Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/09/2001 01:39 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL NO. 99
An Act relating to school discipline and safety
programs; and providing for an effective date.
REPRESENTATIVE LESIL MCGUIRE commented that violence in
Alaska's schools has recently been brought into the
community spotlight as a result of serious physical
altercations between students. The fights have been violent
resulting in severe bodily harm. Education requires our
children to learn how to live in society through the
acceptance of rules and community values.
Representative McGuire stated that HB 99 would be a tool
available to schools to help confront both violent and non-
violent conflicts. HB 99 would amend Title 14 of the Alaska
Statutes to include policies that would initiate student
conflict-resolution curriculum providing methods of
nonviolent resolution and mediation for student conflict.
HB 99 would seek to recognize and enforce existing behavior
standards by giving students alternatives for solving
problems besides the use of violence. By integrating that
way of learning into the schools core curriculum, policies
would be targeted at helping students resolve problems
before they escalate.
Representative McGuire pointed out the zero fiscal note
submitted by the Department of Education & Early
Development.
Representative Harris asked if the legislation would cause
unfounded mandate expenditures to the local school
districts. Representative McGuire stated that it would not
have that effect. She noted the direct contrast with the
language in the previous bill and pointed out the program
requiring the policies had been removed. Representative
McGuire noted that three of the schools already have
policies in place pertaining to the reporting of school
conflict. That inclusion will waive them out of the
stipulation.
Representative McGuire added that there would be policy
manual updates distributed to the school districts. Schools
would use existing resources to determine if there were
problems in their areas. She noted that the bill would help
individual school districts to obtain grant application
funds.
Vice-Chair Bunde stated that Chugiak High School does have a
mediation program in place. He asked if the information
that district had gathered would be available to the other
districts. Additionally, Vice-Chair Bunde questioned what
the charge assessed to each high school would be if the
program language were to be added back.
Representative McGuire indicated that there was a movement
to create a database and that the materials would be
available. She noted that through her office budget, she
intended to put together a packet addressing the "Peace-able
School Project", which would be sent to every school in the
State. The current costs of the Chugiak program runs about
$30 - $40 thousand dollars per year. The cost to implement
the mediation program would be approximately $8 thousand per
year.
Representative Lancaster asked if there would be any
financial responsibility to the school districts should
problems result. Representative McGuire stated there would
not. The districts would not be punished and there would be
no ramifications. She advised that through the policy
letter and the news channels, the idea has been well
received. She acknowledged that an incentive exists. The
school districts want to start talking about these concerns.
Vice-Chair Bunde asked if mediation was currently happening
in the Alaskan elementary schools. Representative McGuire
responded that most of the elementary schools have some sort
of mediation control happening. However, kids are coming
into the high schools and those trained mediator services
are no longer being used. Representative McGuire stressed
that Chugiak is an exception. Most high schools are not
doing it at this time. She noted that the legislation
primarily targets the high school level.
DEBBIE OSSIANDER, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), ANCHORAGE
SCHOOL BOARD, CHUGIACH HIGH SCHOOL, ANCHORAGE, noted that
the first priority of every school district is school
safety. Ms. Ossiander commented that her school district
has been working toward improving conflict resolution for a
number of years. Much of the work has been done through
federal grant monies, specifically the Federal Safe and Drug
Free Schools. She indicated that the Anchorage School Board
supports the proposed legislation and pointed out that the
legislation would help districts to access grant funding.
VERNON MARSHALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION (NEA)-ALASKA, noted that NEA does support the
passage of HB 99. The issue of school safety has been a top
priority for the Union's agenda for many years. He noted
that HB 99 would address the importance of developing
strategies that hopefully would lead to programs designed to
help students cope with aggressive thoughts and feelings.
There is currently staff employed to address school safety
concerns. Mr. Marshal noted that working with children at
an early age addressing these issues of aggression, would be
beneficial to all school age children.
Mr. Marshall distributed a packet of material that is used
by teachers at in-service trainings throughout the State.
[Copy on File].
Vice-Chair Bunde MOVED to report CS HB 99 (HES) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and with the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CS HB 99 (HES) was reported out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with a new zero fiscal note by
Department of Education & Early Development.
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