04/28/1999 09:06 AM Senate FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 105                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
"An Act determining the facilities constituting a                                                                               
school for purposes of public school funding; and                                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 105(HES)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
"An Act determining the facilities constituting a                                                                               
school for purposes of public school funding; and                                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEL KROGSENG, staff to Senator Robin Taylor was invited to                                                                      
join the committee.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
JOHN KIMMELL, staff to Senator Robin Taylor was invited to                                                                      
join the committee and gave a brief commentary on the                                                                           
sponsor statement.  He apologized for the Senator not being                                                                     
present saying he was in Washington D.C.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
In response to a question by Senator Phillips, Ms. Krogseng                                                                     
said the bill would affect only Petersburg and Wrangell                                                                         
schools.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Parnell asked about fiscal notes but Co-chair                                                                           
Torgerson cautioned that perhaps the committee should hear                                                                      
from the department.  Ms. Krongseng responded regarding the                                                                     
fiscal note.  Petersburg will be in trouble if the bill                                                                         
does not pass and the Wrangell school was in trouble last                                                                       
year.  She noted that the fiscal note from Department of                                                                        
Education dated 4/22/99 was the correct one.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilken asked if the schools were single site                                                                            
schools.  Co-chair Torgerson advised that they were.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
EDDY JEANS, School Finance Manager, Department of Education                                                                     
was invited to join the committee.  He explained the fiscal                                                                     
note attached to the HES version of the bill.  He advised                                                                       
the committee that the department opposed the bill.  There                                                                      
were problems as far as the department was concerned last                                                                       
year with SB 36.  There are districts affected by this                                                                          
situation.  Another school would be Dillingham.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-chair Torgerson query.  Mr. Jeans reiterated that the                                                                        
department was opposed to the bill and anything to do with                                                                      
the foundation formula.  He explained the adjustment per                                                                        
school size depending on student enrollment.  Mr. Jeans                                                                         
said he would get actual dollar amount back to the                                                                              
committee, in response to a request from Co-chair                                                                               
Torgerson.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Adams said he did not bring his amendments to this                                                                      
bill.  He noted problems with SB 36.  Co-chair Torgerson                                                                        
said he would always have time for any amendments from                                                                          
Senator Adams.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kelly asked if there was any specific statistics                                                                        
regarding Dillingham school and Wrangell school.  Mr. Jeans                                                                     
explained as best he could but indicated he would provide                                                                       
further information to the committee.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Phillips asked about the three-school situation in                                                                      
Wrangell.  Mr. Jeans responded that it would have depended                                                                      
on the population at the time the schools were built.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BOB ZORICH, testified via teleconference from Petersburg.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MARY FRANCIS, Superintendent of Schools, testified via                                                                          
teleconference from Petersburg.  She explained the                                                                              
projected enrollment for next year was about $350,000                                                                           
difference between SB 36 and SB 105.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SHARLA COON, testified via teleconference from Petersburg                                                                       
and said she supported the bill.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
KAREN SEVERSON, testified via teleconference from                                                                               
Petersburg and said she supported the bill.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
ELIZABETH BACOM, testified via teleconference from                                                                              
Petersburg and said she was concerned with cuts in                                                                              
educational funds.  The cost of education is not                                                                                
appreciated until the student leaves the system.  Education                                                                     
should remain a priority for Alaskans.  She supported the                                                                       
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
TRACEY REID, testified via teleconference from Petersburg                                                                       
and asked the committee to support and pass SB 105.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WOODY WILSON, Superintendent of Schools, testified via                                                                          
teleconference from Wrangell.  He explained the tragic                                                                          
situation in their community and urged the committee to                                                                         
pass the bill.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
PAUL ANDERSON, Mayor pro tem, City of Petersburg, was                                                                           
invited to join the committee.  He said a commitment was                                                                        
made last year to consider SB 105 upon the passage of SB
.  He said the situation was the same in Wrangell.  He                                                                        
explained cuts in the community due to deficit budget.                                                                          
Everything has been closed down in their community.  "Let's                                                                     
get real and get our kids to the university."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-chair Torgerson said he would set the bill aside pending                                                                     
receipt of information from the Department of Education.                                                                        
SB 29, SB 133 and possibly SB 128 would be taken up                                                                             
tomorrow morning.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-chair Torgerson adjourned the meeting at approximately                                                                       
10:30 a.m.  (Tape number 113, side B, log 255.)                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SFC-99 (1) 04/28/99