Legislature(2005 - 2006)
04/04/2005 02:55 PM House FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB229 | |
| HB132 | |
| HB41 | |
| HB16 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL NO. 16
An Act relating to funding for school districts
operating secondary school boarding programs and to
funding for school districts from which boarding
student's come; and providing for an effective date.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COGHILL, SPONSOR, stated that HB 16
would put into statute the Department of Education & Early
Development current practices. The legislation does not
create new programs; it only supports existing programs that
are successful. The change is a student would not have to
pass the current standard for qualification. The standard
is that the student would be able to have high school
available while leaving their school district. The bill
provides students a choice regarding whether they go to a
larger boarding school that has more offerings than what is
available at their local schools.
Representative Coghill pointed out that the legislation, by
statute, reimburses to full school year, secondary boarding
schools for the costs incurred by the district operating the
program. At this time, there are three boarding schools,
which would qualify for reimbursement for a per-pupil
stipend plus one round trip between the student's community
of residence and the school during the school year. The
legislation limits the program to boarding schools already
operating since January 1, 2004, and those schools would
participate in a five-year pilot project that the Department
of Education & Early Development could evaluate for the
Legislature. He added that the hold harmless section of the
bill allows the student's district of residence to count a
student for the Average Daily Membership (ADM) count even
though the student is attending a secondary boarding school.
It avoids the possibility of paying twice, the base student
allocation for the same student.
4:34:10 PM
Representative Hawker commented on the fiscal impact of the
legislation and questioned how those funds could be offset.
Representative Coghill acknowledged that he had been
concerned about that. He noted that he was committed to
balancing the budget, while finding legitimate ways to fund
government. He indicated that he did not know a place from
which to transfer the funds, reiterating that the need for
boarding schools is great.
Representative Hawker suggested that a participatory
investment from people living in the Rural Education
Attendance Areas (REAA). Representative Coghill responded
that was a capital approach and that he would not want to
attach the bill to that. He added that HB 16 is a
structural process, looking at how boarding schools do in
Alaska.
Representative Coghill acknowledged the need for downward
pressure on State government growth.
4:37:06 PM
Representative Hawker interjected that he was referring to
Senator Bundy's REAA head-tax. Representative Coghill
misunderstood.
4:37:18 PM
Vice-Chair Stoltze referenced Section 2 and was confused
about community pressure. He worried about a school losing
their standing. He thought that the legislation might be
restricting options. Representative Coghill stated that
there are reasons why in some communities, the schools
should no longer exist. He did not want to see that a
student leaves because they could not get what they needed.
He struggled with that, but understood that there would be
no effect on schools with between 10 & 20 students, as the
funding level would remain the same between that level.
Only when there are less than 10 students, is there a
potential question. He wanted to find a way to hold the
school district harmless if that were the case.
Vice-Chair Stoltze worried about pressure in small schools
on the child that needed or wanted to board out. He
referenced the Nenana Boarding School commenting on what a
successful system that is.
4:40:55 PM
Representative Weyhrauch inquired who goes to a boarding
school. Representative Coghill pointed out that many
students go to a boarding school. In many cases, the
parents pay into the school fund. The stipend does not
cover the entire costs of the boarding costs. In Nenana,
they divide the cost between the school and the parent. The
stipend would cover between ½ and a 1/3 of the costs.
There could be some savings. The students come from a wide
range of communities in the State including Anchorage. The
reasons that they are there range from social problems,
parents wanting to raise the level of education or specific
voc-tech options. The Nenanna students seem to be in a good
college prep situation. He reiterated that there is a wide
range of issues.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK NEUMAN testified in support of HB 16.
He claimed that regional learning center concepts were
important to future education statewide. It provides a safe
haven for many students. The graduation rate from the
boarding schools is tremendous and many of these students
have gone to college. In the boarding school system and
regional learning centers, the student learns in a college
type atmosphere and end up doing well in college.
Representative Neuman pointed out that there are many
schools that have marginal attendance. The proposed
legislation offers a way to bring some of those students
into the regional learning centers, thus making the
statewide system better. He added that the hold harmless
clause does protect some of the smaller statewide schools.
Many students would love to get into those schools and that
most of the students are from rural Alaska.
4:47:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOODIE SALMON testified in support of the
bill. He noted that he was a result of a boarding school
education program. He commented that boarding schools
provide a wonderful choice for village students. He
acknowledged the sacrifices that parents make in order for
their children to leave the villages and attend boarding
schools. He noted opportunities that offer vocational
advantages.
Representative Salmon indicated that this is not a Native
problem but rather a State problem and that Alaska needs to
be proactive in educating our children.
4:51:42 PM
RALPH LINDQUIST, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), NENANA
SCHOOL DISTRICT, testified in support of the legislation.
He noted that Nenana district offers a product, which is
very popular with the kids. He gave examples of children in
the program that have succeeded and pointed out that no kids
opted to leave the school for Christmas break this year.
The bill would provide funding for five years. He addressed
college prep preparation and begged for support for these
kids and the programs.
JIM SMITH, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), GALENA SCHOOL
DISTRICT, GALENA, spoke in support of the legislation. He
stressed the success of their program. He offered to answer
questions of the Committee.
KEN EGGLESTON, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE),
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, NENANA, spoke in support of the
legislation. He recounted successes at the Nenana and
Galena boarding schools. He observed that the Nenana and
Galena boarding schools assist each other and emphasized
their need to offer vocational and other popular programs to
these students. Mr. Eggleston pointed out that the Nenana
School District is working with the Rasmussen Foundation.
He assured the Committee that the programs are attempting to
find ways to fund that does not encumber more money from the
State. He urged passage of the legislation.
HB 16 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.
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