state that are
not represented on the committee. Each area has very different
goals for its schools.
9:58:38 AM
CHAIR WILSON noted that the hearing on SB 285 was delayed
pending referral.
9:59:32 AM
MR. JEANS presented reading scores for three school districts in
which the EED has intervened: Yupiit School District, Northwest
Arctic School District, and Lower Yukon School District.
10:00:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked what an intervention looks like.
10:01:00 AM
MR. JEANS responded that the current intervention system
requires the following: weekly collaborative meetings with
teachers; the use of state assessment systems; leadership
training; and the use of Title 1 funds to hire a coach. In
answer to a question, he added that administrative training,
along with feedback from the coach, is also part of the
intervention.
10:02:32 AM
CHAIR WILSON related her personal experience in speaking with
coaches who told her that the work is very hard.
10:02:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER drew a parallel to the mentorship
program.
10:03:21 AM
MR. JEANS pointed out that the improvements in test scores after
an intervention are usually seen after two to three years. He
presented the scores for mathematics for the same three school
districts. He then explained that school districts are aware
that a desk audit and an instructional audit determine whether
an intervention is required. Furthermore, a district corrective
action plan for the school district is developed. Mr. Jeans
then presented draft regulations regarding the school-level desk
audits.
10:07:55 AM
CHAIR WILSON asked how the EED will conduct audits statewide.
10:08:24 AM
MR. JEANS stated that the EED is already conducting these
audits. Data on adequate yearly progress (AYP) and proficiency
percentages for each school is part of the collection of data
that is studied each year. Lastly, Mr. Jeans noted that a draft
copy of SB 285 is included in the committee packet. He stressed
the importance of understanding that funding and policy comes
from the state to local school districts that are expected to
utilize the standards and assessments to educate children
sufficiently to pass the high school exit exam. He read the
following from the judge's decision:
Alaska's constitution makes the legislature, not local
school districts, ultimately responsible for
maintaining Alaska's schools. Clearly, the
legislature has authority to delegate that
responsibility, and the court has found that the
legislature has provided the schools with a
constitutionally sufficient amount of funds to
undertake that responsibility, but the state's
responsibility does not end with adequate funding. If
the school, despite adequate funding, is failing to
accord a child with a constitutionally adequate
education, such a failing to give a child a meaningful
opportunity to acquire proficiency in the state's own
performance standard, then the concept of local
control must give way because the school is not being
maintained as required by the education clause.
10:12:44 AM
MR. JEANS continued to explain that the EED is in the process of
gaining experience in developing standards, accountability, and
intervention systems. He opined that, at this time, the
legislature must consider legislation that will put schools on
notice that if they do not successfully educate students, the
EED has an obligation to intervene and direct instructional
practices. Mr. Jeans concluded the presentation by noting that
proposals in SB 285 allow the EED to hire the district coaches
and provide for a deadline for the return of control to local
schools.
10:14:35 AM
CHAIR WILSON re-stated her experience with the coaches who
reported some problems obtaining cooperation from the schools.
10:15:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked about special needs students whose
physical or mental conditions prevent them from meeting the
educational standards.
MR. JEANS explained that the constitution does not require that
every student meet the standards, but that every student must
have the opportunity. The EED must review each district, and
for those that do not have increasing student achievement, it is
obligated to impact instructional practices.
10:18:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked whether the EED has been involved in
restructuring schools, prior to the court case.
10:18:55 AM
MR. JEANS answered yes. In fact, in the Yupiik School District,
the EED was involved in all three schools. The proposed
regulations take out the question of the EED's authority in
local schools and indicate the legislature's support of the
EED's actions to improve student achievement.
10:19:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER observed that the finding in the lawsuit
requires a review of the regulations.
10:20:20 AM
MR. JEANS stated that the judge makes it very clear that the
legislature, through the EED as its agent, must intervene when
the local school district fails to increase achievement for the
majority of its students.
SB 119-SCHOOL LIBRARY GRANTS
CHAIR WILSON announced that the next order of business would be
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 119(RLS), "An Act relating to grant
programs to support libraries."
10:21:16 AM
DARWIN PETERSON, Staff to Senator Bert Stedman, Alaska State
Legislature, presented opinions from Legislative Legal and
Research Services to two questions asked by Representative
Seaton during a previous hearing. In response to Representative
Seaton's first question, regarding whether communities that are
unincorporated would be considered eligible to publically own a
library, he said that this issue is subject to interpretation by
a court. The answer to the second question is that school
districts, or Regional Education Attendance Areas, can qualify
for a grant; however, eligibility requires that an applicant for
a grant must supply matching funds. Mr. Peterson added that the
understanding of the sponsor, and the Senate Finance Committee,
is that the bill is self-policing and that small communities
will not be able to raise the required 20 percent matching
funds.
10:23:27 AM
CHAIR WILSON noted the need of an amendment to delete "local
government entity" and insert "municipality."
10:23:44 AM
MR. PETERSON agreed that that amendment would clarify that only
an entity with a taxing structure in place would be eligible;
however, the Senate Finance Committee did not want to limit
participation by any of the larger communities in unorganized
areas. In answer to a question, he stated that the eligibility
requirements are found on page 2, line 11, of the bill.
10:25:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked whether the intent of the sponsor
is that tribal organizations, or a nonprofit library group,
would not be eligible.
10:25:53 AM
MR. PETERSON opined that a tribal organization, on behalf of a
community, would be eligible.
10:26:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked whether the sponsor wants to
leave the legislation as written.
10:26:23 AM
MR. PETERSON said yes. He said that, on behalf of the Senate
Finance Committee, he is providing the clarification that was
requested by Representative Seaton.
10:26:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER called the committee's attention to page
3, line 20, and asked what was the purpose of the inclusion of
the job description of library staff.
10:27:30 AM
CLARK GRUENING, Lobbyist, Alaska Library Association, informed
the committee that the purpose of the job description is to set
guidelines in the regulations and to determine what level of
support is currently supplied to the library.
10:28:50 AM
CATHY BOUTIN, Librarian, stated that the intent of the bill is
to provide for working libraries to assist children in a library
fashion, as opposed to a classroom setting.
10:29:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES referred to page 3, line 23, that specifies
that materials can only be purchased by school districts that
operate a correspondence program. He asked whether every school
library in the state operates a correspondence program.
10:29:57 AM
GINNY AUSTERMAN, Staff to Senator Donald Olson, Alaska State
Legislature, stated that she did not know.
10:30:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES further asked whether it was Ms.
Austerman's understanding that funds would not be provided
through SB 119 unless a correspondence program exists.
10:30:30 AM
MS. AUSTERMAN said yes.
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES stated that correspondence programs are run
through the instructional divisions of schools.
10:30:43 AM
MS. AUSTERMAN pointed out that the eligibility requirement is
that a public school district operates a correspondence program.
MR. GRUENING expressed his understanding that nearly all school
districts do operate correspondence programs. He offered to
provide clarification.
10:31:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH moved to report CSSB 119(RLS) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the attached
fiscal note number four that was passed out of the Senate Rules
Committee.
10:31:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER objected and asked whether eligibility
requirements are generally established by statute or by
regulation.
10:31:47 AM
MR. GRUENING responded that the statute must give sufficient
guidelines for regulations. He pointed out that the bill gives
the EED guidelines about the ranking of applicants and other
regulations.
10:32:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES stated that the concept of the portion of
the bill regarding library development grants, originated from
the Alaska Library Association; however, the bill now includes a
construction grant for communities of 10,000 residents or less.
He expressed his concern about the present content of the bill.
10:33:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER agreed with Representative Roses and added
that the bill will be reviewed by the House Finance Committee.
10:33:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER opined that establishing eligibility
requirements in statute, as opposed to regulation, will be
cumbersome. She then removed her objection.
10:34:04 AM
Hearing no further objections, CSSB 119(RLS) was reported from
the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing
Committee.
HB 386-ENERGY SUBSIDY FOR SCHOOLS
10:34:41 AM
CHAIR WILSON announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 386, "An Act relating to an energy subsidy for
public schools."
10:35:27 AM
THOMAS BROWN, Intern to Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Alaska
State Legislature, presented HB 386 on behalf of Representative
LeDoux, sponsor. Mr. Brown explained that the bill was drafted,
at the request of several school boards across the state, in
reaction to the 100 percent increase of gas prices. Schools are
taking measures to address the increase in heating costs;
however, many permanent solutions are cost prohibitive. He
stated that the foundation formula funding does not cover the
increase in heating costs, which remain the same even if there
is a decline in enrollment. School districts are mitigating
this increased cost by sealing doors and windows, closing off
parts of schools, and reducing the hours of after school
programs. Moreover, high technology solutions are cost
prohibitive.
10:36:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH reminded Mr. Brown that the
legislature recently passed the largest education package in a
decade.
10:37:37 AM
MR. BROWN expressed his understanding that the education package
funded 50 percent of the recommendations of the Institute of
Social and Economic Research (ISER).
CHAIR WILSON stated that the increase in funding in her district
is $12,000 per year, provided that there is no decrease in
enrollment.
10:38:17 AM
JIM NYGAARD, Superintendent, Cordova School District, informed
the committee that fuel bills in Cordova have increased by 372
percent since FY 03. Furthermore, Cordova's budget increase to
cover additional heating and health care costs is $150,000. He
listed the measures that Cordova schools have taken to conserve
heating energy. Mr. Nygaard said that, although only the high
school has computer climate control, the buildings are
maintained efficiently and fuel consumption has gone down.
Further, the district will close its district office and move to
a school building in order to conserve fuel. In addition, its
elementary school, that was built in 1953, is being surveyed for
energy loss. He concluded that the high cost of oil is a
resource benefit that should reach Alaska's kids.
10:45:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES asked whether the Cordova School District
received any funding for increased costs over the last two
years.
10:45:41 AM
MR. NYGAARD said no.
10:45:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES assumed, from materials provided in the
committee packet, that the energy costs for Cordova during FY 07
were $398,065 and the projection for FY 08 is $523,057. He
opined that, if passed, the bill will fund the increased cost
and more. He then asked how the district budgeted for the
higher than projected costs last year.
10:46:40 AM
MR. NYGAARD responded that the money for fuel comes from the
efforts of the legislature last session to fund cost
differential increases. He said that the impact to his district
with the current legislation will be about $250,000.
10:47:30 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES referred to the Department of Education and
Early Development (EED) Energy Cost Analysis that projected
Cordova to have an increase in energy costs of about $120,000
for FY 08. He expressed his understanding of the burden of
additional costs to every school district.
10:48:37 AM
MR. NYGAARD indicated that his information was different.
10:49:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES repeated his question about how the school
district covered its higher fuel costs last year.
10:51:03 AM
CHAIR WILSON re-stated the question and asked whether programs
were cut to make up costs.
10:51:22 AM
MR. NYGAARD said that the district is cutting staff, through
attrition, and is looking at all areas of conservation.
10:52:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked whether the Cordova cost
information reflects the additional education funding that was
recently passed by the legislature.
10:52:33 AM
MR. NYGAARD said yes.
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH further asked if the supplemental
appropriation now before the legislature was also included.
10:52:45 AM
MR. NYGAARD said that he was not sure.
10:52:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked whether any of the fuel saving
measures created a safety issue.
10:53:15 AM
MR. NYGAARD said no.
10:53:30 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA further asked what after school
educational programs have been curtailed.
10:54:04 AM
MR. NYGAARD explained that after school programs have not been
cut but have been moved to the high school because that building
has computerized climate controls.
10:54:41 AM
CHAIR WILSON announced that HB 386 would be held over with
public testimony open.
10:55:49 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting
was adjourned at 10:55 a. m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|