02/02/2009 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION

                 SB  57-CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:03:26 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  ELTON announced  the  consideration of  SB  57. He  asked                                                                
Brenda  Taylor  of  the   Juneau  Community  Charter  School  to                                                                
introduce  the three  students  in  attendance. They  are:  Clem                                                                
Taylor-Roth,  Abigail  Taylor-Roth  and  Madeline  Handley  from                                                                
Juneau, AK.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:04:04 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR OLSON  asked Senator  Thomashow he  arrived at  the 1.18                                                                
percentage calculation.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  THOMAS, sponsor  of  SB 57,  answered  that  it was  an                                                                
arbitrary number arrived at through discussion and compromise.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  OLSON asked  if he  is sure  that will  be  an adequate                                                                
amount.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THOMAS  said no  doubt the schools  would like  a larger                                                                
number, but  they tried to get  1.27 through last year  and were                                                                
unable to do so.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGGINS  asked if  Senator Olson would  be working  on a                                                                
broader scope of  issues including facilities, as  it appears to                                                                
him there are other major issues facing charter schools.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:07:33 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR OLSON  responded that doubtless there  are other issues,                                                                
but he wanted to get this matter taken care of first.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ELTON  commented that Senator  Thomas has been  stellar in                                                                
his support of education for the past couple of years.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DAVIS moved  to report SB 57, Version  E, from committee                                                                
with  individual recommendations  and  attached fiscal  note(s).                                                                
There being no objection, SB 57 moved from committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:10:22 AM                                                                                                                    
There being  no further business  to come before  the committee,                                                                
Chair Elton adjourned the meeting at 8:10:22 AM.