Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/28/2014 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR12 | |
| SB139 | |
| SB147 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 139 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 147 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SCR 12 | ||
SCR 12-FEBRUARY PUBLIC EDUCATION MONTH
8:00:41 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced that the first order of business would
be SCR 12. He said the committee would hear from the sponsor and
take public testimony. He noted that SB 147 and SB 139 would be
heard simultaneously and would focus specifically on the Base
Student Allocation (BSA). He said he would keep public testimony
open beyond today's meeting.
8:02:09 AM
THOMAS PRESLEY, Staff, Senator Berta Gardner, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented SCR 12 on behalf of the
sponsor. He said the motivation for introducing SCR 12 was to
proclaim February the Public Education Month. The resolution was
written after Senator Gardner and Representative Drummond
visited all the schools in their district. They wished to give
the schools credit for some of the innovative and creative
things they were doing. After the visits he said they heard
about an Anchorage School District parent survey which found
that 90 percent of parents of students in public schools would
recommend their school to others. The same survey also found
that there are parents with students waiting to get into charter
schools who don't know the name of their neighborhood schools.
He concluded that the resolution would be a good way to raise
the level of public awareness.
MR. PRESLEY noted that the sponsor has drafted an amendment that
would change the date to be effective in February of 2015.
8:04:01 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked for clarification about the charter school
comment.
SENATOR GARDNER explained that members of the public who don't
use neighborhood schools don't know anything about them and what
they offer. She offered to make the survey available to the
committee when she receives it. She said she loved the Anchorage
School District's idea to have a "visit your public school month
in February" idea. She opined that many people do not know what
schools offer and she supports any effort to get members of the
public into schools.
SENATOR HUGGINS agreed. He said he would like to expand this
idea to a year of education where every month is dedicated to an
element of education.
8:05:46 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY stated that the idea is to make people more
aware of neighborhood schools.
SENATOR GARDNER said yes; the whole community, not just
families.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY agreed. He said engagement it key. He asked for
clarification regarding charter schools and waitlists.
MR. PRESLEY reported that the parent survey showed that charter
school parents on a waitlist did not know the name of their
neighborhood schools.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked if the children were on a waitlist for
public charter schools.
MR. PRESLEY said yes.
8:07:03 AM
CHAIR STEVENS commented that general information about public
education includes charter schools.
SENATOR STEDMAN agreed with the concept of building the morale
of public schools. He wondered about the amendment date.
CHAIR STEVENS apologized for not getting to the bill faster. He
asked what the amendment would do.
MR. PRESLEY reiterated that it would change the date to February
2015.
CHAIR STEVENS requested a motion regarding the amendment for the
purpose of discussion.
MR. PRESLEY said it would be a conceptual amendment.
8:08:34 AM
SENATOR GARDNER moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1, to add
"2015" to the date.
CHAIR STEVENS objected for discussion.
SENATOR HUGGINS wondered if February would be the best choice.
He suggested that the beginning of the year would be better.
SENATOR GARDNER said the Anchorage School District was planning
for "Visit Your Public School Month" for February. She said she
is happy to make it any date or time. The federal government is
planning a week in November to honor education.
MR. PRESLEY said International Education Week begins November
27.
SENATOR HUGGINS said the resolution applies to all school
districts. He thought it was a good idea, but he would prefer it
last a year and highlight a different segment each month.
CHAIR STEVENS asked where the amendment would go.
MR. PRESLEY replied that the date "2015" would be added to page
2, line 11, after "February".
There being no objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.
8:12:04 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY noted his support of public education, but he
thought the wording was odd.
SENATOR STEDMAN suggested changing the wording.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY said it was interestingly worded.
CHAIR STEVENS noted a zero fiscal note.
8:13:17 AM
SENATOR GARDNER said she is strongly considering Senator
Huggins' suggestion to make September Public Education Month at
the start of the school year. There being no objection, the
motion carried.
CHAIR STEVENS said there is no rush.
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 2, to add
"September" to the date in place of "February."
SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to report SCR 12, as amended, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached zero
fiscal note. There being no objection, CSSCR 12 (EDC) was
reported from the Senate Education Committee.
8:14:22 AM
At ease
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 12_SB147_Resolution_NonProfits_Support_Inflation_Proofing_BSA.pdf |
SEDC 2/28/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 147 |
| 13_SB147_WestHigh_PTSA_Resolution_BSA_Increase.PDF |
SEDC 2/28/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 147 |
| 14_SB139_Resolution_NonProfits_Support_Inflation_Proofing_BSA.pdf |
SEDC 2/28/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 139 |
| 15_SB139_WestHigh_PTSA_Resolution_BSA_Increase.PDF |
SEDC 2/28/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 139 |