Legislature(2001 - 2002)
05/11/2002 10:52 AM Senate FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 239(HES)
"An Act establishing a pilot program for a regional learning
center."
This was the second hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
DR. LARRY LABOLLE, Staff to Representative Richard Foster,
testified to a letter to the Committee dated May 10, 2002 co-signed
by Dr. John A. Davis, Superintendent, Bering Strait School District
and Dr. Stan Lujan, Superintendent, Nome City Schools [copy on
file] which identifies various project funding sources such as
training grants through Kawerak, Inc, a consortium of regional
social services agencies. He noted that this letter does not
provide a financial plan although other letters supporting this
project have been received; including one from the City of Nome
[copy not provided] that assures the City's support of the project
and specifies that Kawerak, Inc. would commit up to $2,300,000 in
State and federal training money to the project, and another letter
addressed to the superintendents of the Bering Strait School
District and Nome City Schools District from Kawerak, Inc. [copy
not provided] that specifies that $2,300,000 in grant funding is
available to support this program. He continued that the Norton
Sound Development Corporation has additionally supplied a letter
[copy not provided] citing their support of the program.
Dr. LaBolle stressed the importance for project planning; however,
he pointed out "nobody is able to put together a financial plan
until they have some idea of what the program looks like." He
continued that in order to "shape the program," it would be
necessary for the Bering Straits School and Nome School Districts
to work with other "major players," such as the Northwest Campus
and Kawerak, Inc. "to meet and develop a consensus" as to how the
program would operate.
Senator Wilken attested that a business plan has been requested
numerous times, and the fact that none of the recent correspondence
addressed the issue "shocked" him. He reviewed the known elements
of the project including the utilization of an existing building
for which operational costs are available, and the identification
of the number of students and corresponding staffing requirements.
He surmised that the affected school districts' superintendents
each manage large school district budgets and should be able to
develop a business plan for this project. He stated that in return
for the State, acting as "the project banker" by providing funding
for the project, the districts should be able to provide a project
business plan. He voiced two suggestions: one; "stop this bill
right here" until a business plan is presented; or two; "zero out
the fiscal note" which would allow the project to begin and develop
a funding needs plan as it progresses.
Senator Wilken opined that this bill should not be considered until
a viable business plan is presented.
JOHN HANDELAND, Employee, and former Mayor, City of Nome, informed
the Committee that the City of Nome has been exploring methods to
utilize the existing Nome Beltz School complex and to provide an
innovation educational experience for both rural and urban students
in the City of Nome and the Bering Straits School Districts. He
stated that this project is the result of that endeavor. He
informed the Committee that the City of Nome has approached Alaska
US Senator Ted Stevens, who asked the City to identify local
support for the project.
Mr. Handeland confirmed that the City of Nome, Kawarek, Inc, and
the Bering Straits and Nome School Districts are committed to
supporting this project. He further expressed that the City of Nome
has responsibly and continually demonstrated its support of
education, and that there is widespread support in the region to
support this bill as presented.
Mr. Handeland avowed that the approval of the accompanying $150,000
Department Education and Early Development fiscal note would
provide the project with the required State support necessary to
further the opportunity to receive federal and other funding
support.
Senator Green asked why the two school districts could not provide
the required support for this project, without the need for this
legislation.
Dr. LaBolle explained that US Senator Stevens has specifically
requested a demonstration of support for this project from the
State. He continued that as the concept of the project expanded,
the Department of Education and Early Development became involved
in the process of coordinating the two affected school districts.
Senator Green questioned whether a letter of recommendation from
the Department of Education and Early Development would be
sufficient to demonstrate the State's support. She voiced that this
appears to be a request for money, and that every school district
would like to have a comparable amount of money to further the
development of innovation teaching programs. She stated that she is
very concerned about the long-term impact of this legislation.
Senator Wilken asked the testifier whether a five-year business
plan could be developed.
Mr. Handeland responded that a business plan should be and could be
developed, and he mentioned that US Senator Stevens has also
requested a business plan to be developed by the two school
districts. He contended that perhaps a business plan should have
been established first; however, the emphasis was placed on
cementing the necessary support and cooperation for the project
from the various regional entities.
Mr. Handeland responded to Senator Green's comment about providing
innovative education funding to all districts, by qualifying that
the City of Nome School District, unlike other State school
districts, has an existing, but unused, teaching facility that
would provide the required infrastructure for this project.
Senator Olson reiterated that having an existing facility does make
this project unique.
Senator Olson offered a motion to move from Committee, "House Bill
239 with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note."
Senator Wilken objected and asked that consideration be given to
zero out the accompanying fiscal note.
Vice Chair Ward inquired whether Senator Wilken would offer an
amendment to that effect.
Senator Wilken stated that if the fiscal note were zeroed out he
could support the legislation; however, he did not offer a formal
amendment.
A roll call was taken on the motion to report the bill from
Committee.
IN FAVOR: Senator Hoffman, Senator Olson, Senator Ward, Senator
Austerman
OPPOSED: Senator Green, Senator Wilken
ABSENT: Co-Chair Donley, Co-Chair Kelly, Senator Leman
The motion PASSED(4-2-3)
SCS CS HB 239(HES) was REPORTED from Committee with a previous
$150,000 fiscal note, dated April 16, 2002 from the Department of
Education and Early Development.
RECESSED TO THE CALL OF THE CHAIR 8:40 PM / 9:11 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|