Legislature(2013 - 2014)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/28/2013 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB24 | |
| HB19 | |
| HB56 | |
| HB21 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 56 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 21
"An Act relating to the length of a school week; and
providing for an effective date."
3:01:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, shared her sponsor statement:
HB21 would allow a pilot program for one rural school
district to implement a 4 day school week.
There is continued concern of poor student performance
in our schools. We should be actively seeking
alternative solutions that may improve district
results. There are over 22 states in the US that have
implemented a 4 day week in rural districts.
For most schools this has been a positive achievement
- increased morale for students and teachers, reduced
absenteeism and allowing teachers and students to have
more direct contact time which then leads to better
understanding of educational materials.
Provisions in HB 21 require the district to show that
the majority of the community, students and teachers
support the implementation of this program.
Additionally, the district will have to prove that the
students are receiving the equivalent of a 5 day
school week. They will also be required to file
quarterly reports to the Department of Education on
student and teacher performance and the effect of the
program. Specifically an annual report will be
required to be submitted to the legislative education
committee on the progress and performance ratings from
the school district. This report will be due no later
than January 15th and must include a comparison of the
performance ratings before and after implementation of
the 4 day week.
This bill is specific for a 3 year pilot program; at
the end of that time period, the State Board of
Education will evaluate the program and determine if
it is beneficial to the district.
Representative Wilson added that the bill would help
schools to continue to evolve and assist rural districts in
achieving academic excellence, while responding to the
changing needs of the 21st century. She said the bill would
help students work, if necessary, to help their families
and to travel for sports and other activities. She asserted
that the bill would allow time for people in rural
communities to travel for medical procedures and for
teachers to receive professional development without the
loss of student teacher contact hours. She shared that
there were 120 school districts in 22 states across the
nation that had implemented a four-day school week. She
cited Colorado where the change had resulted in savings on
fuel and pupil transportation. She asserted that one of the
biggest documented benefits of moving to a four-day week
was the drop in absenteeism in both students and teachers.
She reiterated that it would be a trial program; an
evolving program to gather data to assess its effectiveness
in Alaska.
3:05:30 PM
Representative Peggy Wilson pointed out to the committee
that the state Board of Education met on a quarterly basis
and would not be meet again in time to approve the program
for the coming school year. She said that the
recommendation had been to change the governing body back
to the commissioner's office; in this vein, it was also
suggested that the timeline for the commissioner to make
the decision be short so that the program could be put into
effect for the coming school year. She relayed that there
would be no comparative data the first year of the program
because tests were administered in the spring and the
result would not be returned by the end of the school year.
She suggested that reports to the legislature be given
after the second and third years of the program in order to
ensure accurate results. She mentioned that teacher
retirements could be jeopardized because they are based on
the number of days that a teacher worked. She understood
that teachers were required to work 180 days per-year,
which could be easily met by using an approved alternative
schedule that met the hours necessary and could replace the
day requirement.
3:08:46 PM
Representative Costello noted that often the state would do
a pilot program in order to determine the return on
investment. She noted the lack of a fiscal note attached to
the legislation and wondered why the bill was limited on
one rural school district, rather than allowing all
interested parties to participate.
Representative Peggy Wilson responded that she would be
open to including more than one school district.
Co-Chair Stoltze hoped that the commissioner from the
Department of Education and Early development would comment
on the program.
3:09:33 PM
MICHAEL HANLEY, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY DEVELOPMENT, replied that under current statute the
commissioner could allow for a four day week. He was not
concerned about the pilot program.
3:10:34 PM
Representative Costello understood that the legislature
would receive information on the pilot program which would
help to determine the program's success.
Representative Peggy Wilson replied yes. She added that one
of the school districts that she represented had requested
the program in 2012, which the commissioner denied. She
said that the parents of those students and the school
board approached her to sponsor the legislation. She hoped
that positive data would pave the way for the program in
other schools.
3:12:29 PM
Representative Costello pointed to the report, "Four-Day
School Week Report in Montana Public Schools October 2011
(copy on file). She noted that Page 9 listed the some of
the states that had gone to a four-day school week. She
relayed that the results had shown improved attendance and
drop-out rates, but no marked improvement in student
achievement.
Representative Peggy Wilson hoped the state would see
academic improvement. She believed that the program
required proper planning and execution in order to be
successful.
3:13:41 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze stated that time was running short.
3:14:00 PM
Representative Costello wondered if community support for
the program was limited to the school community, or if it
included the voting public.
Representative Peggy Wilson replied that the parents,
teachers, community, and the school board needed be
invested in the program.
3:14:47 PM
Representative Thompson wondered about the academic
possibilities of a six-day school week.
Representative Peggy Wilson replied that she had not
researched a six-day school week.
3:15:28 PM
Representative Gara wondered if language could be added
that allow one or more schools within the district to
implement the pilot respective of class levels.
Representative Peggy Wilson replied that the bill would
work better in rural areas because the rural areas children
came home to an adult in the house.
3:16:50 PM
Co-Chair Austerman understood that the commissioner already
retained the authority to implement the program.
Commissioner Hanley replied in the affirmative. He said
that the bill allowed for a 30 day window for the school
board to make the decision, rather than the commissioner.
3:17:46 PM
Co-Chair Austerman queried if Commissioner Hanley had
turned down any school district requests for a four day
week.
Commissioner Hanley responded yes. He relayed that the
district's proposal had not met all of the requirements.
3:18:52 PM
RON FUHRER, PRESIDENT, NEA-ALASKA, testified in support of
HB 21. He provided his background in the state education
system. He believed that the pilot program should be
implemented in order for the state to assess the probable
benefits.
3:21:04 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze acknowledged the prime sponsors of the
bill.
3:21:26 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze queried whether the shorter week could
result in over-time or other negotiable issues.
Mr. Fuhrer believed that it would be a local control issue
and that it would require a collaborative effort for all
parties involved. He thought that if people worked together
it would return positive results.
3:22:18 PM
LAUREN BURCH, SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHEAST ISLAND SCHOOL
DISTRICT, THORNE BAY (via teleconference), testified in
support of HB 21. He shared that the local school advisory
councils that had been set up for the district's nine
different schools were set up to allow for public
involvement. He said that anyone who attended a meeting
could vote on the issues, including students.
3:23:55 PM
Representative Wilson inquired whether districts could
customize the school year schedule around what worked best
for the students in the community.
Mr. Burch thought so. He warned that altering days and
hours could result in some union pushback.
3:24:36 PM
Representative Wilson wondered if more weeks in the school
year, rather than longer school day hours, could help the
four-day school week concept.
3:24:47 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze expressed that the negotiations would be
at the local level but the funding would still be a state
issue.
3:25:24 PM
Representative Wilson believed that a school district could
add weeks to the school year in order to maintain the
shorter week.
3:25:55 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze suggested that the sponsors explore the
financial ramifications of contract involving a shift from
a four-day work week to a five-day work week for the law
enforcement union.
3:26:57 PM
BRUCE JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COUNCIL OF SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS, testified to the council's support of HB
21. He related that the council embraced the idea of school
choice. He stated that the council would follow the
evolution of the legislation closely.
3:27:53 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze probed any trepidation that the council
might have in implementing the program.
Mr. Johnson replied that problems would be handled at the
local level and within the parameters of current law.
3:28:11 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze asked if Mr. Johnson, as a representative
of school administrators, could speak to any concerns
regarding negotiations or bargaining issues.
Mr. Johnson replied that all negotiations would have to be
in writing.
3:28:57 PM
Representative Wilson commented that the four-day school
week was still available whether the bill moved forward or
not.
Mr. Johnson replied that the council had been supportive of
the commissioner retaining the ability to establish a four-
day school week. He shared that the council had been
involved with the district that had made the failed
proposal to the commissioner.
3:29:30 PM
Representative Gara thought that it was important that the
bill would not limit the board of education's ability to
allow the program in more than one district.
3:30:29 PM
HB 21 was held and was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
3:30:40 PM
Co-Chair Austerman discussed housekeeping.
3:31:14 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 19 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 19 |
| HB 19 Supporting DMV Registration Classes.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 19 |
| HB19 AML Document.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 19 |
| HB19 Support Motor Vehicle Registration Taxes Rates.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 19 |
| HB21 Idaho Research.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 21 |
| HB21 Montana 2011.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 21 |
| HB21 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 21 |
| HB21 SREB 4 Day.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 21 |
| HB21 Univ Maine Research.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 21 |
| HB21 UnivGA & Maine.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 21 |
| HB 56 Backup - Statute AS 43.52.010 Vehicle Rental Taxes.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 56 |
| HB 56 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 56 |
| HB019NEWFNCS(TRA)-DOA-DMV-2-23-13.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 19 |
| HB 19 Mat-Su Borough Resolution.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 19 |