Legislature(1995 - 1996)
04/12/1996 09:30 AM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 216 EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
TAPE 96-32 , SIDE A
Number 001
VICE-CHAIRMAN LEMAN called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:30 a.m. and brought up
HB 216 as the only order of business before the committee. He
called a representative of the prime sponsor to testify.
Number 017
ROGER POPPE, Aide to Representative Pete Kott, stated the bill
would provide structure in the form of an educational technology
fund to allow the state to pursue the development of educational
technology. Initially it was proposed that the fund would have
$10,000,000.00 in state general fund monies, but because of the
present fiscal situation, other funding sources have been
investigated. The federal government has just come up with a
$2,000,000,000.00 educational technology grant program for matching
funds. So what we would like to do is at least set up a structure
to allow the state to receive federal and private funds. There is
always the potential in the future that state funds will be
contributed. The concept is important, because it is estimated
that 25 percent of the 8,000,000 highest-paying jobs in the U.S.
are high-tech jobs.
MR. POPPE stated the Anchorage and Juneau school districts are in
the process of voting bond funds for educational technology. Those
school districts would be in a perfect position to have local
matching funds already available for the federal money. That money
would then generate three or four times its' actual impact in terms
of technology programs. The department supports HB 216 and the
fiscal notes are zero.
Number 084
MR. POPPE stated the language putting more focus on the Department
of Education being a central coordinator for educational technology
programs was taken from similar legislation in other states.
Number 102
CHICK BEEKLEY, President - Alaska Society for Technology in
Education, Director of Technology for the Aleutians East Borough
School District, testifying from Anchorage, stated both
organizations support HB 216. There is a tremendous need for a
mechanism for focusing resources that districts would individually
not be able to access. HB 216 would allow educational
organizations in the state to become part of a larger grant project
in technology initiatives. Mr. Beckley sees this agency as one
that could help standardize modes of technology training and
planning within districts, instead of having a piece-meal approach
to planning and implementation.
Number 137
KAREN JORDAN, Juneau School District, Alaska Society for Technology
in Education, testifying from Anchorage, stated there are many
issues pertaining to educational technology in the State of Alaska.
Ms. Jordan thinks the biggest issue is equity. There are some
schools in the state that have many computers and other schools
that have very few computers. For example, in Anchorage one school
has a 4:1 student to computer ratio, while another school has a
178:1 student to computer ratio. Technology is not going to go
away; it is a basic literacy. It's a very strong economic
development issue. We need to provide a relevant environment for
our students, and without technology, that will not be possible.
HB 216 would coordinate efforts and save money by setting up a
central clearing-house for information. Ms. Jordan encouraged
passage of HB 216.
Number 191
JASON OHLER, Director of the Educational Technology Program,
University of Alaska, testifying from Anchorage, supported previous
testimony. He stated that at the university level, they are
involved in something called "Teaching-Learning Technology Round
Table". The round table consists of students, faculty, and
administration who put together a long-term plan for how to use and
purchase technology at the university level. Students have
communicated to the round table how absolutely essential it is for
them to have computer skills in order to compete in the world of
work. Mr. Ohler views education as a continuum from K-12 on
through university. He supports previous testimony and urged
passage of HB 216.
Number 216
BRONK JORGENSEN, student - Tok High School, owner of a giftshop in
Tok, testifying from Anchorage, stated the use of technology in
rural Alaska is very important. The internet lets students access
information from around the world. Mr. Jorgensen supports HB 216.
Number 232
JED RUSYNIAK, Tok School, testifying from Anchorage, stated
technology has been a large part of his highschool career.
Computers, CD-Rom, and the internet have opened many doors for him
to research possibilities. Technology helps him in his job as an
advertising and marketing manager at a local business. He has also
given technology training during inservices to teachers. He also
teaches college technology courses with his father. Mr. Rushniak
stated that technology connects rural Alaska to the rest of the
world, so he urged passage of HB 216.
Number 270
CARL ROSE, School Board Association, agrees with most of the
previous testimony and supports HB 216. Mr. Rose thinks the future
of the american dream will be tied to technology and information.
So he thinks it's critical that we set some direction and some
framework for our students, and he thinks HB 216 will do that.
Number 283
SENATOR ELLIS stated he appreciates Mr. Rose's support of HB 216.
He asked if Mr. Rose also supported the legislation that was
sponsored by Representative Brown during a previous legislature.
MR. ROSE responded they did support that legislation.
Number 288
LARRY WIGET, Director of Government Relations for the Anchorage
School District, stated his previous positions within the district
were all relative to technology, and it is technology which enables
him to perform his present position. The Anchorage School District
supports HB 216, and it is a major priority of the Anchorage School
Board and district administration. They believe that computer
technology and communications technology are the instructional
tools of the nineties, for students and teachers. A good example
of that is the legislature's use of teleconferencing and the
broadcast of committee meetings and floor sessions, both of which
allow people to participate without being physically present at the
capitol. These tools, in a state with such a diverse landscape and
diverse population are exceptionally important. Access is also
important in preparing students for work and is important for
economic development.
Number 311
VICE-CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked if the Anchorage School District has made
much use of interactive video, where a person can see to whom they
are talking.
MR. WIGET replied it is an emerging technology, and is currently of
limited use due to the high cost. Presently there is a little bit
of access in the Anchorage School District. That technology has
been used more at the state level and among the business community.
It is an extremely viable technology, but we are currently hampered
in utilizing it by our lack of resources.
Number 322
VICE-CHAIRMAN LEMAN stated he has heard the complaint that the
technology is still fairly jerky. But he thinks those problems
will be ironed out, and that the technology would be helpful in
tapping into distance teaching.
MR. WIGET agrees, and stated it makes no sense in a state such as
Alaska that we are not utilizing the technology. We need to
provide the technology to our students so we can have some kind of
competitive basis which will draw people to the state. Today,
accessing the information is the easy part, becoming discriminate
users of that information is the key issue, and that is real
learning. We're not just dealing with the mechanics of writing,
but the essence of writing, which is thinking and putting those
thoughts in a readable format. Computers make rewriting of
documents a simpler process. He has discovered that once students
become less fearful of having to rewrite a paper, students write
better papers to begin with, and less corrections are made in the
end. Access to technology provides all of us with a better means
of communication.
Number 365
VICE-CHAIRMAN LEMAN acknowledged that former Senator Sturgulewski
has joined the hearing, and stated she was welcome to join the
committee at the table.
ARLISS STURGULEWSKI, Co-Chair of the Technology Access Bill in
Anchorage, and thought it was time for them to "get with it". But
she could not add to what was being said.
SENATOR ELLIS stated if he could get away with it, he would make a
motion to grant voting privileges on the HESS Committee to Senator
Sturgulewski.
Number 375
KIMBERLY HOMME, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Department
of Education, supports HB 216. They believe that establishment of
a technology fund is the first step in committing to funding for
technology. Their concern is that no appropriation is made, though
it does provide the framework for future donations from private
businesses, appropriations from the state, and contributions from
federal grants. The department plans to apply for funds from
President Clinton's proposed $2,000,000,000.00 technology literacy
challenge fund. The department envisions school districts applying
for funds from the technology fund.
Number 405
WILLIE ANDERSON, NEA-Alaska, supports HB 216. He agrees with many
of the comments previously made. NEA-Alaska is disappointed that
there are no state funds being appropriated for the technology
program. It is important that the program is begun, and he urged
passage of HB 216. The opportunity for private donations and
grants is important. But he asked for state funds to be
appropriated also.
Number 418
VICE-CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked if there was anyone else who wished to
testify on HB 216. He stated the bill would not be moved today,
because Chairman Green wishes to participate in that motion.
Hearing no other comments on the bill, the vice-chairman adjourned
the Senate Health, Education & Social Services Committee meeting at
10:00 a.m.
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