03/15/2013 08:00 AM House EDUCATION

          HB 142-STIPEND FOR STATEWIDE BOARDING SCHOOL                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:03:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GATTIS announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO. 142,  "An  Act  increasing the  monthly  stipend                                                               
available  for students  attending  a  statewide boarding  school                                                               
operated by  a school  district; and  providing for  an effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
[The committee  substitute (CS) for HB  142, Version 28-LS0570\C,                                                               
was previously adopted as the working document on 3/13/13.]                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:05:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NORMAN ECK, PhD, Superintendent,  Northwest Arctic Borough School                                                               
District (NWABSD),  assured the  committee that  HB 142  will not                                                               
allow any school district to  make a profit by boarding students.                                                               
Currently,  the two  schools authorized  to receive  stipends for                                                               
boarding   students,   Nenana   and  Galena,   operate   boarding                                                               
facilities  at  a deficit.    This  is  one reason  the  proposed                                                               
legislation  is  necessary.    Northwest  Arctic  Borough  School                                                               
District is submitting a proposal  to the Department of Education                                                               
and Early  Development (EED)  for approval  to board  40 students                                                               
from  outside of  Kotzebue so  they may  attend the  Star of  the                                                               
Northwest  Magnet School.   This  proposal  includes a  projected                                                               
budget  that anticipates  a loss  of  over $200,000  per year  in                                                               
student boarding costs.  However,  NWABSD believes this school is                                                               
needed to  improve education for  students in rural Alaska.   The                                                               
school will  provide innovative educational programs  that enable                                                               
students  to become  self-sufficient, career-ready,  and college-                                                               
ready upon graduation.   Dr. Eck advised the  graduation rate for                                                               
Alaska Native students  can be raised to 83  percent by providing                                                               
classes  with  innovative,  instructional programs  of  practical                                                               
application to  students.  He  closed, saying HB 142  provides an                                                               
additional pathway  for Alaskan students who  need an opportunity                                                               
to  learn   and  become   excellent  wage-earners,   voters,  and                                                               
exemplary citizens.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  GATTIS  expressed her  support  of  boarding schools  that                                                               
allow students to attend close to their homes.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:09:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GATTIS closed public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:09:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD  moved to report  the proposed CS  for HB
,  Version 28-LS0570\C,  Mischel,  3/11/13,  out of  committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON objected  for the  purpose of  discussion,                                                               
and asked whether there was another witness to be heard.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GATTIS explained the additional witness was not available.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON removed  his  objection.   There being  no                                                               
further  objection, CSHB  142(EDC)  was reported  from the  House                                                               
Standing Committee on Education.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:11:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:11 a.m. to 8:13 a.m.