Legislature(1997 - 1998)
02/27/1998 04:35 PM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE BILL NO. 36
"An Act relating to transportation of public school
students; relating to school construction grants;
relating to the public school foundation program and to
local aid for education; and providing for an effective
date."
Co-chair Sharp reconvened the committee and outlined the
procedure for taking of public testimony. There was a
three-minute time limit placed on testimony so that everyone
around the State would have a chance to testify. He noted
the committee would accept faxes and written statements
mailed in.
In the order individuals testified and from what City
follows:
MARIANNE GROSS via teleconference from HOMER, president of
the Kenai Peninsula School Borough, said she opposed the
bill.
FRED REEDER via teleconference from SITKA, described how
devastated they were in the school. Janitor, bus and food
services were contracted out; kindergarten was closed. He
said enough money should be allotted for education.
SENATOR ADAMS via teleconference from ANCHORAGE interjected
at this point his concern about the press conference during
the afternoon and the fact that there were only three people
present. Senator Phillips responded that it was not a press
conference, but rather a press briefing.
BOB PRICE via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, maintenance
director, Anchorage school district, felt the problem was
Statewide and the entire funding formula should be looked
at.
ED EARNHART via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, said there
needed to be more changes and reforms in education. There
was a lot up in the air and it would be a big sweat for next
year.
ARGE JEFFREY via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, executive
director, elementary education, Anchorage school district,
thanked Senator Phillips for bringing bill forward, noting
there needed to be a proper balance in funding. He
supported SB 36.
CAROL COMEAU via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, assistant
superintendent for instruction, Anchorage school district
said they were expecting approximately eight hundred new
students in September. Problems they had to deal with were
aging facilities, the diverse school population and minority
and special needs students.
LINCOLN SAITO via teleconference from BETHEL, was an
educator for many years in the State. He felt there were
many inequities and these should be corrected in order to
provide the best education for all students.
WILL UPDEGROVE via teleconference from BETHEL, board
secretary, Lower Kuskokwim School. He opposed SB 36.
ANDY GURNEY via teleconference from NULATO, single parent
and lived twenty-seven years in Nulato. He is a member of
the local school board and opposed SB 36. He suggested that
perhaps a state tax would be a good idea, or a cap of $1,000
be put on the Permanent Fund, the rest going to education.
MISSY BURMAN (ph) via teleconference from WISEMAN, opposed
SB 36.
BILL BURROWS via teleconference from FAIRBANKS, president,
Fairbanks Board of Education said they had the lowest cost
per student in the State. He did indicate that special
education needs more funding and also felt the State should
provide the funding for mandated services.
HARRY MARTIN via teleconference from UNALAKLEET, Bering
Straits School District, felt there was no rural
representation in the preparation of the McDowell Study. He
had concerns regarding pages 1, 67 and 73 of the study.
Senator Phillips said he would send the information and
hoped that would answer his questions.
LEONA CHERALTE (ph) via teleconference from UNALAKLEET,
asked the committee to reconsider the urgency to move SB 36.
She felt the foundation formula should be fully funded.
ED MCLAIN via teleconference from KENAI, assistant
superintendent, Kenai Borough School District. He noted the
schools service native Russian, Alaska Native and
townspeople a very diverse population. He said the Kenai
schools were in the same situation as Ketchikan. They need
help and appreciate the hard work of the Legislature in
trying to sort this out.
RICHARD MAUER via teleconference from DELTA JUNCTION, school
board member, felt that SB 36 was bad faith bargaining.
There were some good aspects to the bill; others were
appalling. He said it was a duty to provide decent
education for all students.
PATRICIA RESCH via teleconference from DELTA JUNCTION, said
the bill devastated them. She opposed SB 36.
MIKE FARRAR via teleconference from DELTA JUNCTION, referred
briefly to a phone conversation with Senator Phillip's
office. He encouraged an employment tax rather than mill
levy. Even though he has no children in school he had no
objection to doing his share.
WOODY WILSON via teleconference from WRANGELL,
superintendent Wrangell School, said that while classes were
increasing services were being reduced or eliminated. There
were fewer teachers to more students. Hardest hit in the
funding squeeze was school nurses.
JANELL PRIVETT via teleconference from WRANGELL, on Wrangell
School board. She felt that with the loss of the mill and
closure of the cannery the devastated community of 2,300 was
not being allowed equal education possibilities.
ROBERT PRUNELLA via teleconference from WRANGELL, on
Wrangell School Board opposes SB 36.
DENNY WEATHERS via teleconference from CORDOVA, said she
felt SB 36 was unconstitutional.
TOM NICHOLS via teleconference from BARROW, said he was
impressed with the quality of the North Slope school. He
also called to the committee's attention the fact that even
though the school had a swimming pool it served as a
reservoir for fire suppression.
MARIE CARROLL via teleconference from BARROW, North Slope
Borough Mayor, hoped a solution could be found where
everyone could gain.
JOHN KUNIK via teleconference from GLENNALLEN opposed SB 36.
HARRY TERMIN via teleconference from GLENNALLEN opposed SB
36.
JANE BROWN via teleconference from GLENNALLEN opposed SB 36.
DON TAYLOR via teleconference from GLENNALLEN opposed SB 36.
(Tape changed from #53, Side B to #54, Side A.)
ANDREA MCCLELLAND via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, on
special education advisory board, supported SB 36. She also
noted that Senator Halford was present at the Anchorage LIO.
MARK PASIER via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, special
assistant, Anchorage School District superintendent, said
that Anchorage had many diverse students. He supported SB
36.
GEORGE TIBBETT from BRISTOL BAY via teleconference from
ANCHORAGE, said that State foundation monies were on the
decline and that something should be done. He said children
were our future.
JOHN KITO via teleconference from Anchorage, opposed SB 36.
JOHN BILLINGS via teleconference from GALENA, opposed SB 36.
BART MUAREY via teleconference from GALENA, opposed SB 36.
JOHN ALCHAK via teleconference from CHEVAK, opposed SB 36.
Young people are the leaders of tomorrow.
PHILIP TITUS via teleconference from MINTO, opposed SB 36.
DARELL DARLAND via teleconference from DELTA JUNCTION
opposed SB 36. He said that with this bill the State was
holding a threat over unorganized boroughs.
PATRICK SCHLICHTING via teleconference from DELTA JUNCTION,
said SB 36 was indecisive and unfair. Delta Junction should
not be combined with the Gateway School.
KATHI GILLESPIE via teleconference from ANCHORAGE,
legislative chairman, Anchorage school board, felt that
there should be more money allocated for education.
FRD STOFFLET via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, supported SB
36 and thanked the committee for dealing with this issue.
JILL WATERS via teleconference from ANCHORAGE, supported
adequate funding of education for all children.
BOB WARD, Mayor City of SKAGWAY, testified in Juneau. He
said the City opposed SB 36. He said the Skagway
superintendent also served as principal. With any cuts the
school secretary and teachers would be laid off; and as a
result residents would have to leave the community. It was
not a question of how funds were distributed, but rather
that there were enough funds available.
ADJOURNMENT
Public Statewide testimony was concluded at this point and
Co-chair Sharp noted that Senate Finance Committee would
meet again at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. At 7:05 p.m. the meeting
was adjourned.
SFC-98 -5- 2/27/98
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