Legislature(2011 - 2012)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/21/2011 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB84 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 84 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 21, 2011
8:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
Senator Joe Thomas, Co-Chair
Senator Bettye Davis, Vice Chair
Senator Hollis French
Senator Gary Stevens
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 84
"An Act relating to funding for high school vocational education
as a component of funding for public schools; increasing the
base student allocation used in the public school funding
formula; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSSB 84(EDC) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 84
SHORT TITLE: VOC ED FUNDING/BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION
SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION
02/04/11 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/04/11 (S) EDC, FIN
03/07/11 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/07/11 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/14/11 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/14/11 (S) Heard & Held
03/14/11 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
03/21/11 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
DAVE REES, Private Sector Member
Alaska Workforce Investment Board and
President
Business Education Compact
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
LADAWN DRUCE, President
Kenai Peninsula Teachers Association (KPEA)
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
SAMMIE CRAWFORD, Vice-President
Kenai Peninsula School Board
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
SUE HULL, Member
Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
RANDY LANTIEGNE, Member
Petersburg School Board
Petersburg, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
JILL SHOWMAN, President
Matanuska-Susitna Education Association
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
STEWART MCDONALD, Superintendent
Kodiak Island Borough School District
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
BETTY MACTAVISH, grandparent
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
RICK RIOS, Coordinator
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
PEGGY COWAN, Superintendent
North Slope Borough School District
Barrow, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
CHAD STITELER, Chief Finance Officer
Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
ANN MARIE PALMIERI, Member
Haines School Board
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
RICH CARLSON, Superintendent
Klawock School District
Klawock, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
STEVE LAROE, President
Fairbanks Education Association
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:04:27 AM
CO-CHAIR JOE THOMAS called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators French, Stevens, Davis, Co-Chair Meyer and
Co-Chair Thomas.
SB 84-VOC ED FUNDING/BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION
CO-CHAIR THOMAS announced the consideration of SB 84 [CSSB 84(
), version D was before the committee].
8:06:10 AM
DAVE REES, Private Sector Member, Alaska Workforce Investment
Board and President, Business Education Compact, testified in
support of SB 84. He said that it is important to have students
prepared to make the step from high school into the workforce
and postsecondary schools. The vocational aspect of this bill is
very relative to many different careers including: health,
construction, engineering and more. The Department of Labor and
Workforce Development (DOLWD), the Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED) and the University of Alaska, along
with the help of industry organizations have put together a
career and technical education (CTE) plan, which will help
attain the goals of the state in educating Alaskans. However,
the CTE plan needs to have funding support; this bill will help
do so.
8:09:40 AM
LADAWN DRUCE, President, Kenai Peninsula Teachers Association
(KPEA), testified in support of SB 84. The base student
allocation (BSA) increase of $100 will mean $1.7 million for the
Kenai School District. She explained that over 64 percent of the
local district's budget comes from state revenues. With the
current level of funding the district is facing a $3.5 million
deficit. She noted that the vocational funding provided in SB 84
is also a positive aspect of the bill. To move this funding
outside of the funding formula means vocational programs will
get the attention that it deserves. She explained that because
of the lack of funding not all students have had access to these
programs. The funding included in SB 84 will not add programs or
hire more teachers in the district; rather, the district is
trying to recoup programs that have been cut over the years and
remain at a status-quo level.
8:12:28 AM
SAMMIE CRAWFORD, Vice-President, Kenai Peninsula School Board,
testified in support of SB 84. She reiterated that the district
will not be adding programs or hiring new teachers if it
receives this funding, but rather try to maintain and save
programs. A large cost to the district is the cost of utilities.
She explained that for three years the district had an incentive
program for schools and students in order to be cautious with
utility costs. This program has worked and the cost of utilities
was cut back in every single building. As an incentive, the
individual schools got back part of the savings. She explained
that while this year the district saved a lot of money, the cost
of utilities has risen and they are behind once again. She noted
that vocational education is very important to many students.
8:15:08 AM
SUE HULL, Member, Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board,
testified in support of SB 84. She clarified that the BSA
increase is very important to the district. She explained that
the district has had to cut funding back in order to keep up
with the inflationary pressures. These costs cannibalize the
work the district has done to improve the outcome for students.
She said that all three components of SB 84 are important: the
ability to plan, the inflationary increase, and the vocational
education component.
8:17:49 AM
RANDY LANTIEGNE, Member, Petersburg School Board, testified in
support of SB 84. He said that Petersburg has a strong school
system with a stable staff, competent administrators and
involved parents. This bill would provide stable and predictable
funding for the next three years along with much needed funds
for vocational education. He noted that the district has managed
its funding frugally and has been educationally innovative.
However, if education is flat funded for FY2012, even with wise
spending, cooperative labor relations, and generous community
support the district faces a deficit of $177,000. SB 84 ensures
continuation and expansion of vocational education offerings.
The rising costs of utilities and health insurance jeopardizes
their ability to fund programs currently in place in Petersburg.
8:20:52 AM
JILL SHOWMAN, President, Matanuska-Susitna Education
Association, testified in support of SB 84. She said that
separating vocational education from the special needs funding
formula is important and it is vital that students have these
various opportunities and skills. She emphasized the importance
of the BSA increase for three years and that the forward funding
allows the district to better prepare for the upcoming year.
This includes having consistent teaching staff who make the
available programs more solid and provide a better education for
students. She noted that the increase in the BSA does not quite
keep up with inflation. She asked the committee to consider
inching the BSA amount up slightly each year so that districts
can keep up with rising costs.
She said that one of the suggestions from the administration has
been to cut current programs. She said that this means a loss of
specialists throughout the district. She explained that the
obesity rates in the state and in the nation are horrendous. The
cuts that the district is looking to make are with nurses and PE
teachers who work hand-in-hand to address health and weight
issues. She reiterated that the district is not asking for
funding to start new programs, only to maintain what it already
has.
8:25:36 AM
STEWART MCDONALD, Superintendent, Kodiak Island Borough School
District, testified in support of SB 84. He said that multi-
year funding allows school districts to think forward in order
to try and accomplish things that make a lasting impact on
students. As a district, with regard to graduation rates and
dropout rates, it is important to provide classes that students
need, when they need them. Because of HB 273 [passed during the
Alaska State 25th Legislature] the district was able to offer
course work (through distance education) in rural areas when it
was needed. He explained that in past years the district has
only been able to offer math through algebra I to many of these
rural school sites, however this year the district was able to
offer through pre-calculus. He said that, like many other
districts, they are facing inevitable cuts to education this
year. He noted that the issue with special education is that
students who qualify are already behind. In order to keep up
with the demand of students' needs, there needs to be
intervention in place before they qualify for special education
services. HB 273 allowed them to employ a math interventionist
position, which has been working. SB 84 promises to keep this
position going and continue to enhance similar programs.
8:30:49 AM
BETTY MACTAVISH, grandparent, testified in support of SB 84. She
said that she has been able to watch the math program that was
put into place in the district and see her granddaughter's
success. She explained that her concern is that the math program
will not continue.
8:33:20 AM
RICK RIOS, Coordinator, Career and Technical Education (CTE),
Anchorage School District, testified in support of SB 84. He
explained that both of his sons left Alaska in order to get the
training and education they needed for the jobs that they
currently hold. CTE funding on the state and federal level has
been flat-funded for nearly 20 years. He reiterated that the
Anchorage School District has been moving towards investing in
CTE on a local level. The district has engaged with the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development in order to have
career guides in their school. He said that "education is not an
employment institution, and therefore sometimes loses track of
one of their obligations: to make the students employable." He
stressed that the district is committed to moving forward,
however, it does not have any more funding. SB 84 will allow the
district to rebuild some of the infrastructure for vocational
education and hire teachers.
8:39:17 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS noted that it is his intention to move this bill
out of committee.
8:39:56 AM
PEGGY COWAN, Superintendent, North Slope Borough School
District, testified in support of SB 84. She said that the
district's base budget requires $2.5 million in revenue in order
to sustain its current efforts. She noted that, as with other
districts, the district will not be expanding programs and will
still have to make difficult decisions regarding funding cuts.
She explained that last year the district cut 17 positions and
approximately five percent of each school's budget. She noted
that the vocational education factor is a welcome addition to
the funding as well.
8:42:07 AM
CHAD STITELER, Chief Finance Officer, Anchorage School District,
testified in support of SB 84. He explained that the increase in
the BSA in the past has allowed the district's revenues to more
closely match the natural inflationary increases. He noted that
the three-year funding package created a dramatically different
environment both in the central office and in the schools. It
also made employees more effective in their jobs rather than
having to focus on concern over losing their job. The BSA
increase in SB 84 will continue to provide the same protection
from inflation and allow the district to forecast ahead. The
planning results for the next six years are discouraging for
education in Anchorage. He explained that assuming a
conservative rate of inflation in the plan and other costs of
business, with no increase to state or local funding the
district will face over a $100 million deficit in the sixth year
of the plan.
8:45:57 AM
ANN MARIE PALMIERI, Member, Haines School Board, stated support
for SB 84.
8:46:40 AM
RICH CARLSON, Superintendent, Klawock School District testified
in support of SB 84. He noted that he included his testimony in
writing.
8:47:27 AM
STEVE LAROE, President, Fairbanks Education Association, stated
support for the committee substitute for SB 84. He said that the
forward funding has worked and provided stability over the past
years and he would appreciate seeing that continue.
8:48:50 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS closed public testimony.
8:48:59 AM
SENATOR FRENCH commented that there is an impressive array of
individuals reaching out to testify this morning who support
education.
SENATOR DAVIS thanked the individuals who called in to testify.
She said that she is concerned that the BSA has not been brought
up to the inflation rate. She asked if the committee would be
accepting any amendments to the bill today.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS replied he had not expected to.
SENATOR DAVIS said that she had not prepared an amendment. She
explained that based upon the testimony heard today there are
concerns that the BSA does not match the inflationary increases.
She noted that the highest amount for the BSA increase is
located in the third year. She asked if it would be possible to
reverse this, so that the first year receives the highest
amount.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS replied that this would probably mean more
comment from the public.
SENATOR DAVIS noted that if the amount in the first year is more
than inflation, then it could be changed to the adjusted rate.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS said that everyone is concerned about inflation,
especially with fuel costs. He commented that he is not sure if
reversing the amounts would do anything other than reduce the
amount on the far end versus now. He noted that he does
understand her concern.
8:51:46 AM
SENATOR FRENCH pointed out that according to the fiscal note for
CSSB 84, for this year it means $38 million more for school
districts and less in FY2013 and 2014 because of the vocational
education breakout. He said that there is an extra $10 million
being put into education statewide this year. He noted that he
shares Senator Davis' concerns. However, on the other hand, the
governor proposed no funding increases for education and this
bill is a step in the right direction.
CO-CHAIR MEYER concurred that the bill is a good start. He said
the additional amount being factored in for vocational education
will save more for the BSA and the classroom. He noted that now
that the lunch and breakfast program has been fully funded this
also frees up money to go to the classroom. He added that
additionally, Senator Hoffman's bill focuses on fuel costs, and
would aid with school utility costs. He said that this is a good
start when all of these factors are taken into consideration and
blended together. He stressed that it is important to get this
bill up to Finance.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS concurred.
SENATOR DAVIS said she supports all of the comments being made.
She concurred that this is a good start, but it is not where the
state needs to be and if the changes are not made in the
Education Committee, it will not happen at all. She noted that
she is not going to stop the bill from moving out of the
committee but the BSA increase needs to at least come up to the
inflation rate.
8:56:35 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER moved to report [CS]SB 84( ), [version D] from
the committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s). There being no objections, CSSB 84 (EDC) moved
from the committee.
8:57:10 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Thomas adjourned the meeting at 8:57 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 84 Supporting Docs 3.14.11.pdf |
SEDC 3/21/2011 8:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| Fiscal Notes.pdf |
SEDC 3/21/2011 8:00:00 AM |
|
| 01-2007.pdf |
SEDC 3/21/2011 8:00:00 AM |
|
| SB 84 Sea Level B&B.doc |
SEDC 3/21/2011 8:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 Community Response.pdf |
SEDC 3/21/2011 8:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| JEDC Resolution 04-11 SB 84.pdf |
SEDC 3/21/2011 8:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| JEDC Support Letter SB84.pdf |
SEDC 3/21/2011 8:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |