Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 106
04/17/2015 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Confirmation(s): Board of Education and Early Development | |
| Adjourn |
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 17, 2015
8:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Wes Keller, Chair
Representative Liz Vazquez, Vice Chair
Representative Jim Colver
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative David Talerico
Representative Harriet Drummond
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Senator Mike Dunleavy
Representative Lori Reinbold
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION(S):
Board of Education and Early Development
John Harmon - Palmer
CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JOHN HARMON, Appointee
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska State
Board of Education and Early Development, discussed his
qualifications and answered questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:04:07 AM
CHAIR WES KELLER called the House Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. Representatives Seaton, Vazquez,
Drummond, Talerico and Keller were present at the call to order.
Representative Colver arrived as the meeting was in progress.
Representative Lora Reinbold and Senator Mike Dunleavy were also
in attendance.
^CONFIRMATION(S): BOARD OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT
CONFIRMATION(S): BOARD OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT
8:04:19 AM
CHAIR KELLER brought before the committee the appointment of
John Harmon to the position of the Alaska State Board of
Education and Early Development. He advised the committee that
its job is to review Mr. Harmon's credentials and pass his
application to the joint session of the House and Senate for
consideration. He advised that public testimony will not be
taken and the burden is on the committee to ask whatever
questions members deem are appropriate and should be on the
record. He further advised that he spoke with Mr. Harmon, who
is abreast of the current issues facing education.
8:05:18 AM
JOHN HARMON, as appointee to the position of the Alaska State
Board of Education and Early Development, said he is a strong
supporter of education, and is the principal of Lumen Christi
High School in Anchorage. He paraphrased the following
statement [original punctuation provided]:
I believe that as Alaskans we have the responsibility
to develop our students socially, intellectually, and
physically. If appointed to the Alaska school board I
would work for continued flexibility in education,
innovation, improved student learning, and
implementation of technology to prepare our students
for today's world. As you know, Alaska is facing many
budget challenges, I consider myself a problem solver
and an innovator. We should consider this time in
Alaska's history an opportunity to work with the
school districts throughout the state and with the
legislature to find long-term solutions for funding
education. If we accomplish this, we have
accomplished a great deal. I really do want to
support ... again, our students, the hard working
teachers, the administrators, and staff dedicated to
Alaska education.
8:07:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ disclosed that her daughter attends the
Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage, and she did not know Mr.
Harmon had been nominated until his name was read across the
floor Wednesday morning.
CHAIR KELLER advised her vote is still required in moving Mr.
Harmon's credentials to the joint session of the House and
Senate.
8:07:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked whether he has a conflict
implementing Alaska laws and the Alaska State Constitution with
regard to the separation of private and religious schools from
public schools.
MR. HARMON replied that he supports the Alaska State
Constitution and that this position does not specifically deal
with that issue. He referred to the Alaska State Constitution,
Article VII, Section 1, which read:
§ 1. Public Education
The legislature shall by general law establish and
maintain a system of public schools open to all
children of the State, and may provide for other
public educational institutions. Schools and
institutions so established shall be free from
sectarian control. No money shall be paid from public
funds for the direct benefit of any religious or other
private educational institution.
MR. HARMON stated it ensures the quality standards based
instruction to approve academics achievement for all students,
which includes public, private, and home schools. He related
that his focus would be to uphold the Alaska State Constitution
and state laws.
8:08:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER requested Mr. Harmon's opinion on the No
Child Left Behind (NCLB) law and its successor, as it relates to
federal mandates for education in Alaska and the country.
MR. HARMON stated he does not support federal mandates and
believes, as it relates to education, the best people to
determine the education of Alaska's students are the parents,
local communities, and local school boards. He said he does not
support the Common Core or federal mandates. Although, he said,
he is optimistically encouraged about the new legislation in
that it offers more freedom to the states and local
administrators, but sometimes the devil is in the details and it
is important to review how that law will be promulgated.
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER referred to student assessments, and
advised there are a number of bills within the legislature
rolling back certain mandated assessments, and recently the
school districts instituted an online statewide assessment. He
asked Mr. Harmon's opinion regarding the value of these
assessments, whether too many are required, how they relate to
student learning, how they are affecting class time, and his
general philosophical ideas.
MR. HARMON responded that as a principal, assessments are
important as there must be student standards, and knowing where
students stand in their studies in moving forward. However,
assessments are a small data point as it relates to
understanding whether or not a child is learning because more is
involved than facts and figures. He expressed pride in the
efforts put forth by teachers and their ability to assess a
class versus a standardized test. He remarked that teachers are
trained, and in working with the student's parents, offer better
assessments. He said that part of college bound students is
taking assessment exams, such as the SAT and ACT, and summarized
that assessments are important, as are standards, but Alaska
must continue to evaluate whether they are actually being
effective and understand whether Alaska's children are learning
and growing.
8:13:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER asked whether the SAT, ACT, and WorkKeys
exam should be mandated as a graduation requirement.
MR. HARMON answered he does not believe they should be mandated,
and within his position at Lumen Christi High School made the
decision not to mandate. He said not all students want to go to
college and there may be other assessments or programs more
appropriate for students. He expressed that he supports career
and technical education in meeting the needs of communities, and
his school has expanded in the areas of welding and medical
support services. In order for students to achieve those roles,
SATs are not necessary, he opined.
8:14:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER asked whether Mr. Harmon is familiar with
the WorkKeys exam.
MR. HARMON responded that his exposure to WorkKeys is not to the
level of the ACT and SAT, and at this point would say he is not
familiar with the WorkKeys exam.
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER queried whether Alaska is testing students
at the correct level.
MR. HARMON replied that schools do want to test students to
determine where they are and collect data points, but there is
more to education than a test result. He explained that
Alaska's education system is developing students' minds and
developing them to serve in the community for which is a social
aspect to education. He further explained that with regard to
sports and team work there is a physical aspect to education
that testing hardly touches. He opined that education must
continue to determine whether something is useful or not.
8:15:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND referred to his comment "quality
standards based instruction for public, private, and home
schools." She pointed out that the Board of Education and Early
Development does not supervise private schools.
MR. HARMON responded he is aware that the state statute exempts
private schools and explained that the Alaska State Constitution
reads that it is important for education and early development
to address the needs of all students in the State of Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked whether there is a school based
board or a community based board governing the Lumen Christi
High School
MR. HARMON advised that the school setup is a board of limited
jurisdiction that sets policy, the Parish Pastor is responsible
under canon law for the administration of the school, it is
affiliated with the Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage who also
gives guidance, and his responsibilities are the day-to-day
operations of the school.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND requested the funding base as to whether
the Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage supports it, or whether it
is entirely tuition-based.
MR. HARMON answered that the funding comes from multiple sources
and tuition is approximately 50 percent of the funding, the
parish supports a large majority of the education of which
approximately 60 percent of the students are Catholic, there are
a number of fund raisers throughout the year, and the
Archdiocese contributes a limited amount of money.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked the cost per student at Lumen
Christi High School from all sources as he will be exposed to
quite a bit of funding issues as a member of the Alaska State
Board of Education and Early Development.
MR. HARMON stated it is approximately $12,000 per student of
which is increasing, and tuition covers approximately half of
that amount.
8:18:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER referred to teacher evaluations and
advised that Alaska is rolling out a new process across the
state wherein teacher job performance evaluation is tied to
student assessments, and asked Mr. Harmon's understanding of
those regulations.
MR. HARMON indicated that it is becoming a more important
component, but student performance as it relates to tests is one
data point, and there are so many data points in reviewing
teachers. He advised Lumen Christi High School is accredited
through Advanced Education, and as part of that process he does
not look merely at the results of test scores, but deeper.
8:20:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER questioned whether the state is ready to
implement the same policy across Alaska.
MR. HARMON deferred the question pending further study with the
people closer to that issue in the various schools and school
districts. He pointed out strengths he brings to the table in
that he is a strong collaborator, researches information,
listens to other peoples' thoughts relating to certain
initiatives and agendas, has served on a board with Dr. Deana
Paramo, and supports teachers.
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER asked how Mr. Harmon would take into
consideration and vote on the concerns of school districts,
principals, and teachers on implementation of the process if the
educators expressed that "we were ready for this process, and
that it would unfairly evaluate their job performance because
the process isn't ready and hasn't been ground tested."
MR. HARMON responded that it is difficult to answer before he
actually understands the depth and level of these concerns.
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER questioned how Mr. Harmon would listen to
concerns that the model has not been effectively created and
that it will affect the ability to teach, and instead provide
something that works rather than forcing another mandate.
8:23:17 AM
CHAIR KELLER interjected that hypothetical questions are okay,
but to not insist.
MR. HARMON answered that he has the same issues and challenges
as other schools across the state in that he has to determine
where the issues come down and whether they make sense. He
agreed that added expectations cannot continue when education is
already challenged in so many way that do not make sense. He
offered that his private high school also has unfunded mandates
in that he must implement safe and safer training, and
background checks, and the Archdiocese of Anchorage advised that
he must figure out how to pay for them, and he does.
8:25:17 AM
MR. HARMON, in response to Representative Vazquez, stated he was
born in Pennsylvania and his family moved to Alaska in the
1970s, and he graduated from Palmer High School in the 1980s.
He advised he left the state to practice law, always returning
because his family lived here, and permanently returned to
Alaska approximately five years ago. He stated that the law and
education are two of his passions and was the President at
Charter College and also taught classes. He noted concerns that
he does not have teaching experience, but during the last couple
of years he taught a class and plans to teach an English class.
He expressed it is important that administrators understand the
challenges in the classroom.
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ requested the occupation of his brother.
MR. HARMON advised that his brother and sister-in-law work for
the Anchorage School District in Eagle River, and his sister
home schools her four children. He described himself as a
supporter of education for Alaskans and meeting their needs to
make this a better community.
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked whether Mr. Harmon has a Master's
in education.
MR. HARMON said he does, and reviewed his degrees.
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ noted there has been criticism in that he
does not have experience in a large school district.
MR. HARMON stated that when he substitute-taught in Palmer it
was a much larger school system, and also at Charter College.
He admitted it may be a weakness that he hasn't worked in the
public sector, but believes he has an understanding of its
issues. He remarked that being in a small school setting offers
benefits because as an administrator he is working with various
issues such as, teacher burnout. He stated that people do not
understand how important dedicated teachers are to education,
and how much time it takes to prepare for a class and be a good
teacher.
8:29:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that over the last ten years, within
this committee, there have been a number of accountability
initiatives in ascertaining educational progress. He offered
that across school districts in the state the graduation rate
has increased from 10-20 percent, and in looking back at the
schools in Alaska, asked to what that might be attributed.
MR. HARMON answered that he has not had time to research the
data, but there are a number of reasons as education goes back
to the classroom and teachers. Therefore, if Alaska has good
teachers working with students it improves student learning
which is how success is achieved. Innovation is important and,
he advised, he recently had an accreditation visit from Advanced
Ed which is much more student focused.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON recalled that ten years ago there was an
inability to track why students were not graduating, and
accountability was an issue. He explained that a state
longitudinal data base was put in place in order to track
students' progress, and asked whether the state can arrive at
conclusions without knowing the path and progress of students.
He questioned what initiatives could be implemented on a
statewide basis to improve education.
MR. HARMON pointed out that innovation in education is very
important and there is value in data and data points.
Personally, he advised, he values people's privacy and
collecting certain relevant data. He said that sometimes there
can be too much data, a data dump, which is not at all valuable.
To the extent it can be determined what is important to have as
it relates to measurements is good information as a tool. With
regard to the question of how schools can be successful,
innovation is important, he said. For example, financially it
does not make sense for him to run a class when he has less than
five students but rather to possibly partner with another school
and bring them together, or use interactive classrooms. He
offered that innovation saved his school a substantial amount of
money by partnering with other schools and states, and improved
student results.
8:35:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO assumed Mr. Harmon's school is a member
of the National Catholic Education Association (NCA), and asked
whether the curriculum is run under a national program, how much
local control to have in the state's schools, and to offer his
opinion on curriculums.
MR. HARMON replied that his school is a member of the NCA, which
has recommended a Catholic Common Core curriculum but has left
the decision up to the local Archdiocese. He advised that when
he first started at the school, the Alaska Conference of Bishops
asked the Alaska Catholic high school principals whether they
supported the Common Core Initiative. He expressed his opinion
against adopting the Common Core curriculum, of which Lumen
Christi has not adopted. He noted that to the extent Lumen
Christi is a member of an organization, it offers
recommendations and his school decides what is best for its
students.
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO asked what the appointee would like to
accomplish if appointed to this position.
MR. HARMON responded in that Alaska is facing budget challenges
and with his background and experience in the law, running a
college, and running a high school, a solution for educational
sustainability in Alaska. An innovative approach is to have an
understanding from the various stakeholders and work together to
that end, and he would like to help accomplish that endeavor.
Also, he said, to prepare students for life, whether college,
technical, or community involvement and offer broad education
options to meet those needs. An example, he stated, was a
student recently asking about pilot training, and the approach
taken assisted the student in attaining his goal.
8:40:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that Mr. Harmon had general
disagreement with federal mandates, ESEA, and NCLB, and had
expressed concern regarding the funding situation. He asked
what the balance would be as a school board member in rejecting
the requirements of federal law, thereby denying attached
federal funding.
MR. HARMON represented that in many ways Representative Seaton's
question is hypothetical as there will continue to be unfunded
mandates and offered that the litmus test is in the best
interests of Alaskan families and students. He said with the
teachers at Lumen Christi High School, if they believe he is
making a policy decision or implementing something not in the
best interests of the students, let him know. He offered that
with regard to the repeal of the Blaine Amendment, the issue
should be left to the legislators and voters, not the state
school board. With regard to funding, he expressed, he is
always cautious when the government offers the private sector
funds because it comes with a contingency.
[Technical difficulties.]
8:44:21 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:44 a.m. to 8:47 a.m.
8:47:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he appreciates Mr. Harmon's response
regarding private funding coming from a public source, but he is
interested in the public funding that comes from the federal
government. Specifically, he asked, whether there are any
decisions and mandates that have come forward from the federal
government that Mr. Harmon would have said "No, we will not do
that and we will not take ... therefore, the federal funds."
MR. HARMON said he is not as familiar as he should be to comment
on that question because he does not know the exact funding of
the mandates and how they are coming through.
8:48:43 AM
CHAIR KELLER said he commends Representative Seaton for asking
the question because it is a question the legislature struggles
with in determining funding for education. The bottom line is
that the school board takes the brunt of making those decisions,
he opined.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON offered that some of those go to state
longitudinal databases, the teacher evaluations and
incorporating performance are part of the requirements with
federal funding.
MR. HARMON offered that he would have to look in more detail,
but he would perform a cost benefits analysis as is done in the
private sector to operate in the black.
8:50:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER remarked that Mr. Harmon has a full resume
for his professional background and noted that often the
Department of Education and Early Development (EED) informs
districts, and this committee, that certain state regulations
must be implemented for assessments in response to federal laws
and regulations. He asked, with Mr. Harmon's legal background
whether he will help the legislature reform, roll back, and
analysis the state and federal mandates.
[Technical difficulties.]
8:51:17 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:51 to 8:54 a.m.
8:54:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER reiterated whether Mr. Harmon would apply
his legal background to critically reform education, as the
legislature has been told it must implement certain issues
without a thorough vetting on what state's rights are, and
whether the mandates must be followed. He asked whether Mr.
Harmon would help the legislature reform education and be
critical of issues put in front of him as it relates to these
mandates, thereby, increasing student learning.
MR. HARMON replied he would apply his legal background to detail
reviews of the mandates, and also apply his practical aspect in
having worked in administration with many challenging issues,
his own unfunded mandates, balancing budgets, and working with
teachers. He opined the ultimate goal is to make Alaska a
better place and to educate its students.
CHAIR KELLER advised the committee to prioritize its questions.
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER referred to Common Core and the Catholic
Common Core curriculum, and asked whether that is the same as
the Gates Foundation Common Core being promulgated in the public
schools.
MR. HARMON clarified there is the Common Core and also a
Catholic Common Core which is a modified version of that, but
Lumen Christi Catholic High School, and himself, do not
subscribe to either of those. He reiterated that it is
overreach and unnecessary for student learning and achievement
and the state is better off making its own decisions on how to
educate Alaskan students. Those two "animals" are out there and
he is not supportive, but is supportive of standards in
education and ascertaining that students are learning and
progressing, he said. He reminded the committee that he goes
back to the teachers who perform excellent assessments as they
are in the classroom.
REPRESENTATIVE COLVER requested a written response [regarding
Common Core].
8:59:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked the name of the board he served on
with Dr. Deanna Paramo.
MR. HARMON replied "The Alaska Family Services Board" in Palmer.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND offered that the state's public school
principals play a huge role in the evaluation of teachers, and
asked whether as Lumen Christi High School's principal, he
performs the evaluations himself, or whether it is a team and
who is part of that team.
MR. HARMON explained there is a multi-prong approach for teacher
evaluations which includes, "with the evaluation the department
chairs, sit in coach collaborate and do evaluations on the
teachers," he performs the formal evaluations and is also
present with the students, present in the classroom, even if it
is a class he is not teaching. He said in addition, he receives
feedback from parents, students, and many data points the school
uses in evaluating the effectiveness of teachers, as well as the
learning of the students.
MR. HARMON responded to Representative Drummond that he does
spend time in the classrooms observing teachers.
9:01:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked whether he had ever initiated
collaboration with the Anchorage School District on behalf of
students.
MR. HARMON answered yes, in that it is important to understand
the needs of his students. A small private school cannot always
meet the needs of its students, and if they have special needs
and the school does not have the resources, he recommends those
students over to the resources in the school district. He said
he has recommended students to SAVE and the King Career Center
as his school does not offer those types of courses. Likewise,
sometimes the school cannot meet all of the needs of a student
and they will take a supplement classes through charter schools,
correspondence programs, or summer school classes. He said
there are situations where students are interested in a course
the school doesn't offer and the students will take one or more
classes at the Anchorage School District, or the University of
Alaska, or the Alaska Pacific University.
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ questioned what Mr. Harmon can bring to
the state board of education.
MR. HARMON related that he has a varied background, understands
budgets, education, and the law, with strength in communication
and collaboration.
9:03:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON related that he went to meetings with
several hundred educators from across the state who were working
on developing the Alaska Standards, which is the basis of the
statewide assessments and noted that several of the large
districts have adopted Common Core as the standards. He asked
whether those standards are the same, that the state school
board should have a regulation requiring districts to adopt a
certain set of standards, or whether that is a local school
board decision.
MR. HARMON reiterated that he does not like federal mandates as
it should be pushed down to the people aware of the needs of the
students' best, and school districts should have flexibility.
He said those districts, should they find it is not working, not
achieving their goals, or it doesn't make sense, that they
revisit the issue. He related he has seen initiatives in
education come and go, but it is important to not put something
in place and if it's not working to keep going with it anyway.
He said re-evaluation is very important but he is not a
supporter of mandating any type of program such as Common Core.
9:05:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND referred to Mr. Harmon's comment that
he, in collaboration with the Anchorage School District, has
sent some of his students to summer school at the Anchorage
School District, and pointed out that it is no longer offering
summer school due to the budget cuts.
MR. HARMON responded that he is aware of that and it is a
concern because the public school district provides the needed
services that serve all of Alaska's students whether in home-
school or a private school because those entities do not have
the resources. He expressed that those cuts are concerning
because it is hurting education for everyone.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND surmised that Mr. Harmon has received
requests from students he has been unable to serve, who are then
recommended to the Anchorage School District.
MR. HARMON responded that he recommends them to the program that
would best suit their needs, and often it is the Anchorage
School District.
9:07:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked, in terms of special education
needs or developmentally disabled students, whether those
students are enrolled in his student population.
MR. HARMON explained that Lumen Christi High School can only
meet needs to a certain level on both ends of the spectrum
wherein students with IEPs and gifted students are referred. He
described the school as a core education program with a firm
belief it should not enroll students whose needs it cannot meet.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND gathered that Mr. Harmon cannot accept
students whose need cannot be met as, for example the Anchorage
School District, Mat-Su Borough School District, and Lower
Kuskokwim School Districts have to accept every student that
walks through the door. She asked whether he will have a
difficult time with that point as a member of the state school
board.
MR. HARMON advised that he did not understand the question.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND restated that the Anchorage School
District is required to serve every student that seeks to be
registered in the school district and pointed out that his
school cannot serve every student requesting admission. She
questioned whether that will create a problem for him as a
member of the state school board that supervises every public
school in the state.
MR. HARMON replied that it will not be an issue. He noted that
the public school system educates most of the students and is
very important, so if Lumen Christi High School cannot meet
student needs they will be sent to the location their needs will
be met.
9:10:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ moved to forward the name of John Harmon
to the joint session of the House and Senate for confirmation.
There being no objection, the confirmation of John Harmon is
advanced from the House Education Standing Committee.
9:10:34 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:10 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation Hearing Borad of Education and Early Development: John Harmon Application.pdf |
HEDC 4/17/2015 8:00:00 AM |