Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
04/14/2015 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB37 | |
| SB84 | |
| SB102 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 84 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 37 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 14, 2015
3:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice Chair
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Cathy Giessel
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 37
"An Act relating to sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness
and prevention efforts in public schools."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 84
"An Act relating to language immersion charter schools; relating
to teacher certification; and relating to standards-based
assessments in language immersion charter schools and language
immersion programs."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 102
"An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education
and Early Development; relating to the duties of school
districts; relating to course mastery requirements; relating to
school funding; relating to training for school employees and
mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect; relating to
layoff of tenured teachers; relating to fiscal notes prepared by
the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to
notification of proposed agency actions; and repealing
requirements for minimum expenditures for instruction."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 37
SHORT TITLE: SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAMS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MCGUIRE
02/04/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/04/15 (S) EDC, FIN
04/02/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/02/15 (S) Heard & Held
04/02/15 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/07/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/07/15 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
04/09/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/09/15 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
04/14/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 84
SHORT TITLE: LANG. IMMERSION SCHOOLS/TEACHER CERTS.
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) OLSON
03/20/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/20/15 (S) EDC, FIN
04/14/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 102
SHORT TITLE: UNFUNDED ED. MANDATES; TRAINING; TEACHERS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DUNLEAVY
04/09/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/09/15 (S) EDC, FIN
04/14/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
LAUREN RASMUSSEN, Staff
Senator Lesil McGuire
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed SB 37 on behalf of the sponsor.
DR. SUSAN MCCAULEY, Director
Teacher and Learning Support
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to SB 37.
JORDAN MARSHALL, External Affairs Manager
Rasmuson Foundation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
MAY BOLLENBACH, representing herself
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Questioned some of the provisions in SB 37.
KATE FINN, representing herself
Anchor Point, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
SANDRA GARITY, representing herself
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
MIKE COONS, representing himself
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
TANYA ZOMORA-BEY, Advocate
Standing Together Against Rape (STAR)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
LYNN STUHR, representing herself
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
ROBIN SMITH, representing herself
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
CHELSIE MORRISON HEATH, Community Advocate
Standing Together Against Rape (STAR)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
CINDY MOORE, representing herself
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
BUTCH MOORE, representing himself
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
KEN LANDFIELD, representing himself
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 37.
JACQUELYN BOYER, Intern
Senator Donny Olson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information related to SB 84 on
behalf of the sponsor.
DEENA PARAMO, Superintendent
Mat-Su School District
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
JENNIFER SCHMIDT, Principal
Fronteras Spanish Immersion Charter School
Mat-Su School District
Wasilla, 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, with changes.
LANCE TWITCHELL, representing himself
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 84.
SHEILA PETERSON, Staff
Senator Mike Dunleavy
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 102 on behalf of the sponsor.
ELIZABETH NUDELMAN, Director
School Finance and Facilities Section
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 102.
LES MORRIS, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 102.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:59 PM
CHAIR MIKE DUNLEAVY called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Huggins, Gardner, Stevens, and Chair
Dunleavy. He announced that the committee would be hearing three
bills: SB 37, SB 84, and SB 102.
SB 37-SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAMS
3:32:49 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 37.
3:33:19 PM
LAUREN RASMUSSEN, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State
Legislature, reviewed SB 37 on behalf of the sponsor. She
described the Alaska Safe Children's Act. She read from the
following sponsor statement:
Senate Bill 37, known as the Alaska Safe Children's
Act, is an important piece of legislation that will
require school districts to set up a policy and
training program for staff, students, and parents on
the topics of sexual assault and teen dating violence.
ASCA will combat child abuse and teen dating violence;
and add volunteer athletic coaches to the existing
mandatory reporting statute.
This bill will do the following:
• Require school districts to implement age-
appropriate training and curricula on sexual abuse and
sexual assault awareness and prevention for students
in kindergarten through 12th grade.
• Require school districts to implement age-
appropriate training and curricula on dating violence
and abuse policy, awareness, training, and prevention
for students 7th through 12th grade.
• Adds volunteer athletic coaches to the existing
mandatory reporting statute under AS 47.17.020(a)
• Repeals requirement that school districts pay for
physical examinations.
• Repeals requirement that certificated preschool
teachers must be fingerprinted and background checked
a second time after being hired.
Alaska Safe Children's Act will empower children,
parents and teachers by providing a structure for
pulling the stories of abuse out of the shadows and
demonstrating to future generations that every child
has a voice. In a state as resource rich as ours, it
is time we turn our focus on our most precious
resource: our children.
MS. RASMUSSEN addressed questions from the previous meeting. She
responded to questions from Senator Huggins regarding the
possible criminal history of teachers from out of state. She
related that according to the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED), a person would have to apply for an Alaska
license which requires a fingerprint card and a completed
background check through the Department of Public Safety and the
National Crime Information Center.
In response to the question regarding the backlog of processing
rape kits, Ms. Rasmussen said Senator McGuire plans on working
on this important issue in the interim. She also related that
there are a number of colleges that offer courses on sexual
abuse prevention.
MS. RASMUSSEN turned to the response for Senator Gardner's
question regarding training of volunteer athletic coaches. She
said the statute requires the training be completed within the
first six months of hire, which could be an issue for seasonal
coaches. She said the sponsor believes it is a valid concern and
merits continuing attention.
3:38:02 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said the bill would remove the provision to
fingerprint pre-school teachers a second time. He asked why that
is required twice in the first place.
MS. RASMUSSEN offered to get back to the committee on that.
3:38:44 PM
DR. SUSAN MCCAULEY, Director, Teacher and Learning Support,
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), provided
information related to SB 37. She related that there are two
separate systems for fingerprinting set up for pre-school
teachers; one, from DEED, is for the purpose of certification
and the second system, established by the Department of Health
and Social Services (DHSS), is required when one obtains a
teaching position.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if she supports the repeal of fingerprinting
contained in the bill.
DR. MCCAULEY said it would reduce the burden on an individual,
but clarified that the systems have two different purposes. The
DHSS database is a 24/7 real-time check for criminal activities;
DEED's system is a check only upon initial teacher
certification. The language in Section 2 of the bill requires
DHSS to develop a procedure for sending over fingerprinting
records for the purpose of satisfying DHSS's requirements, but
is not clear about whether that procedure would result in those
records being entered into a real-time, ongoing check. She
suggested it is worth further inquiry with DHSS as to whether
providing them with fingerprinting cards for certificated
teachers no longer results in the records being in the 24/7
system. She thought the intention of the bill was to reduce
duplicate requirements, when, in fact, they are somewhat
different requirements.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said it is duplicative for the individual.
DR. MCCAULEY said yes.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY summarized that the bill would reduce
fingerprinting to one time and the departments are trying to
figure out how that could happen.
DR. MCCAULEY agreed.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY thought the results could be shared between
departments.
3:43:01 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked who pays the cost for fingerprinting.
DR. MCCAULEY said the individual does.
SENATOR GARDNER clarified that this provision applies to only
100 certificated pre-school teachers. She said there does not
seem to be any benefit by the 24/7 scanning of pre-school
teachers. She could not find a single case where it was needed.
She asked why real-time fingerprinting would not be important
for all other teachers.
3:45:00 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS concluded that there may be a greater danger to
students from those who don't have a record.
DR. MCCAULEY did not understand the question.
SENATOR HUGGINS restated the question.
DR. MCCAULEY said if a person's behavior resulted in a criminal
record it would be picked up in the initial certification
process.
3:47:29 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if there is a fiscal note.
MS. RASMUSSEN said she has not seen one for the committee
substitute.
3:47:57 PM
JORDAN MARSHALL, External Affairs Manager, Rasmuson Foundation,
testified in support of SB 37. He stated that the Rasmuson
Foundation has long been a supporter of organizations and
programs that are designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.
He said if SB 37 were to pass, the Rasmuson Foundation would
most certainly entertain a grant application to develop
curriculum and training.
SENATOR GARDNER mentioned that there is a lot of curriculum
available, but the biggest training potential for school
districts is a webinar. At one point the department suggested
they might be able to provide that. She asked if the Rasmuson
Foundation might be able to help produce a webinar.
MR. MARSHALL responded that they would entertain a grant
application to develop curriculum and training, including in the
form of a webinar.
3:50:04 PM
MAY BOLLENBACH, representing herself, questioned some of the
provisions in SB 37. She said she agreed with the earlier
version of Erin's Law, but this one is more complicated and
relates more to teachers. She said it is important to educate
children about sexual predators, sexual assault, and other
dangers.
3:50:41 PM
KATE FINN, representing herself, testified in support of SB 37.
She shared her history as a sexual assault nurse examiner who
dealt with sexually abused children. She applauded many items in
the bill. She spoke in favor of the opt-out provision in the
bill.
3:52:55 PM
SANDRA GARITY, representing herself, testified in support of SB
37. She shared her history as a nurse who dealt with sexually
abused children. She recalled the abuse within her own family
and suggested that the bill be made mandatory every year due to
the high rate of sexually abused victims.
3:54:39 PM
MIKE COONS, representing himself, testified in support of SB 37.
He shared his experience as a paramedic who had to deal with
abuse victims. He voiced concern about whether the Office of
Children's Service will do their job as it relates to sexual
abuse. He commented on domestic violence and the problems when
victims do not tell.
3:57:10 PM
TANYA ZOMORA-BEY, Advocate, Standing Together Against Rape
(STAR), testified in support of SB 37. She shared statistics
about sexual abuse in Alaska. She agreed with including programs
in schools to educate children. She shared a story about a boy
who learned about personal safety.
3:59:21 PM
LYNN STUHR, representing herself, testified in support of SB 37.
She shared statistics about child sexual abuse, domestic
violence, and teen dating violence. She agreed that the training
should be conducted yearly. She said it is time to educate the
community, parents, schools, and youth. Twenty states have
adopted similar policies. Preventions is the cheapest way to
deal with child sexual abuse.
4:02:27 PM
ROBIN SMITH, representing herself, testified in support of SB
37. She noted Alaska has a big problem with sexual assault and
violence. She said children who have been abused are more likely
to commit crimes than other children. It increases the risks of
problems in a child's life and can lead to a myriad of problems
that tax many state systems. She shared statistics about abuse
in Alaska. She stressed the importance of education.
4:05:11 PM
CHELSIE MORRISON HEATH, Community Advocate, Standing Together
Against Rape (STAR), testified in support of SB 37. She shared
statistics about child sexual abuse and teen dating violence in
Alaska and suggested increasing the number of supportive adults
in children's lives and having educational programs for youth in
schools.
CINDY MOORE, representing herself, testified in support of SB
37. She said she is the mother of a daughter who was murdered by
her boyfriend. She recommended the National Conference of State
Legislators as a resource for information on teen sexual dating
violence. She said mental and physical health consequences can
extend into adulthood. Prevention should include early
intervention. She concluded that the number one option for
policymakers is to support evidence-based programs in schools
and communities, such as Safe Dates and Fourth R that are proven
to prevent and intervene in violent teen dating relationships.
4:10:23 PM
BUTCH MOORE, representing himself, testified in support of SB
37. He shared his family's personal story about his daughter's
death. He said his daughter's friends did not tell anyone, even
though they knew about the violence. He suggested the education
about teen violence be mandatory. He quoted Senator Gary Stevens
who said, "Who would not want their child to receive this
education." He urged passage of the bill.
4:13:13 PM
KEN LANDFIELD, representing himself, testified in support of SB
37. He said if we can agree that child sexual abuse is a real
problem in Alaska, then it should be clear that education and
training on awareness and prevention are, at the very least,
cost effective and something we should all take very seriously.
4:13:58 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 37 in committee.
SB 84-LANG. IMMERSION SCHOOLS/TEACHER CERTS.
4:14:15 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 84.
JACQUELYN BOYER, Intern, Senator Donny Olson, Alaska State
Legislature, sponsor of SB 84, presented information related to
SB 84. She read from following sponsor statement:
As a father, I know firsthand that children are not
only my future, but Alaska's future. For that future
to be sound, we need to encourage our children to seek
a further understanding of the world around them: how
it operates, different viewpoints, and how diversity
makes us stronger. Having students not only learn a
second language but be immersed in a second language
creates a greater capacity for growth.
Some schools in Alaska have already started immersion
programs. Spanish immersion is offered at Fronteras in
the Mat-Su and German at Rilke Schule in Anchorage.
Japanese, Russian, and Spanish immersion programs are
also available in the Anchorage School District.
Schools in rural Alaska, such as Ayaprun Elitnaurvik
in Bethel and Nikaitchuat Ilisagvait in Kotzebue are
using immersion education to revitalize endangered
Alaskan Native languages.
SB 84 creates a designation for language immersion
charter schools, which have the specific mission to
produce bilingual students, preserve or revitalize
endangered languages, or provide a learning experience
consistent with a foreign culture. These language
immersion schools have high statutory standards for
both the teachers and the school structure. Teachers
will be well qualified individuals who are both
capable instructors and fluent in the language of
instruction. These schools are unique in that they
will have an academic policy committee that includes
not just teachers, employees, and parents, but
language and cultural experts.
Some of Alaska's languages have few speakers
remaining, often only elders. For these languages,
local governments best know who in their communities
are good with children and fluent in the language.
This bill allows the state to approve teacher
certificates issued by local tribes to teach in local
language immersion charter schools. Lastly, the bill
allows children being taught in a different language
to test in that language, if high quality benchmark
tests exist.
More language immersion programs would be a great
asset to Alaska, both helping keep indigenous
languages alive and fostering greater understanding of
foreign languages and cultures.
She noted the fiscal note does not reflect that the bill
requires testing in the language available.
4:18:39 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY thanked Ms. Boyer.
SENATOR GARDNER noted that charter schools are home grown and
they operate under a charter in their district, and are exempt
from some requirements. She said the alternative school is set
up by the district. She asked why the immersion school is a
charter school and not an alternative school. She suggested
having the immersion school set up by the district.
4:20:24 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY added that charter schools usually have a
mission.
He asked if the bill is limited to native languages.
MS. BOYER said it was for all languages.
4:21:10 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony.
4:21:39 PM
DEENA PARAMO, Superintendent, Mat-Su School District, testified
in support of SB 84. She said, as a district who highly values
choice in educational programs and delivery, the bill will
provide for specific certification and recognition of teachers
at language immersion charter schools. It will allow school
districts the flexibility they need to hire non-traditional
teachers and the ability to retain staff in the time of
shortage. She suggested that an effective date for transitioning
to the new certificate would allow ample time to communicate to
employees for which the certificate applies.
4:23:51 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked Ms. Paramo if she can hire non-
certificated teachers now.
MS. PARAMO said they can hire Type M certificates now in career
and technical areas.
SENATOR STEVENS noted that they are similar to contracts for
certificated teachers.
MS. PARAMO yes, but there is no tenure.
4:25:00 PM
JENNIFER SCHMIDT, Principal, Fronteras Spanish Immersion Charter
School, Mat-Su School District, testified in support of SB 84.
She concurred with the previous speaker. She described the
difficulty with hiring non-certificated personnel for Fronteras.
The bill would alleviate that issue. She spoke in favor of
having standardized testing in the target language, as provided
in Section 8.
SENATOR GARDNER referenced Section 8 and asked if there are any
comparable tests that exist other than in English.
MS. SCHMIDT replied not for high-stakes testing. Progress
monitoring is done in Spanish up to third grade.
PEGGY COWAN, Superintendent, North Slope Borough School
District, testified in support of SB 84, with changes. She
recommended that Section 4, lines 19 - 22, contains a valuable
clause and they don't want it removed. She explained how it's
used in her district. The provision repeats on page 4, line 31
and page 6, line 11. She referred to page 5, line 27, which
requires teachers to be fluent in their indigenous language and
suggested allowing teachers that are working on fluency to be
hired. She also suggested that the districts be allowed to
develop their own tests, which is different than what's set
forth on page 7.
4:34:20 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked what she means by "developing your own
tests."
MS. COWAN replied that it's a recommendation from their Inupiat
education director. The bill doesn't prohibit it, but they'd
like to develop their own language tests.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if she's just talking about a separate
test for cultural understanding.
MS. COWAN replied they want to test on their own criteria.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY suggested she send the recommendation to the
sponsor.
MS. COWAN agreed.
4:36:36 PM
LANCE TWITCHELL, representing himself, testified in support of
SB 84. He said he is a professor of Native languages at UAS. He
thanked the sponsor and others for working on this legislation.
He opined that immersion schools would help take native cultures
out of language and cultural loss and revitalize indigenous
languages. He shared statistics related to indigenous cultures
and stressed the importance of native languages and immersion
charter schools. He spoke of a number of ways to fund these
schools.
4:42:38 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced he would hold SB 84 in committee.
4:43:02 PM
At ease
SB 102-UNFUNDED ED. MANDATES; TRAINING; TEACHERS
CHAIR DUNLEAVY reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SB 102.
4:50:08 PM
SHEILA PETERSON, Staff, Senator Mike Dunleavy, introduced SB 102
on behalf of the sponsor. She said it is a collaborative effort
between many people and a response to school districts' pleas
for relief from unfunded mandates.
She provided the following sectional analysis:
Section 1. Limits AS 14.03.073, which allows students
to challenge courses for credit, to apply only to
students in grades nine through 12.
Section 2. Clarifies that school districts do not have
to establish assessment tools for all courses offered
in grades nine through 12.
Section 3. Requires the state Board of Education and
Early Development (the board) to adopt regulations
that include a list of approved organizations that
offer assessment tools meeting the requirements of AS
14.03.075(b).
SENATOR GARDNER suggested only providing a list of approved
assessment tools because an organization might provide both good
and poor assessments.
MS. PETERSON said they may want to look at that to see if there
might be a better term to use. The intent is that school
districts would not need to do independent research to find the
best assessment tools, nor create their own assessment tool.
Section 4. Requires the Department of Education and
Early Development (the department) to provide an
annual report that includes a summary of school
district revenues and estimated funding for each
school district. The intent is to put the "five-pager"
information on the web.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if this document already exists and the
bill would require it to be published on the web.
MS. PETERSON said yes.
Section 5. Requires the board, before adopting,
amending, or repealing a regulation, to prepare a
fiscal note estimating the effect of the action on
school district budgets for the next fiscal year.
Section 6. Requires regional school boards to
establish procedures to provide required training for
school employees.
Section 7. Requires borough and city school boards to
establish procedures to provide required training for
school employees.
Section 8. Requires the board to establish procedures
for training employees of state boarding schools.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked which training programs are not included.
MS. PETERSON said the intent was to include all training
programs, however, suicide training wasn't included because it
sunsets in 2016; it may be put back in.
SENATOR HUGGINS said he was asking whether some school districts
weren't included.
MS. PETERSON replied she didn't believe so.
SENATOR GARDNER asked for the reason behind the five-year cycle.
4:59:11 PM
MS. PETERSON said the five-year cycle was recommended by a
variety of organizations and it seemed reasonable.
SENATOR STEVENS added that a district could include additional
training programs if they wished to.
MS. PETERSON agreed. It allows for flexibility within the school
districts.
Section 9. Allows school districts to determine how
frequently to provide training related to selection of
nondiscriminatory textbook and educational materials.
Section 10. Allows school districts to determine how
frequently to provide employee evaluation training for
certificated school employees.
Section 11. Allows a school district to implement a
layoff plan for tenured teachers without a decrease in
school attendance or a decrease in the school
district's basic need.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if the layoff plan is needed because there
isn't enough funding to retain the tenured teachers.
MS. PETERSON said this idea came from one school district that
was unable to implement the layoff plan. Responding to a
further question, she said it was the Mat-Su School District.
Section 12. Allows a school district to determine how
frequently to provide alcohol and drug related
disabilities training for school teachers,
administrators, counselors, and specialists.
Section 13. Allows school districts to determine how
frequently to provide school crisis response training.
Section 14. Requires continuing education related to
domestic violence and sexual assault to be provided
once every five years for state or local public
employees.
Section 15. Requires the department to prepare a
fiscal note describing the effect of a bill or
resolution on each school district in the state, if
the bill or resolution would affect schools.
Section 16. Requires agencies to describe the effect
of a proposed action on each school district in the
state, if the proposed action will affect schools.
Section 17. Modifies state agency training intervals
for recognition and reporting of child abuse for
mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect and
allows school districts to determine how frequently to
provide the training.
Section 18. Repeals AS 14.17.520, relating to the
minimum expenditure for instruction required for
school districts.
5:06:42 PM
SENATOR STEVENS expressed concern with the clause in Section 18.
He thought it was reasonable that 70 percent of school funds go
to instruction and 30 percent to administration. It is saying
the established educational goals aren't valuable.
MS. PETERSON said the waiver request is mostly due to fuel and
maintenance costs.
5:08:57 PM
ELIZABETH NUDELMAN, Director, School Finance and Facilities
Section, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED),
answered questions related to SB 102.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if the superintendent's salary is included
in the 70 percent.
MS. NUDELMAN answered no. Included in the 70 percent calculation
are five categories of instruction. There are three categories
of non-instruction.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if most schools that apply for a waiver are
rural schools.
MS. NUDELMAN replied that many are rural. Responding to a
further question, she explained that some have a road system and
are categorized as rural.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said the concern was that 70/30 should be a tool
for funneling money to instruction. He asked for the
department's opinion on the 70/30 and whether a waiver has ever
been denied.
MS. NUDELMAN explained that the waivers go to the State Board of
Education and zero waivers have been denied over the years.
Sometimes districts have been asked to explain expenditures
outside of instruction.
SENATOR STEVENS asked what controls there would be if the 70/30
split is removed.
MS. NUDELMAN replied that those decisions are made at the local
level. The split provides an opportunity for the Board to hear
from districts that are not able to meet those percentages.
5:13:57 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS recalled that in the five largest school
districts about 90 percent is spent on salary and benefits.
MS. NUDELMAN agreed that has been a reference number.
SENATOR HUGGINS recalled that the superintendent at Adak was
paid for several years after the school shut down.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that in rural Alaska instructional dollars
had to be used for teacher housing. He asked if they have to
prove why they're asking for a waiver.
MS. NUDELMAN said even without the requirement for the waiver,
the department has a statutory requirement to review the
operating budgets for reasonableness. Additionally, if a waiver
is requested they look at the reasons to see if they're
supported by facts.
5:17:56 PM
SENATOR STEVENS suggested taking fuel oil out of the equation if
it's the biggest problem and the goal is to ease the pressure on
small school districts.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if the department has taken a position on
this section addressing the 70/30 rule.
LES MORRIS, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), answered questions related to SB 102.
He said several years ago the Board asked that the 70/30 rule be
repealed, and then changed their minds after learning more about
it. There have been varying positions over time, but the
department hasn't taken a position on this recently.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY concluded that SB 102 is a result of discussions
with school districts and he views it as a tool to help give
school districts breathing room so they can teach kids. He used
several analogies to make his point.
SENATOR GARDNER asked, in the 70/30 rule, what part of the
application process would go away if schools still have to do
the accounting.
MS. NUDELMAN said they would no longer need to write a letter to
the Board explaining why they're below the 70 percent.
SENATOR GARDNER countered that the bookkeeping would remain the
same.
MS. NUDELMAN said correct.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted the $1.2 million fiscal note. He asked if
there was a fiscal note to implement the mandates discussed in
the bill.
MS. NUDELMAN explained that the fiscal note is related to the
language in Section 4 and applies to the department, not the
unfunded mandates. It relates to the department providing a tool
on the website with raw data and formulas to manipulate and
estimate the foundation program funding. There is a difference
between providing a detailed report (the five-pager), and a
calculating tool, which is not currently available.
MR. MORRIS noted there are two fiscal notes.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said this bill will require ongoing conversations
and meetings on unfunded mandates throughout the Interim.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 102 in committee.
5:32:36 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunleavy adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting at 5:32 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SB 37 Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 2. SB 37 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 3. CS for SB 37 - Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 4. CS for SB 37 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 5. CS for SB 37 - Explanation of Changes.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 6. CS for SB 37 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 1. SB 84 Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 84 |
| 2. SB 84 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 84 |
| 3. SB 84 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 84 |
| 4. SB 84 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 84 |
| 5. SB 84 Support Letter.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
|
| 6. SB 84 Research.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 84 |
| 7. SB 84 supporting documents- Navajo Nation.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 84 |
| 8. SB 84 Utah Immersion Prog.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 84 |
| SB 102 Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 102 |
| SB 102 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 102 |
| SB 102 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 102 |
| SB 102 Fiscal Note School Finance.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 102 |
| SB 102 Fiscal Note Teaching Learning.pdf |
SEDC 4/14/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 102 |