Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/28/1995 03:40 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
February 28, 1995
3:40 p.m.
HOUSE MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Con Bunde, Co-Chair
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Gary Davis
Representative Norman Rokeberg
Representative Caren Robinson
Representative Tom Brice
SENATE MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyda Green, Chairperson
Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chair
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Judy Salo
HOUSE MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Cynthia Toohey, Co-Chair
SENATE MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mike Miller
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Confirmation Hearings: State Board of Education
HHES - 02/28/95
* HJR 17: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State
of Alaska relating to education.
SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
(* First public hearing)
WITNESS REGISTER
MARY ANN EININGER
Resolution Now
2120 Cushman, Suite 202
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Telephone: (907) 452-7733
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding her confirmation
MIKE WILLIAMS
P.O. Box 126
Akiak, AK 99552
Telephone: (907) 765-7426
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding his confirmation
ROBERT GOTTSTEIN
630 West 4th Avenue, #300
Anchorage, AK 99501
Telephone: (907) 257-5600
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding his confirmation
ABBE HENSLEY
7045 Tree Top Circle
Anchorage, AK 99516
Telephone: (907) 346-1802
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding her confirmation
R. WEAVER IVANOFF
P.O. Box 113
Unalakleet, AK 99684
Telephone: (907) 624-3025
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding his confirmation
MARILYN WEBB
720 Sixth Street
Juneau, AK 99801
Telephone: (907) 586-2248
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding her confirmation
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HJR 17
SHORT TITLE: CONTROL & FUNDING OF PUB & PVT SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) VEZEY
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/19/95 81 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
01/19/95 81 (H) HES, JUD
02/28/95 (H) HES AT 03:30 PM CAPITOL 124
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-12, SIDE A
Number 000
CO-CHAIR CON BUNDE called the joint meeting of the House and Senate
Health, Education and Social Services standing committees to order
at 3:40 p.m. Present at the call to order were Representatives
Robinson, Rokeberg, Vezey, and Bunde. Senator Green was also
present. Co-Chair Bunde asked for a brief introductory statement
from each of the State Board of Education appointees, and asked
that they answer questions.
Number 030
MARY ANN EININGER introduced herself. She lives in North Pole,
Alaska and has lived in this state for 26 years. During that 26
years, she has constantly been a member of the public school system
in one way or another.
MS. EININGER said she has been a strong advocate for public schools
and students of all ages.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked for more detail concerning her involvement in
public education.
MS. EININGER said when she came to Alaska in 1969, she had recently
completed college at the University of Chicago and graduate school
at the University of Minnesota. She had, up to that point, served
as a school psychologist intern and as a school psychologist in
Minnesota for a year and a half. Upon her arrival in Alaska, she
worked for the North Star Borough School District as a school
psychologist. She worked in this capacity for four years.
MS. EININGER then went to work for the National Education
Association (NEA) - Alaska from 1973 to 1991. When she went to
work, her job title was "professional staff." There was a variety
of duties involved, including working with local organizations,
local teacher organizations and employee organizations.
MS. EININGER continued that before she retired, NEA also began to
represent noncertified school employees. That work might have
involved anything from helping individuals negotiate contracts,
representing individuals in grievances, and working in arbitration
as an advocate. One of her interests was minority involvement in
the public schools, particularly in increasing the number of Native
Alaskan teachers. For several years, she worked with the teachers
who were also interested in accomplishing that goal.
MS. EININGER said she performed a very interesting and diverse set
of duties, and she enjoyed all the duties. She retired in 1991, in
order to be with her ill husband and 11-year-old daughter. She had
been doing some volunteer and some paid activities until last
spring, when she opened a business called Resolution Now. This
business involves consulting work, organizational development and
conflict resolution. Currently, she is doing some work for the
Bureau of Land Management.
MS. EININGER said she has also worked for the school system in
Fairbanks as well as doing inservice for the Catholic schools. She
has also done quite a bit of meeting facilitation.
Number 110
CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked for her comments on particular philosophies,
such as inclusion. Ms. Eininger asked for clarification, if he
meant the inclusion of special education students. Co-Chair Bunde
explained he meant inclusion for all special needs children in
"regular" classrooms.
MS. EININGER said she has some experience and opinions in this
area, and there is still much to learn. When she was a teacher
representative, she was aware one of the concerns the teachers have
is including special needs children in the regular classroom. In
this situation, teachers need to have additional training and
smaller class sizes in order to deal with the extra demands of
those students with special needs.
Number 147
MS. EININGER continued that you cannot simply put a special student
into a classroom with 25 kids without giving the teacher training
and relief from the demands of that student in some way. Those
issues, that of training and reduced class size, involve money.
The issue of inclusion in that sense is one that districts need to
weigh and look at over a longer term to see if the benefits to all
the students are the desired benefits, and if the benefits balance
with the expenditures involved.
MS. EININGER thinks that most special needs students benefit a
great deal from being included in a regular process. She also
thinks that there are some severely limited students who cannot be
included much of the time. However, "regular" students benefit
greatly as well from these inclusions.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced for the record that Representative Gary
Davis arrived at 3:45 p.m. and Senator Judith Salo arrived at 3:47
p.m. He recapped the meeting for the arriving members.
Number 173
SENATOR LYDA GREEN said that one of the things that happens in a
district is that the more inclusive the districts become, the more
skewed the foundation formula becomes. This is because the
intensive child is not separated out. She asked what can be done
with the formula to encourage or support districts that want to
supplement and implement inclusion.
MS. EININGER said she is not prepared to answer this question. She
said the foundation formula has not been discussed yet. Her group
is just beginning to look at all the complexities involved. She
would not presume at this point to speculate on the answer. She is
sure, however, that after the State Board of Education (SBE) has
looked at this issue, and inclusion is voiced as a constituent
concern, the board will have some recommendations.
Number 194
SENATOR JUDITH SALO thought that whether the special needs students
are mainstreamed or separated, they are counted the same way in the
formula.
SENATOR GREEN said that the funding does not necessarily follow the
student. If the diagnosis of the child is more restrictive, and
the child mainstreamed, sometimes the funding does not follow the
student. That is the concern.
SENATOR SALO said the district, however, receives the funding.
Number 207
CO-CHAIR BUNDE said he understands Governor Knowles would like the
formula rewritten, and there is work going on in the Senate to
rewrite the foundation formula. The House has interest in that as
well. He asked for Ms. Eininger's suggestions regarding the
formula.
MS. EININGER responded that as an individual, she does not want to
tell her personal suggestions. As a member of the State Board of
Education, the Governor has charged the SBE with forming a blue-
ribbon committee and looking at this issue.
MS. EININGER spoke of her interests as a member of that board. She
thinks that a good job has been done in trying to provide equity
throughout the state. That is an effort that must be continued to
the best of the SBE's ability. She does not believe that education
is any more or less important to any student in the state. It is
extremely important for every single student in the state, no
matter where they live.
MS. EININGER stressed the state needs to be able to provide
equitable services to each student to the greatest extent possible.
That would be her position as a member of the SBE, as the board
looks at the foundation formula. At this point, however, she is
not prepared to talk about specific portions of the formula itself.
Number 244
REPRESENTATIVE CAREN ROBINSON asked if Ms. Eininger had any
particular priorities while on the SBE, priorities she hopes the
board will address.
MS. EININGER started her career in education as a student advocate.
That is how a school psychologist sees her or himself. Then Ms.
Eininger became a teacher advocate because of her next job. She
currently has a 15-year-old daughter who is in high school in
Fairbanks. Through her and her friends, and because Ms. Eininger
is no longer serving as a teacher advocate on a daily basis, she
has again become a very active student advocate. She volunteers in
the school and she believes that the best possible educational
opportunities in this state must be available no matter where
students live or what their abilities. This is what the SBE must
always keep in mind. That is her priority.
Number 269
REPRESENTATIVE AL VEZEY asked Ms. Eininger to share her thoughts on
dealing with the shrinking budget.
MS. EININGER said luckily, she thinks it is the legislature and the
Governor who make those decisions, make proposals and listen to
people. It is extremely important that the legislature and the
Governor establish priorities. In a shrinking budget situation,
the state is not going to be able to keep everything a top
priority. To cut the budget 5 or 10 percent across the board is
not going to take into account the overriding importance of
education to the people who live in Alaska, the children and
Alaska's future.
MS. EININGER believes that education is the number one priority.
When she has the opportunity to speak with the legislature, the
Governor or people at home, she will take that position. It is not
easy to live in a time of declining revenue, which is being seen
both at the federal and state levels. However, this is a time to
reaffirm beliefs that Alaskans have held dear for a long time.
Those beliefs have a lot to do with educational opportunity and
equity. The state has done a good job with those factors, and she
hopes that will continue.
Number 301
CO-CHAIR BUNDE said the previous commissioner of the Department of
Education (DOE), as an attempt to solve fiscal problems, was
looking at the minimum enrollment to keep schools open. The
current regulations allow the state to build a school for eight
students. The commissioner was thinking of pushing that number up
to 10 and eventually 12 students as the minimum school enrollment.
The last time Co-Chair Bunde counted, there were 21 Alaskan schools
with 12 or fewer students. These schools are very expensive to
run. He asked if Ms. Eininger had an opinion about consolidating
some smaller schools.
MS. EININGER believes there are perhaps school districts within the
state that could be consolidated. For example, some smaller
districts are geographically intertwined. These, theoretically,
could consolidate if they chose to do so. She would have to look
again at the Molly Hootch Decision.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE said the Molly Hootch Decision is no longer in
effect.
Number 326
MS. EININGER said she therefore believes that to the extent
possible, children need to live where their families are; and to
the extent possible, the state needs to provide education where the
children's families are. Ms. Eininger would need to look carefully
at the cost of that. She does not believe it is a luxury to
provide education to kids where they live. It is an entitlement.
She thinks the state needs to look at innovative ways of delivering
that education.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked if she meant building schools or home
schooling.
MS. EININGER answered that providing education might mean building
a school. Currently, she believes that if there are eight
children, there is a school.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE said that sometimes the number could be as few as
four.
MS. EININGER said in those communities where there exists a school
building or facility, she would be reluctant to say that although
the building exists there is no school. Perhaps the legislature,
the SBE and the Governor could consider the sites where there is
currently no school. If a student community develops in those
areas, maybe there are alternatives to building a facility.
MS. EININGER'S bias is in favor of providing education where the
children live, with, to the extent possible, teachers, a library,
telecommunications and a facility where the students can be
together and learn.
Number 354
CO-CHAIR BUNDE understood her sympathies, but also asked her to
understand that the $160,000 per school must come out of urban area
funding.
MS. EININGER said her interest is in all Alaska's students, those
in Fairbanks as well as those in rural areas. She understands it
is a balancing act, but it is one that must be considered with the
interests of all students in mind.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE thanked Ms. Eininger for her testimony.
Number 368
MIKE WILLIAMS of Akiak introduced himself. He was born in Akiak
and has been involved with education issues ever since the birth of
his first son, 18 years ago. He has five children. He has been a
school board member for the last 15 years. During that time, he
has seen the state go from the prosperity of the oil boom to
today's declining revenues.
MR. WILLIAMS has also been involved with the Chapter I (one),
Migrant Education Committee of Practitioners, through the DOE. In
addition, he has looked into Postsecondary Education programs with
the McDowell Group, a Juneau-based research firm. He was also
involved with the Federal/State Joint Commission for Alaska Natives
on the education task force.
MR. WILLIAMS said when he worked as a mental health counselor in
Bethel, he worked with children with behavioral problems. He
enjoyed working with the children that had lost their parents or
were being raised in single-parent families. He tried to be a role
model for those kids during his three years with the program and
with the schools.
Number 411
CO-CHAIR BUNDE informed the committee that Mr. Williams has been a
leader in the sobriety movement, and has run the Iditarod. He sets
a very good example for Alaskan Youth.
REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY asked if Mr. Williams had traveled all the way
from Akiak for this confirmation hearing.
MR. WILLIAMS said he was also in Juneau attending the SBE meeting.
He is not new to traveling to Juneau or Anchorage to attend
seminars. It is a challenge to be appointed to the job ahead.
MR. WILLIAMS has seen many problems in the villages and cities
involving alcohol. He believes that if problems are taken care of
within the homes, there will be an immediate effect on the
children. It is important to get children to school on time and to
make sure they are not hungry.
Number 437
MR. WILLIAMS shared that he has lost five brothers to tragedies
involving alcohol. He battles the abuse of alcohol within the
state and within the Native communities in particular. He has
brought much attention to this problem, and if these problems are
taken care of, everyone will benefit.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced that Representative Brice arrived at 3:52
p.m., and Senator Leman arrived at 4:01 p.m.
REPRESENTATIVE NORMAN ROKEBERG noticed that both he and Mr.
Williams attended school in Salem, Oregon. He asked Mr. Williams
to compare the education he received in Oregon to the education
students are currently receiving in Akiak. He also asked if Mr.
Williams would advocate boarding schools after attending one.
Number 458
MR. WILLIAMS said the education he received at Chemawa High School
in Salem was excellent academically. Coming from a small village,
it was a different experience, living in a larger community. He
had trouble adjusting, he was homesick and missed his Native
culture, traditional foods and his parents. He was apart from his
family for four years while attending boarding school. It was a
big adjustment, and he still deals with missing his family and
parents while he was becoming a young adult.
MR. WILLIAMS currently speaks with elders about raising his own
children. His children are now at the age that he is having a
slightly difficult time. He receives advice from the elders, and
his children are doing well in school.
MR. WILLIAMS reiterated that academically, Chemawa was an excellent
school. There were many more opportunities in Salem at that time.
There is still no high school in Akiak. There is a school that was
built for elementary purposes. The community has been going
through a transition after the Molly Hootch decree was given. The
decree has caused the villages to rethink decisions, because for
years parents have been sending their children to boarding schools
like Mt. Edgecumbe.
Number 502
MR. WILLIAMS said he would not mind seeing consolidated high
schools, but it should be up to the local areas to provide those
facilities. It would be up to communities and local districts to
decide to combine. When he was sworn in, and he swore to uphold
the Constitution of Alaska, he was charged to educate children no
matter where the child lived. Top quality education must be
provided everywhere. There are opportunities available that
utilize today's technology. This option is important and possible.
Boarding school was good, but it affected his life.
MR. WILLIAMS allowed there are benefits to boarding school. He has
many friends all over Alaska that he met in boarding school.
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON asked if Mr. Williams had a priority he
would pursue as a member of the board.
Number 541
MR. WILLIAMS said his priority would be to provide top quality
education to all of Alaska's children, regardless of where they
live. That is one of the reasons he has chosen his profession.
Having been with the Association of Alaska School Boards, and in
speaking with members of that association from various parts of the
state, he has learned that top quality education can be provided to
all children.
SENATOR LOREN LEMAN asked if Mr. Williams had any thoughts on how
that top quality education could be provided or even improved for
less cost.
Number 563
MR. WILLIAMS said he has been looking at the foundation formula for
many years. He thinks the formula uses figures from the days of
Alaska's oil boom, however, now revenues are declining. The
foundation formula needs to be redone by a panel of the best minds
throughout the state. The formula needs to be inflation-proof so
costs will not keep going up and up. Costs need to be put under
control, and the state also needs to plan ahead so equity funding
will be available for all of Alaska from year to year. Each year,
the formula should be reviewed. It is crucial that the funding not
be cut drastically and quickly so there are adverse effects on the
children.
MR. WILLIAMS continued that when providing quality education, the
university system must also be looked at. It is important to
provide adequate teacher preparation and training, and to hire
Alaskan teachers. Mr. Williams has been observing non-Alaskan
teachers, and they must be retrained in the communities about the
Alaska Native culture. Many of these teachers experience culture
shock.
MR. WILLIAMS went on to say that parents also need to be involved
in education. The Yup'ik people traditionally have been involved
in providing education for their children. But when the
missionaries and the government arrived, they implemented their own
system of education. Therefore, the Yup'ik people became
uninvolved in the curriculum and education. Mike Williams'
generation is beginning to become more involved in their children's
education.
Number 552
SENATOR LEMAN recalled that Mr. Williams said he wanted to
inflation-proof the foundation formula so costs do not keep rising.
What inflation-proofing actually does, is it helps insure that
costs do keep going up. He wondered if Mr. Williams meant that
spending should be capped to contain costs, or if he meant
something entirely different.
SENATOR LEMAN also commented on Mr. Williams desire to redo the
formula to "level the playing field." There is an effort to
accomplish this. A number of rural school board members have
visited Senator Leman's office this week, suggesting they did not
support Senate Bill (SB) 70. SB 70 is an effort to level the
playing field somewhat. There still would be inequities, and yet
many of Mr. Williams' colleagues are opposing a measure that would
alleviate at least part of the dilemma. Senator Leman wanted to
know if there was an inconsistency in their views and the views of
Mr. Williams, or the concept of equity is different from that
proposed in SB 70.
Number 635
MR. WILLIAMS hates to be opposed to SB 70. Right now, it looks
like people are being taken from rural areas and placed into urban
areas. It is very hard to make everyone happy. Mr. Williams is
not totally opposed to SB 70 because, in his understanding, it
helps some of the single sites. It has some positive measures. It
is important to make sure that rural and urban schools are taken
care of. The education community needs to come together and agree.
MR. WILLIAMS continued that in Alaska, there is a perception that
the schools are not doing a good job. Mr. Williams disagrees. The
schools are doing many positive things in all areas of education.
As a school board member, when he encounters negative views of the
school systems, he thinks people need to realize that many positive
things are occurring.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced that Senator Ellis arrived at 4:20 p.m.,
and thanked Mr. Williams.
Number 665
ROBERT GOTTSTEIN made his introductory statements. He was born in
the territory of Alaska, and has been interested in education for
many years. For the past six years, he has been leading an
organization called "Winning with Stronger Education (WISE)." This
organization is designed to bring the Anchorage community into the
forefront of education reform to try and identify what directions
might be possible in education reform, and to help create the
collective will to effect those kinds of changes.
SENATOR LEMAN said that the Governor, in his State of the State
speech, said he would be appointing a "revitalized Board of
Education." Senator Leman wanted to know Mr. Gottstein's thoughts
on the type of revitalization he is bringing to the board, and what
he is proposing that is new and exciting.
SENATOR LEMAN also wanted to know how Mr. Gottstein proposes to
deliver better education at less cost.
Number 686
MR. GOTTSTEIN said it is very important to figure out how to
dramatically encourage more parental involvement in the education
of their children across the state. Parental involvement is the
single most important element in a child's upbringing. To the
extent that the state is collectively not able to encourage
involvement, children are disadvantaged and the future is
disadvantaged.
MR. GOTTSTEIN continued that to encourage parental involvement,
parents need to be empowered, more so than in the past. The SBE
needs to be consumer driven--a product needs to be developed in
education that the consumers say they are satisfied with. Mr.
Gottstein used to be in the grocery business. His task was to make
every shopping experience a positive experience. The same
challenge can be made in education. Every individual's education
experience should be a positive experience, based on their own
interpretation, not someone else's interpretation.
MR. GOTTSTEIN said the state has a long way to go in this regard.
There is historically an excellent system in place. However, a lot
can be done in terms of improvement. Mr. Gottstein is among a
group of new people on the school board who are really committed to
seeing positive changes taking place in education.
TAPE 95-12, SIDE B
Number 000
MR. GOTTSTEIN said that meaningful changes can be made in education
so all of Alaska can be satisfied with the results. Whether the
costs are the same, more or less than before, the goal is complete
satisfaction with the education system and the contributions
required to make education successful.
Number 011
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG thanked Mr. Gottstein for the excellent
leadership he provided in the WISE project in the Anchorage area.
He asked what some conclusions from that project were.
MR. GOTTSTEIN said that, in a broad context, one of the things that
came out of the WISE project is that learning really is a lifelong
ambition. The responsibility of the board of education is a very
important component, but it is not a complete component. The SBE
members will be discussing the university and early childhood in
terms of the board's appropriate actions. Those phases of
education are very important.
MR. GOTTSTEIN continued that Anchorage is a diverse community.
Returning to the "consumer" philosophy, the board needs to think
hard about diversity, the jobs that will be available, and creating
the educational opportunities in the areas where employment will
take place.
MR. GOTTSTEIN said there are no resources to waste, and it is
important to be methodical. Although employment is not the only
reason a person becomes educated, it is an absolute necessity. We
must not ignore or not do what is necessary to insure that every
person in Alaska has an opportunity to provide economic
independence for themselves, either immediately or when they enter
the job market. Anything less than that provision is a disservice
to the individual and a disservice to the state.
MR. GOTTSTEIN is working to make education responsive to the demand
that is out there, and less so to people's interpretation to what
the demand is. He wants the state to learn upon the experiences of
a broad base of industries across the country and how they respond
to consumer demand. Education, as an industry, has a lot to learn
from the rest of the world.
Number 110
CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced that Co-Chair Cynthia Toohey was ill. She
requested that all candidates be asked about their position on
HIV/AIDS prevention and education in the schools.
MR. GOTTSTEIN said he is not an expert on the topic, but he
believes that the lack of HIV education, in a sense, would be
criminal. AIDS is such a devastating disease that is so easily
spread, to deny a young person's opportunity to know the risks they
may encounter is an irresponsible act. He cannot say he knows how
this topic should be taught.
MR. GOTTSTEIN said that one of the conclusions of WISE is that
people need to be taught how to be responsible for themselves.
Part of that is knowing the risks that exist in life. We are not
born in this world with all knowledge, we must learn things. One
of the risks in this society is AIDS, and we have to insure that
the public knows how to protect themselves against it.
Number 092
MS. EININGER fully subscribed to and associated herself with Mr.
Gottstein's remarks.
MR. WILLIAMS, having been on the health board and being a chairman
of the hospital services in the Akiak area, thinks that HIV/AIDS
education is very important. He is totally for it.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE passed the gavel to Vice-chair Representative
Rokeberg at 4:30 p.m. Co-Chair Bunde was needed to make a quorum
at a meeting of the Rules Committee.
SENATOR SALO asked Mr. Gottstein who the consumer is in education.
MR. GOTTSTEIN answered, the parent and the child.
SENATOR SALO said that sometimes people think the consumer is
society in general.
MR. GOTTSTEIN said in a broader sense, yes, but the individual is
in the best position to make the decisions that positively affect
their lives.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE arrived back at the meeting, as the Rules Committee
meeting had not yet begun.
Number 137
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON asked about Mr. Gottstein's number one
priority for the SBE.
MR. GOTTSTEIN answered he wants to empower consumers, particularly
the parents. President Bill Clinton, in his inaugural address,
remarked that "Governments don't raise children, families do." Mr.
Gottstein said there can be no substitute for the value that
families bring to children. No amount of money in the world can
replace what a family can provide for a young person. The family
is one of the greatest strengths and one of the greatest pieces of
the solution to the fiscal woes around us.
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG thanked Mr. Gottstein.
Number 163
ABBE HENSLEY introduced herself. She was born in Anchorage, and
lives there currently. She spent a number of years in other parts
of the country but returned to Alaska in 1971. She has four
children. Two are attending college, one in the Lower 48, one at
the University of Alaska Anchorage. Another child is in elementary
school and one is in high school.
MS. HENSLEY recounted that after her first daughter was born, she
became interested in teaching childbirth classes. She saw herself
as an advocate for children before they were born. As her children
grew and entered school, she felt she could help parents advocate
for their children in school.
MS. HENSLEY served in various positions in the local and state PTA,
and served as the president of the Alaska PTA from 1989 to 1993.
During that time, she came to know many of the players in the
education community and gained a greater understanding of what was
happening in Alaska. Ms. Hensley's children have attended three
different school districts in Alaska, and she thinks that gives her
another perspective. In addition to the time her family lived in
Kotzebue, her family visited there almost every year since the
early 1970s.
MS. HENSLEY has served on the national PTA board in two different
positions. Currently, she is the vice-president for leadership.
In that capacity, she performs training and development activities
with state PTA leaders across the country.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE left the meeting at 4:35 p.m.
Number 207
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked, on Co-Chair Toohey's behalf, Ms.
Hensley's position on HIV/AIDS education.
MS. HENSLEY said that a few years ago she asked one of her
daughter's friends if she felt she was prepared to go off to
college with adequate information about this issue. The girl said
while there was a fairly brief class on HIV/AIDS when she was a
sophomore, she felt that things had changed and she needed more
information.
MS. HENSLEY continued that it is very important that a society help
their children be safe and make good decisions. HIV/AIDS education
is a part of that responsibility.
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON asked about the priority Ms. Hensley brings
to the board.
Number 225
MS. HENSLEY said that a commitment must be made to the idea that
all children can learn. We also need to make sure there are
equitable opportunities for all children so they can learn. We
know children do better in school when their parents or family is
involved in their education. The SBE must begin not only to
recognize but actively make sure that families feel welcome in
schools, families feel connected to what their children are
learning, and that children are learning what their families think
they should be learning. This must be done statewide.
SENATOR SALO said that different SBEs have taken different
approaches on whether they lobby for education or not. The senator
asked if the legislature could expect to see Ms. Hensley speaking
to the legislature should the legislature "take an axe" to the
educational budget, or would Ms. Hensley not consider that her
role.
MS. HENSLEY said that providing education for all children is a
responsibility we all share. Therefore, it would be important for
her, as a member of the SBE, to work with the legislature and
provide additional information to the legislature so the
legislature can make good decisions. The answer to the senator's
question was yes, she would speak to the legislature in that case.
Number 260
SENATOR LEMAN wanted to know if the budget is 18 percent out of
balance between expenses and revenues, and if education was held
constant, would Ms. Hensley consider that to be a drastic reduction
in the education budget.
MS. HENSLEY thought it depends on whether or not reduction is
looked at from what we see as what is current, or if reduction is
looked at in terms of what real costs are and whether or not the
formula has been funded according to real costs. This returns back
to the inflation issue.
MS. HENSLEY said in addition, before she could provide the
committee with a good recommendation, she would need to know more
about the implications of a new proposal. She has not had the
opportunity to study this issue, as she has been working with the
other board members to find a new commissioner of education. She
knows something about the current proposals, but she has not had
the opportunity to study them. She therefore does not have the
information to adequately respond to the senator's question.
Number 293
SENATOR LEMAN said he asked the question to Senator Salo, and the
only formal proposal that has been put on the table, outside of the
Governor's recent proposal, would be the House proposal. He
assumed this is the proposal referred to in Senator Salo's comment
concerning "taking an axe" to the budget.
SENATOR SALO said she was not referring to any particular proposal,
and there are currently many different formal proposals for
education funding.
Number 313
RALPH WEAVER IVANOFF from Unalakleet said he was born in Nome and
has four children. The oldest is just out of high school, and the
youngest is in eighth grade. He has been with the Bering Strait
School District Board of Education for ten years, serving in
several capacities: vice-chair; chair; second vice-chair; and
secretary on several committees such as fiscal, policy and
personnel.
REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS said that Mr. Ivanoff attended Mt.
Edgecumbe High School. He asked about the relationship between the
boarding school concept and the Molly Hootch case and the attempts
to keep the rural children closer to home. He asked Mr. Ivanoff's
feelings on the positive and negative aspects of the issue.
MR. IVANOFF said Mt. Edgecumbe offered college preparatory courses
as well as vocational courses that would not be offered in the
Bering Strait communities at that time. Being at Mt. Edgecumbe
exposed him to many educational opportunities. The school had a
very good vocational education program, they also had very good
college prep courses. Many people in his class ended up as doctors
and engineers. In that aspect, the school was excellent.
MR. IVANOFF continued. Consolidation, because each region and
district is unique, can happen. Recently, a proposal came before
the SBE with Galena. The Bering Strait school district is taking
a look at consolidation and creating a boarding school to service
small schools. One of the problems that exists right now,
especially in rural Alaska, is that there are rules concerning a
certain number of students that are going to be cut off from access
to schools because there is such a low population of students in
their area.
MR. IVANOFF said when that occurs, a person is not exposed to the
quality education other schools can provide. Specifically, urban
schools can offer chemistry, calculus, etc., on a daily basis.
This does not happen in the smaller schools. That aspect is
exciting and important.
Number 359
MR. IVANOFF continued that the boarding schools must be run
locally, within the district itself. The state-operated school
systems in the past were ineffective, due to the lack of local
governance.
MR. IVANOFF responded to Co-Chair Toohey's question on HIV/AIDS
education. He thinks the topic needs to be included into the
health curriculum of the schools, both on a local and district
level. He thinks it should be taught from elementary to the 12th
grade level. He wondered about HB 1, which regarded such
education.
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG said that the bill was withdrawn because it
was discovered that all school districts were teaching HIV/AIDS,
and rather than mandating an already-existing activity, the
districts were applauded.
Number 382
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON asked for Mr. Ivanoff's priority.
MR. IVANOFF said in one rural town, there are about 50 students.
The quality of education in this town is not as great as it would
be in Unalakleet, where there are over 200 students. However, the
real disparities occur when teachers do not teach the subject they
are most educated in, such as a math teacher who teaches social
studies. Mr. Ivanoff wants to see students in smaller schools
receive quality education, just like students in larger schools.
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked how Mr. Ivanoff thinks that could be
done.
MR. IVANOFF said there are technological advances that could help.
North Slope, Matanuska and the Mat-Su Valley have made great
strides in those areas. Technologies are constantly evolving.
Those areas could be tapped into. Also, the consolidation of
schools is a possibility depending on the local governments and
issues.
Number 407
MARILYN WEBB currently resides in Juneau. She came to Alaska in
1970 to teach in Savoonga with her family. Her oldest son
graduated from eighth grade there. Then her family moved to
Anchorage, where she became involved in the Head Start Program.
Her background involves early childhood, teacher training and
elementary teaching.
SENATOR GREEN said in recent years, there has not really been a
Director of Special Education or Director of Vocational Education
in the DOE. She wondered if there has been any discussion
concerning the organizational levels and lines of the DOE.
MS. WEBB said there also has not been a person set in charge of
early childhood education. The organizational chart for the
department has just been received, and she realizes there are no
positions for those areas. Depending on funding and priorities,
that is certainly something the board will look at. Ms. Webb
believes that other people are concerned as well.
At 4:48 p.m., Senator Ellis left the meeting.
Number 430
SENATOR GREEN asked if anyone has considered returning the funding
that was taken out of program support to fund Jerry Covey's
severance. This is being taken out of the program that supports
vocational education, and the senator wanted to know if anyone has
looked into this issue. If not, the SBE should look into this.
MS. WEBB said that was part of Jerry Covey's contract that was
constructed by the Department of Law.
SENATOR GREEN said this issue is very troublesome to many people.
Number 440
MS. WEBB answered the question concerning HIV/AIDS education. She
thinks AIDS education goes on outside of schools, therefore she
would really endorse having such an education program in school,
and in partnership with parents.
SENATOR SALO said she presumes, since Ms. Webb has such a
background in education, that she has been active in Juneau's
educational community. She asked how long Ms. Webb has lived in
Juneau.
MS. WEBB said she has lived in Juneau for four years. She was
president of the Early Childhood Association in Anchorage. She
also worked a little in the Anchorage schools, and for Head Start.
She traveled around the state and worked with schools through the
Head Start program.
SENATOR SALO was going to ask about the Juneau High School health
education program, but decided that would not be in Ms. Webb's
realm of knowledge. She appreciates Ms. Webb's focus on early
childhood education.
Number 444
CO-CHAIR BUNDE rejoined the meeting at 4:50 p.m., and resumed the
chair.
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON asked about Ms. Webb's SBE priority.
MS. WEBB said her priorities would be early education, parent
involvement, "frontloading" the system to create greater emphasis
on the early education years, comprehensive education and
collaborative ways to provide children's services.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE thanked Ms. Webb and apologized for having to be in
two meetings at once. He closed the meeting to public testimony.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS moved that the committee forward, to a joint
session, the names of Mary Ann Eininger, Robert Gottstein, Abbe
Hensley, R. Weaver Ivanoff, Marilyn Webb and Michael P. Williams
for the State Board of Education. This does not reflect an intent
by any of the members to vote for or against an individual during
any further sessions for the purpose of confirmation.
SENATOR SALO thanked everyone for accepting their appointment to
the SBE. She is impressed with the wide variety of interests and
concerns, and especially the work that each appointee has already
done in education. The committee is very fortunate to have the
group before it.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked if there were any objections to the motion.
Hearing none, the names were moved.
ADJOURNMENT
CO-CHAIR BUNDE adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m.
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