05/07/1997 09:09 AM Senate HES

                                                                               
  SENATOR WARD  moved to report SB 182 out of committee with                   
 individual recommendations.                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN WILKEN  said that he recognized the motion as out of order          
 until it is determined if it is part of the Uniform Rules.                    
                                                                               
  SENATOR WARD  called for a roll call vote.                                   
                                                                               
 The committee took a brief at ease from 10:39 a.m. to 10:42 a.m.              
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN WILKEN  called the committee back to order and announced            
 that the meeting would be recessed to the call of the Chair to hear           
 the remaining bills.  Chairman Wilken intended to move both bills,            
 but to allow the appropriate discussion.  Senate HES was recessed             
 at 10:44 a.m.                                                                 
                                                                               
        SB 182 CHARTER SCHOOL ESTABLISHMENT & OPERATION                       
                                                                              
  CHAIRMAN WILKEN  announced that  SB 182  was the final order of              
 business before the committee.                                                
                                                                               
  SENATOR WARD , Prime Sponsor, explained that SB 182 would provide            
 another tool for the education system.  SB 182 provides a choice              
 and strengthens the law by clarifying that charter schools are in             
 fact public schools.  SB 182 establishes multiple ways of                     
 establishing charter schools, provides for a local school board for           
 charter schools as well as a state school board for charter                   
 schools.                                                                      
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN WILKEN  announced that in the interest of time, those on            
 teleconference were contacted regarding SB 182.  Chairman Wilken              
 provided the committee with the following report from those on                
 teleconference.  In Anchorage, seven people signed up to testify              
 each of which supported SB 182.  Those in Anchorage were Linda                
 Sharp, Sara Schierhorn, Leo Albert, Fletcher Mitler, Dave Titus,              
 Mike Boots, and Karen Hare.  Many of those folks will be sending              
 public opinion messages.  In Mat-Su, Chris Cassler supported                  
 SB 182.  In Fairbanks, Bob Coghill was opposed to SB 182.  In                 
 Juneau, Carl Rose from the Alaska Association of School Boards,               
 Larry Wiget from the Anchorage School District, and John Cyr from             
 NEA-AK opposed SB 182.  Nancy Buell from DOE stated that the                  
 department did not have an official opinion, but did note concerns            
 that it would share with the Legislature.  The department                     
 questioned whether another board was necessary.                               
                                                                               
  SENATOR WARD  moved to report SB 182 out of committee with                   
 individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.  Without            
 objection, it was so ordered.                                                 
                                                                               
 There being no further business before the committee, the meeting             
 was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.