Legislature(1993 - 1994)
01/11/1994 09:00 AM Senate CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
January 11, 1994
9:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Randy Phillips, Chairman
Senator Robin Taylor, Vice Chairman
Senator Loren Leman
Senator Al Adams
Senator Fred Zharoff
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 37
Urging the Congress to enact H.R. 1033 or similar legislation
authorizing construction grants for publicly-owned treatment works
in economically distressed rural communities.
SENATE BILL NO. 2
"An Act requiring pay equity for certain public employees and
requiring the compensation of certain public employees based on the
value of work performed."
SENATE BILL NO. 136
"An Act relating to a curriculum for Native language education; and
providing for an effective date."
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
HJR 37 - No previous action to record.
SB 136 - No previous action to record.
SB 2 - See Community & Regional Affairs minutes dated
11/3/93.
WITNESS REGISTER
Roger McKowan
Staff to Representative Lyman Hoffman
State Capitol, Juneau, AK 99801-1182 465-4453
POSITION STATEMENT: prime sponsor of HJR 37
Willie Anderson
NEA-Alaska
114 Seward St., Juneau, AK 99801 586-3090
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Charles Kashatok
Lower Kuskokwim School District
Box 305, Bethel, AK 99559 543-4800
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
State Capitol, Juneau, AK 99801-1182 465-3732
POSITION STATEMENT: prime sponsor of SB 136
Reva Shircel
Director of Education, Tanana Chiefs Conference
122 First Ave., Suite 600, Fairbanks, AK 99701 452-8251
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Barb Pungowiyi
Native Program Coordinator, Nome Public Schools
P.O. Box 1627, Nome, AK 99762 443-5351
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Chuck Miller
Tanana Chiefs Conference
P.O.Box 126, Tok, AK 99780 883-5181
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Carol Huntington
Galena School District
address unknown, Galena Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Esther Ilutsik
Eskimo, certified teacher from Aleknagik
address unknown, Aleknagik, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Richard Thomas
Tanana Chiefs Conference
P.O. Box 126, Tok, AK 99780 883-5181
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Michael Krauss
Director, Alaska Native Language Center, UAF
Elieson Bldg, UAF, Fairbanks, AK 99774 474-6588
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Molly Peterson
Inupiaq Language Staff Developer, North Slope Borough School
District,
Box 169, Barrow, AK 99723 852-5311
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 136
Vince Barry
Department of Education
810 West 10th St., Juneau, AK 99801 465-8689
POSITION STATEMENT: department supports SB 136 so long as
programs are not mandated
Anne Kessler
Bilingual Programs, Department of Education,
810 West 10th St., Juneau, AK 99801 465-8716
POSITION STATEMENT: department supports SB 136 so long as
programs are not mandated
Patricia Jones
state employee, ASEA member,
P.O. Box 2996, Valdez, AK 99686 835-4344
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 2
Jennie Day-Peterson
ASEA
3510 Spenard Rd., Suite 110, Anchorage, AK 99503 277-5200
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 2
Sherry Goll
Alaska Women's Lobby,
address unknown, Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: in favor of SB 2
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 94-1, SIDE A
Number 001
The Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee was called to
order by Senator Randy Phillips, Chairman, at 9:03 a.m. He brought
HJR 37 (FED MONEY FOR RURAL WATER/SEWER PROJECTS), sponsored by
Representative Hoffman, before the committee as the first order of
business.
ROGER MCKOWAN, staff to Representative Lyman Hoffman, related that
less than one month ago, a 4 year-old girl drowned in a sewage
lagoon in the community of Newhalen, and over the last several
years there have been numerous cases of viral meningitis and other
diseases caused by leaky underground pits filled with human waste.
Representative Hoffman has discovered a potential funding source
under H.R. 1033 which establishes a federal grant program for
construction of treatment works in economically depressed rural
communities. The program would provide $300 million per year for
six years to fund these grants. HJR 37 urges enactment of H.R.
1033 or similar legislation.
MR. MCKOWAN noted the presence of Keith Kelton from the Department
of Environmental Conservation to respond to questions from the
committee.
There being no questions on HJR 37, Chairman Randy Phillips asked
for the pleasure of the committee.
Number 055
SENATOR ADAMS moved that HJR 37 be passed out of committee with
individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so
ordered.
Number 067
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS introduced SB 136 (NATIVE LANGUAGE
EDUCATION) as the next order of business.
Number 075
WILLIE ANDERSON, representing NEA-Alaska, stated their support for
SB 136. He said it is clear it is an issue that needs to be
addressed, because it is clear that the Native languages in Alaska
have been slowly dying out and should be part of the school
curriculum.
Number 095
CHARLES KASHATOK, representing the Lower Kuskokwim School District
(LKSD) and testifying from Bethel, stated the district's support
for SB 136, with the exception of the requirement to utilize
University of Alaska instructors and instructional materials. He
pointed out that the LKSD currently employs approximately 50
certificated Yupik teachers, about 45 of whom speak the Yupik
language, and that LKSD has a well-established language program for
which they have developed the materials themself. He stated the
district's support for the requirement that the evaluation of the
district's Native language curriculum be included in the annual
report card, and that the decision to require a Native languages
education curriculum be made at the school level.
Number 135
SENATOR TAYLOR asked if the language is being taught in his
district at this time. MR. KASHATOK responds that 23 of the
district's 26 sites have Native language programs.
Number 150
SENATOR TAYLOR asked what difference SB 136 would make in LKSD,
since Native language education has already been implemented. MR.
KASHATOK replies that the legislation would require his district to
use materials and teachers from the University of Alaska, when LKSD
already had their own materials and teachers. Other than that, SB
136 would simply give support to what LKSD is already doing.
Number 168
SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN, prime sponsor of SB 136, wants to make
clear that SB 136 is not legislation for bilingual education, but
for Native language education.
Number 195
SENATOR LINCOLN proposes the bill be amended to allow school
districts more option in implementing Native language education.
She reads from a statement from the University of Alaska, Interior
Campus which states that the actions of school boards and school
administrators do not always reflect the wishes of the community.
This is the prime reason she thinks there is a need for SB 136.
Number 277
SENATOR TAYLOR comments that it appears Senator Lincoln's proposed
amendments would in effect change the bill so that it would not
have any impact on school districts at all. SENATOR LINCOLN
replies that the bill would still have the effect of giving school
boards the option of establishing local Native language curriculum
advisory boards and would make it easier for districts to get
funding for native language education programs by emphasizing the
importance of such programs.
Number 335
SENATOR LEMAN asks if there will be a problem for districts in
which more than one Native language is spoken. SENATOR LINCOLN
replies that, at least in the beginning of a Native language
program, only the predominant language of the community will be
taught.
Number 372
REVA SHIRCEL, Director of Education, Tanana Chiefs Conference, is
concerned that there is no fiscal note to support programs arising
from SB 136. She advocates the following changes to the
legislation: the requirement that school boards establish native
language advisory boards for every school in its district in which
there are native students - this would be a statewide requirement
for all districts, including Anchorage, which has a large Native
population; that local advisory school boards may also be Native
language curriculum advisory boards; that students whose origin is
not that of the predominant Native language also have the
opportunity to learn their language.
Number 427
BARB PUNGOWIYI, Native Program Coordinator, Nome Public Schools,
supports SB 136, which she thinks would help insure the survival of
Native languages. She reads a statement from a paper written by
Carol Napoleon which states that Native people are not trying to
undermine the State of Alaska.
MS. PUNGOWIYI suggests that the Nome Native Education Committee
also be allowed to serve as the Native language curriculum advisory
board. She also advocates active participation in non-public
schools.
Number 455
CHUCK MILLER, Tanana Chiefs Conference, supports SB 136 because to
be an Alaska Native and not be able to speak one's language feels
as though there is something missing. He says our language is the
basis of our culture, and if our language disappears, he fears that
the traditional ways will soon follow.
Number 481
CAROL HUNTINGTON, Galena School District, is in favor of SB 136.
She mentions anger over anti-Native language and cultural policies
practiced by educational agencies (teleconference transmission
unclear, unable to decipher).
Number 494
ESTHER ILUTSIK, Eskimo, Certified Teacher from Aleknagik, supports
the bill because she has found there are many administrators and
educators who do not value the Yupik language or culture and who do
not support bicultural education. She adds that she hopes
guidelines for serving on a Native language curriculum advisory
board would not exclude certified Native teachers from serving.
Number 509
RICHARD THOMAS, Tanana Chiefs Conference, supports SB 136 because
he thinks if teaching the language is not begun soon, it will
perish along with the traditions.
Number 517
MICHAEL KRAUSS, Director, Alaska Native Language Center, University
of Alaska, Fairbanks, strongly supports SB 136 and hopes that it
will be passed. He urges people to understand the limitations of
most types of language programs. The Alaska Native Language Center
is most supportive of this legislation.
Number 530
SENATOR TAYLOR asks Mr. Krauss if this legislation does not mandate
anything, how it will change the current situation. MR. KRAUSS
responds that HB 136 is the only way to get programs started out in
the communities by increasing the outreach of the Alaska Native
Language Center.
Number 541
MOLLY PETERSON, Inupiaq Language Staff Developer, North Slope
Borough School District, thinks that school districts should be
required to have Native language programs. The communities need
the state's help in this matter.
Number 571
VINCE BARRY, Department of Education, states that the department
supports the concept of SB 136, however they are not interested in
imposing any curriculum. He notes for the record that ANNE
KESSLER, an expert in bilingual/bicultural education is in
attendance if anyone has any questions.
Number 578
SENATOR TAYLOR asks Mr. Barry to clarify the department's stand on
SB 136. MR. BARRY responds that the department supports the
legislation so long as it does not establish mandatory requirements
for curriculum. The department generally does not support
mandatory requirements for curriculum of any kind.
Number 580
SENATOR ZHAROFF asks Mr. Barry what effect making the legislation
non-mandatory would have on the fiscal note. MR. BARRY describes
language programs and says that the fiscal note is based on the six
school districts that currently do not have bilingual programs
starting such programs.
Number 560
SENATOR TAYLOR asks why the programs Mr. Barry just talked about
are held as extra-curricular activities, and not as part of the
school day. MR. BARRY replies that the time of day the program is
held is optional, and the second year the program was in operation
it was held during the day. There is nothing in law that prevents
what this bill intends to do; this bill would simply encourage
Native language programs and clarify the support of such programs.
Number 553
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks Mr. Barry if there is any way to
estimate the fiscal impact this legislation would have on local
school districts. MR. BARRY responds that he will have to find out
and get back to Senator Randy Phillips regarding that question.
Number 554
SENATOR ADAMS requests that the bill not be held up in committee
while waiting for the information The Chairman just requested.
Number 554
VINCE BARRY comments that the fiscal note does accurately reflect
the fiscal impact the bill would have as it relates to bilingual
education.
Number 534
ANNE KESSLER, Department of Education, Bilingual Programs, says
that the department proposes a cost of $60,000 per site to develop
a new Native language program in a site that does not currently
have one. Under the criteria of the bill, the department came up
with 63 sites eligible for this program.
Number 525
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks Ms. Kessler to make the previously
mentioned information available to the committee as soon as
possible.
Number 524
SENATOR ADAMS notes that the previously mentioned fiscal
information applies only to those sites that want a Native language
program, and that participation by sites is not mandatory. The
program would not necessarily cost the state $3,780,000.
Number 515
SENATOR ZHAROFF asks Ms. Kessler how many students are necessary to
initiate a bilingual program within a school district. MS. KESSLER
replies that currently districts are required to provide a program
if they have eight or more students who are of limited English
proficiency. SENATOR ZHAROFF asks Ms. Kessler to define bilingual
program. MS. KESSLER responds that it is a program that serves
students who have limited proficiency in English, but that there is
no simple definition of "bilingual program". SENATOR ZHAROFF asks
Ms. Kessler to define "development of curriculum". MS. KESSLER
says that means instructor training, materials development, and
instruction.
Number 500
SENATOR ZHAROFF comments that he thinks people from the community
with a basis in both languages should perhaps be able to come in to
the classroom as teachers aides to work with the students, which
might be a less costly alternative. MS. KESSLER replies that it
could be a less costly alternative, but would vary district to
district. She states that the salary schedule for this type of
person varies quite a bit, depending on how each particular
district classifies these people. If the person from the community
acquires a Type E certification from the department, which is
recognized expert status, they may actually be paid at a rate equal
to or greater than the rate paid to a teacher.
Number 484
SENATOR ZHAROFF asks how the Department of Education came up with
a figure of $60,000 per district for implementing Native language
programs. MS. KESSLER responds that the figure the department came
up with is based on the unit cost that districts get for bilingual
education, so the figure could potentially be less at some sites.
She also comments that the figure could be refined.
Number 475
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS announced that the committee will hold
SB 136.
Number 474
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS stated that the committee would now take up
SB 2 PAY EQUITY BASED ON VALUE OF WORK.
Number 449
PATRICIA JONES states for the record that she is a female employee
of the State of Alaska and a member of ASEA. She then reads from
a letter from Joseph Wilkie. She comments that surveys pertinent
to this legislation deal with discrimination between job classes,
not within job classes. She is opposed to correcting the problem
by implementing a quota system to hire females into male-dominated
job classes, and notes that this would not be a valid option at any
rate, since it is illegal. Ms. Jones believes that surveys should
be conducted for all state job classifications, and that
corrections be made where pay inequities exist.
Number 433
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS thanks Ms. Jones for her testimony and calls
the next witness.
Number 432
JENNIE DAY PETERSON, ASEA, announces that she will waive her
testimony in deference to Pat Jones's testimony due to time
constraints.
Number 430
SHERRY GOLL, Alaska Women's Lobby, states that the lobby supports
SB 2. She believes at least half the pay difference is due to
inequity and leads to hardships for women.
Number 408
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS announces that SB 2 will be scheduled again
due to time constraints.
Number 405
There being no further business to come before the committee, the
meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
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