Legislature(2011 - 2012)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/06/2011 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB84 | |
| SB15 | |
| SB58 | |
| SB90 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 84 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 58 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 90 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE BILL NO. 84
"An Act relating to funding for high school vocational
education as a component of funding for public
schools; increasing the base student allocation used
in the public school funding formula; and providing
for an effective date."
9:06:30 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT proposed CSSB 84(FIN), work
draft 27-LS0465\T.
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for purpose of discussion.
DARWIN PETERSON, STAFF, SENATOR STEDMAN, explained the
committee substitute. He stated that sections 1 through 3,
which pertained to the vocational education factor of 1.01,
remained the same as the previous version as did section 4;
the base student allocation of $110 increase in FY 12. The
$115 base student allocation for FY 13 and $120 increase in
FY 14 had been removed. He continued that sections 5
through 11 added a new entity that would be eligible to
receive cash contributions that corporations could write
off. These entities included any learning center under the
Coastal America Partnership. He stated that the tax that
the credit could be applied towards already existed in
statue. He stated that sections 12 and 13 were new sections
that referred to the tax credits. The additional Coastal
American Partnership learning center that was being added
would be repealed in 2021. Section 13 extended the sunset
date for the changes made to the education tax credits in
SB 236, an Omnibus Education Tax Credit Bill, to 2021.
Section 14 was the effective date of July 1, 2011.
9:09:08 AM
Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being no
further OBJECTION CSSB 84(FIN), work draft 27-LS0465\T was
ADOPTED.
Senator Thomas pointed out to the committee that the bill
would provide one year of stable school funding so that
districts could concentrate on educational outcomes rather
that cutting budgets and laying off faculty. He noted the
dedicated funding stream for vocational/technical education
written into the bill, which had been lacking support in
previous years. He urged support for the passage of the
legislation.
9:11:02 AM
Co-Chair Stedman noted the two new SFIN fiscal notes, one
for the Department of Education and Early Development, one
for the K-12 Foundation Program, one for the Alaska
Challenge Youth Academy. He stated that updated fiscal
notes to replace the SFIN notes would be required by the
committee.
Co-Chair Stedman OPENED public testimony.
STEVE BRADSHAW, SITKA SCHOOL DISTRICT (via teleconference),
spoke in support of SB 84.
BRIDGET KAUFFMAN, SITKA (via teleconference), spoke in
support of SB 84. She expressed concern for rising parent
fees for school language and athletic programs. She worried
that parents were struggling financially in order to give
their children the opportunity to participate in
extracurricular activities.
KAREN MARTINSEN, SITKA (via teleconference), testified in
support of SB 84. She hoped that the passage of the bill
would enhance training in career and technical education.
She revealed that within the last 3 years she had
personally spent $1,600 in vocational program fees for her
child. She feared that other children in the community were
not able to afford such fees.
JIM NYGAARD, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, CORDOVA (via
teleconference), spoke in support of SB 84. He added that
the district needed more funding in order to retain
programs and staff.
9:17:50 AM
PETE HOEPFNER, SCHOOL BOARD, CORDOVA (via teleconference),
testified in support of SB 84. He stated that Cordova was
being forced to decrease staff, while at the same time
class sizes were increasing.
9:18:57 AM
PETE LEWIS, SUPERINDENDENT, FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH
SCHOOL DISTRICT (via teleconference), spoke in support of
SB 84. He explained the district was short on funding
despite the various attempts that had been made to spend
responsibly.
SUE HULL, NORTH STAR BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, FAIRBANKS
(via teleconference), testified in support of SB 84.
9:20:06 AM
BABES HUDSON, NORTH POLE (via teleconference), testified in
support of SB 84. She stated that the bill would help
special needs children who might not go to a traditional
college, but would benefit from vocational training.
9:21:46 AM
BILL BJORK, EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), spoke in support of SB 84. He felt that
the number one resource development issue in the state
should be the development of our children. He felt that
this could not be done without quality schools.
9:23:12 AM
DAVE JONES, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, KENAI PENINSULA
BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),
testified in support of SB 84. He relayed that the base
student allocation increase was necessary in order for the
continuation of programmatic staffing. He stated that the
vocation courses in schools within the district were
perpetually full which resulted in children being turned
away from programs.
9:24:47 AM
LADAWN DRUCE, PRESIDENT, KENAI PENINSULA EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke in
support of SB 84. She stressed education accountability,
and accountability of teachers. She shared that there was a
pilot teacher evaluation program beginning her area. She
stressed that standardized testing should not be the
statewide indicator successful schools.
9:26:24 AM
SAMMY CRAWFORD, KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH SCHOOL BOARD (via
teleconference), testified in support of SB 84. She stated
that her district had not added any new programs, but had
are still suffered from budget cuts. She said that the
borough had worked to become more cost effective by cutting
energy costs and rebidding copy contracts and bus routes,
but cost continued to rise.
9:28:02 AM
BILL MCLEOD, DILLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT, DILLINGHAM (via
teleconference), spoke in support of SB 84. He stressed the
importance of career and technical education programs in
improving graduation rates. He remarked that the passing of
the bill would allow for a reading specialist, which was of
great need in the community.
9:31:19 AM
SERGIO ACUNA, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of SB 84. He stressed the
importance of vocational training.
9:32:24 AM
PAT FALOR, LOCAL 341, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of SB 84. He highlighted the
importance that other avenues were available to students
that were not going to a traditional college.
9:32:56 AM
STACY ALLEN, LOCAL 341, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of SB 84.
9:33:43 AM
KELLY NASH, KODIAK (via teleconference), testified in
support of SB 84.
9:34:28 AM
LUKE FULP, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in support of
SB 84. As the Director of Finance for the Kodiak Island
Borough School District he believed that without an
increase in the base student allocation Kodiak could be
facing a budget shortfall of approximately $2 million in
FY12.
9:35:12 AM
BILL WATKINS, KODIAK (via teleconference), testified in
support of SB 84. He relayed that the dropout rates for
high school students in Kodiak were very high. He pointed
out to the committee that any student that had a departure
from school after their freshman year was determined a drop
out, even if that student returned to finish at a later
date. The graduation rate Representative Salmon based on a
student finishing in four years. He believed that learning
was the constant and time was the variable. He argued that
there were numerous variable not associated with education
that could cause a student to drop out of school on a
temporary basis. Most school districts had alternative
programs in place to assist the students. He noted that
because the student would not graduate in four years they
would be counted as dropouts or non-graduates. He felt that
without SB 84 the graduation rates would decrease and
dropout rates would increase.
9:37:20 AM
STUART MCDONALD, KODIAK (via teleconference), testified in
support of SB 84. He expressed concern for academic
opportunities for students in logging camps and other small
pockets communities throughout the state. He stated that SB
84 would help to keep education relevant in rural Alaska.
9:40:08 AM
IAN DUTTON, ALASKA SEA LIFE CENTER (via teleconference),
spoke in support of SB 84.
9:40:53 AM
FRED PARADY, NORTH SLOPE SCHOOL DISTRICT (via
teleconference), testified in support of SB 84. He stated
that his district cut 17 jobs in 2010, and without the
increase would be forced to do the same this year.
9:42:18 AM
LON GARRISON, SITKA (via teleconference), spoke in support
of SB 84. He shared that the Sitka School Board had
unanimously passed a resolution to support the legislation.
9:43:13 AM
RUSSELL NELSON, DILLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT, DILLINGHAM (via
teleconference), testified in support of SB 84.
9:43:46 AM
PEARL STRUB, BRISTOL BAY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,
DILLINGHAM (via teleconference), spoke in support of SB 84.
She believed that vocational and technical offerings in
rural high schools should be strengthened.
9:45:06 AM
NICOLE STRUB, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS, BRISTOL BAY
CAMPUS, DILLINGHAM (via teleconference), testified in
support of SB 84.
9:46:49 AM
LAURY SCANDLING, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDANT, JUNEAU SCHOOL
DISTRICT, spoke in support of SB 84. She shared that the
district took seriously the issue of accountability and
that improvements had been made in achievement and
graduation rates. She relayed that the district was
reconfiguring resources to reflect an investment in career
and technical education. She opined that layoffs were still
expected even with the base student allocation increase.
9:49:07 AM
ANNE KURLAND, JUNEAU, testified in support of SB 84. She
said that the district had already cut $4 million from the
budget and without the allocation increase an additional $1
million would need to be cut.
9:50:20 AM
ELLEN PAVITT, JUNEAU, spoke in strong support of SB 84.
9:50:59 AM
COREY PAVITT, JUNEAU, testified in support of SB 84.
9:51:43 AM
MARY HALCALA, JUNEAU, referred to a letter in the packet
from the Juneau Economic Council. She spoke in support of
SB 84.
SHELLEY WRIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE,
referred to a letter from the Southeast Conference
expressing support of SB 84. She personally spoke in
support of SB 84.
9:55:13 AM
ANDI STORY, VICE-PRESIDENT JUNEAU SCHOOL BOARD, testified
in support of SB 84. She referred to a letter of support
from the Juneau Board of Education.
9:56:17 AM
GLENN GELBRICH, SUPERINTENDENT, JUNEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT,
spoke in support of SB 84.
9:57:19 AM
CARL ROSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION OF ALASKA SCHOOL
BOARDS, testified in support of SB 84.
JOHN ALCANTRA, JUNEAU, spoke in support of SB 84. He stated
that the National Education Association supported the
legislation.
9:59:06 AM
BRUCE JOHNSON, JUNEAU, testified in support of SB 84.
9:59:32 AM
ELIZABETH NUDELMAN, DIRECTOR, SCHOOL FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, addressed the department's position of the
legislation.
10:01:15 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report CSSB 84 (FIN) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying new fiscal note(s). There being NO OBJECTION,
it was so ordered.
CSSB 84 (FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with accompanying fiscal notes.
10:01:54 AM
AT EASE
10:04:01 AM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 84 History of funding.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 Support Statements 2.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 sponsor statement Letterhead.docx |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 Support Statements.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 15 Support Letter APOA AACP WPA.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM SFIN 4/8/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 15 |
| SB 15 Support Ltr ABADA AMHB.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM SFIN 4/8/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 15 |
| CSSB 15 Spronsor Statement version E.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM SFIN 4/8/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 15 |
| SB 23 FIN Version S.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 23 |
| SB 84 JEDC Resolution 04-11.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 JEDC Support Letter.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 58 SFIN 2011 Fiscal Note - DPS.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| SB 58 SFIN 2011 Fiscal Note - OPA.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| SB 58 SFIN 2011 Fiscal Note DOL.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| SB 58 SFIN 2011 Fiscal Note - PDA.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| SB 84 $11M_VocEd_thruFoundation_4-4-11 (2).pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 Voc Ed steps.docx |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| 04 05 11 SB 58 SFIN 2011 Fiscal Note - DPS (2).pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| NEW - SB58-DOC-OC-03-10-11.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| SB058-DOA-OPA-1-29-11.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| SB058-DOA-PDA-1-29-11.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| SB058-LAW-CIV-01-29-11.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| SB058-OOG-DOE-1-28-11.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 58 |
| SB 84 - CSSB 84 (FIN) v.T Fiscal Note 1.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 DEED New SFIN Fiscal Note - 2.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 DEED New SFIN Fiscal Note.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 SFIN Fiscal Note AK Challenge Youth Academy.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |
| SB 84 FN SFIN for Foundaton Program.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 84 |