Legislature(2011 - 2012)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/15/2012 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB194 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 169 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 194 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 15, 2012
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
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 194
"An Act providing for a school improvement and revitalization
procedure in the Department of Education and Early Development;
establishing advisory councils for school improvement; and
requiring reports to the legislature."
- HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 169
"AN ACT PROVIDING FOR EDUCATION FUNDING FOR DISTANCE DELIVERY
COURSES OFFERED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 194
SHORT TITLE: PROCEDURES FOR LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION
02/08/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/08/12 (S) EDC, FIN
02/13/12 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/13/12 (S) Heard & Held
02/13/12 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
02/15/12 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
MURRAY RICHMOND, Staff
Senator Joe Thomas
Co-Aide
Senate Education Standing Committee
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information on changes made to SB
194 and answered questions.
BARB ANGAIAK, President
National Education Association-Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 194.
CARL ROSE, Executive Director
Association of Alaska School Boards
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 194.
BYRON CHARLES, representing himself
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Did not state a position on SB 194.
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding SB 194.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:04:00 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 194-PROCEDURES FOR LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS
8:04:27 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS announced the continued consideration of SB 194.
He noted that many states have struggled with the low-performing
schools and some states had initiated active plans to help their
schools. He said the intent of this bill was a collaborative
effort to work with the community, district and the Department
of Education and Early Development (DEED) to make sure low-
performing schools get back on track. He said the state cannot
afford to stand idly by and allow low-performing districts to
struggle.
8:05:52 AM
MURRAY RICHMOND, staff to Senator Joe Thomas, Alaska State
Legislature, and co-aide to the Senate Education Standing
Committee, said changes were made since the last committee
meeting. He noted that Senator French requested clarification in
terminology by adding the phrase "degrees of" to provide
measurement means to audit activities pertaining to high
standards, collaboration, family involvement and community
involvement. He said the changes included a focus on schools
rather than districts and allowing collaborative changes to be
optional rather than mandatory.
8:08:28 AM
He emphasized that governance councils would function on an
advisory capacity and the name had been changed from "governance
council" to "revitalization advisory council" (RAC). He noted
that the number of school board members serving on RAC would be
increased from one to three members. He said a change was also
made to allow a school board to partially accept RAC
recommendations.
8:11:33 AM
He said the bill takes a proactive stance towards low-performing
schools, defines support roles and offers continual help for the
bottom 3 percent. He said DEED would be provided with specific
responsibilities and audit parameters. He said RAC would provide
teachers, principals and parents with input to help their
schools. He said schools would have every opportunity to make
changes before an intervention becomes necessary.
8:13:55 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked how effective advisory councils were in
working with school boards in other states.
MR. RICHMOND answered that Connecticut and Georgia had shown
success with advisory councils. He noted that in Alaska,
Kodiak's advisory council had worked very well in their schools.
He said advisory councils were successful when school boards
accepted its defined role and listened to its recommendations.
8:16:03 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER noted that school board members could face not
being reelected if they do not listen to an advisory council's
recommendations.
MR. RICHMOND answered correct.
8:16:59 AM
BARB ANGAIAK, President, National Education Association-Alaska
(NEA-Alaska), Juneau, said the bill called for councils to be
set up to provide input and advice from parents, teachers,
administrators and school board members. She said elected school
board authority and responsibility would not be taken away. She
recommended that DEED include National Board Certification (NBC)
for teachers.
8:20:43 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS commented that school boards were made up of
community members and the bill would broaden representation.
SENATOR FRENCH asked what NEA-Alaska's position was on offering
a $5000 incentive to attract highly qualified teachers and
principals.
MS. ANGAIAK answered that NEA-Alaska was in support and
encouraged NBC for teachers.
8:22:28 AM
SENATOR FRENCH asked if NBC was required for "highly qualified"
consideration and $5000 grant eligibility.
MS. ANGAIAK answered that she did not know. She noted that NEA-
Alaska was convinced that the rigorous standards for achieving
NBC would provide for the highest quality of teacher.
SENATOR STEVENS asked if NEA-Alaska had a problem with RAC
participating in the school board's responsibility to hire
principals.
8:24:15 AM
MS. ANGAIAK answered that a struggling school may need to look
at a different method for making sure the very best person was
hired.
SENATOR STEVENS asked for clarification regarding RAC being
involved in principal hiring.
MR. RICHMOND responded that the Fairbanks School District
involved their community in the principal hiring process, but
the school board was ultimately responsible for hiring. He
addressed Senator French's question regarding the definition of
a "highly qualified" teacher and said the bill allowed DEED to
make that designation.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS commented that the intent was not to usurp the
school board's authority to hire principals or dictate that only
NBC teachers were considered "highly qualified."
SENATOR FRENCH asked if the bill would only pay a $5000 grant to
attract new teachers or be used for teachers already inside the
district.
8:26:38 AM
MR. RICHMOND answered that the grant would be used to attract
new teachers. He said there could be a problem for teachers who
were already serving and changes would be addressed with DEED.
SENATOR FRENCH asked who had the authority to award the $5000
grant.
MR. RICHMOND answered that DEED would work with the school board
and superintendent to address how teacher attraction grants
would be awarded.
8:28:51 AM
CARL ROSE, Executive Director, Association of Alaska School
Boards (AASB), Juneau, said school board members were people who
contributed to communities and provided a tremendous voluntary
service. He said school board members dispersed over $1 billion
per year and were the only people authorized to spend that
money. He said the bill addressed low performing schools by
providing added assistance and direction.
8:31:20 AM
MR. ROSE said changing the governance council to RAC was
appreciated. He advised limiting school board member
participation to avoid a quorum within RAC. He said the bill
authorized community collaboration and may satisfy another piece
of legislation in the Alaska House of Representatives that takes
issue with the school intervention process.
8:34:38 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked how effective RAC would be in a rural area.
He commented that rural school districts had a limited pool of
people to select from.
MR. ROSE answered that school districts in the Rural Educational
Attendance Area were required by law to have advisory boards in
place. He said the bill would change how RAC members were chosen
in addition to expanding advisory responsibilities. He said the
greatest logistical challenge came from dealing with vast areas
with no road access. He said adding a provision to allow less
RAC members was important to rural communities.
8:38:58 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS commented that the intent was not to add more
bureaucracy, but to create something that was helpful and
brought people together.
SENATOR STEVENS said he appreciated the change to RAC. He
addressed the requirement for DEED to decide changes to be made
if a school board and RAC would not be in agreement. He asked if
AASB had concerns if DEED was given the authority to dictate
changes.
8:41:35 AM
MR. ROSE answered that a disagreement should be dictated through
the school board election or recall process. He noted that a
school board's extensive duties permitted the body to be sued.
He said RAC functioned in an advisory capacity and language in
the bill involving DEED was not necessary.
8:43:16 AM
BYRON CHARLES, representing himself, Ketchikan, said new
technology would play an important role for increasing student
interest in school.
SENATOR DAVIS said she would like to receive input from DEED.
8:46:25 AM
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development, Juneau, said the department felt strongly
that communities should be engaged in their schools. He said he
did not see anything in the bill that was not workable. He said
the fiscal note was constructed to allow for adjustments.
8:48:09 AM
MR. MORSE addressed Senator French's question regarding the new
teacher grant. He said DEED envisioned a process where RAC would
write for a grant to do something innovative to attract
teachers. He said grant incentives could be in the form of a
bonus, loan or professional development support. He said DEED
had been working on operational logistics and would work with
the committee to make all of the pieces work.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked if there was anything in the bill that was
bothersome to DEED.
MR. MORSE answered that using the term "highly qualified" to
describe teaching candidates was a legal term and suggested that
another term be used.
8:50:15 AM
SENATOR DAVIS asked if DEED supported SB 194.
MR. MORSE answered that the bill was in draft form and a
statement in support would be premature.
SENATOR STEVENS commented that electing school boards was an
important part of a democracy and the election process was
ingrained in our society. He said he was concerned that an
unelected department could trump the elected school board. He
said he liked the RAC concept to assist low-performing schools
and advised being very careful of trampling on the
responsibilities of elected officials.
8:53:51 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS said he agreed that legally they were treading
on an area that was not purview to change.
8:54:35 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS said SB 194 would be held in committee.
8:56:29 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Thomas adjourned the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting at 8:56 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB0194A.PDF |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 194 |
| AS 14.03.123.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| SB194-EED-TLS-2-10-2012.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 194 |
| SB 194 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 194 |
| Gainsville Article 2.14.12.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| The Role of School Based Councils 2.14.12.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Hartford Public Schools Report.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Local School Councils.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Hartford Public Schools - Councils.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Connecticut Dept. of Ed.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Berkeley Unified School Dist Bylaws.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
|
| SB 194 Changes 2.14.12.pdf |
SEDC 2/15/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 194 |