Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/20/2017 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearings | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 20, 2017
8:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Shelley Hughes, Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator John Coghill
Senator Tom Begich
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Gary Stevens
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
University of Alaska Board of Regents
Mary Hughes - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
David Piazza - Dillingham
Kent Runion - Nome
- CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
MARY HUGHES, Appointee
University of Alaska Board of Regents
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee.
DAVID PIAZZA, Appointee
Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC)
Dillingham, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee.
KENT RUNION, Appointee
Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC)
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:00:35 AM
CHAIR SHELLEY HUGHES called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Begich, Giessel, Coghill, and Chair Hughes.
^CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
8:01:01 AM
CHAIR HUGHES announced that the only order of business would be
three confirmation hearings. Mary Hughes is seeking a third term
on the University of Alaska Board of Regents; David Piazza is
seeking a second term on the Professional Teaching Practices
Commission; and Kent Runion is seeking a first term on the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission.
University of Alaska Board of Regents
8:01:42 AM
MARY HUGHES, Appointee, University of Alaska Board of Regents,
testified as an appointee. She provided her personal and
professional background. She said she has been on the Board of
Regents for 15 years. She shared that her family's priority has
always been education. She referred to her resume and offered to
answer questions.
8:03:21 AM
CHAIR HUGHES noted that she and Ms. Hughes are not related.
SENATOR BEGICH mentioned the importance of technology to
education and the teacher training piece. He asked Ms. Hughes
how the university will improve its teacher education program to
ensure that teachers are skilled in technology.
8:04:16 AM
MS. HUGHES replied that the Board of Regents has been working on
improving teacher education. She related that her family
established a scholarship for future teachers. She addressed the
two of the Regents Big Four, e-learning and teacher education.
The Regents took action in reformulating the way in which the
university teaches education and the chancellor of UAS is
charged with statewide teacher education in all forms, including
distance education. The Board and the president feel it is
important to increase the number of Alaskans teaching in Alaska
schools, particularly in rural areas.
The third of the Big Four is to offer general education courses
via distance education to change the way Alaska is educating and
attracting students.
8:07:03 AM
SENATOR BEGICH asked what the fourth of the Big Four is.
MS. HUGHES replied that it is using developmental learning to
address the need for remediation of incoming freshmen students.
SENATOR GIESSEL appreciated Ms. Hughes dedication to the
university. She noted that now there are three main campuses and
there is still a problem with credit transfers.
MS. HUGHES said they are working on a common calendar and common
course numbers, the foundation of credit transfers. There have
been improvements, but there are still some problems which they
will try to fix. The president is also intervening to improve
this issue. She believes the Strategic Pathways will lead the
way toward improvements.
8:12:07 AM
CHAIR HUGHES commented that the process for improvement credit
transfers began in 2002 and has been a long time coming.
SENATOR BEGICH agreed with Senator Giessel. He hoped it would be
a priority for credits to be made transferable. He wished for a
more significant commitment toward that end.
MS. HUGHES noted there are three separately accredited
universities which are governed by three faculties. Credits are
more transferrable now than in 2002. She said the goal is a
seamless system. She provided a personal experience.
CHAIR HUGHES asked if remedial courses cost the same as regular
courses and if students remain in those courses for more than a
year.
8:16:23 AM
MS. HUGHES assumed that the remedial courses are not for credit
but incur a cost. Students can be in those courses for two
years. They are working on using co-education classes while
students are still in high school. She opined that students must
graduate learning how to think. The Regents remain concerned
about remediation.
CHAIR HUGHES thanked Ms. Hughes for her dedication. She
suggested the possibility of doing away with remedial classes
and having in-class tutoring.
She asked if the Board has looked at reducing the state subsidy.
MS. HUGHES said the general fund is decreasing. The university
is funded by GF, research, and tuition, and the student
population is decreasing. There is a need to reconfigure the
university while keeping the quality of education. They are
working on future budgets through Strategic Pathways to
differentiate tuitions at each campus. Regents can approve a
tuition increase as a possible solution.
8:25:37 AM
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony. She introduced Mr. Piazza.
Professional Teaching Practices Commission
DAVID PIAZZA, Appointee, Professional Teaching Practices
Commission (PTPC), testified as an appointee. He said he is
Superintendent of the Southwest Region School District and would
be filling the superintendent seat for the second year. He has
been an educator for the past 32 years. He said he looks forward
to continuing the PTPC. He stressed the importance of educators'
adhering to the code of ethics. The PTPC provides educators with
training to help prevent violations, as well as serves as an
avenue for an accused individual to receive a fair and impartial
review by their peers before any career impacting sanctions are
imposed.
He related in 1966 the legislature established PTPC as an
independent commission to be governed by members made up of
representatives practicing their profession. He will continue to
listen to and consider the facts presented, and work with the
other members to ensure that the integrity of the teaching
profession remains at the highest possible level.
8:28:25 AM
SENATOR BEGICH referred to recommendations from the Department
of Education and Early Development (DEED) Performance Review
that recommends improving efficiencies and reducing duplication
between PTPC and the Teacher Certification Office.
MR. PIAZZA noted that PTPC is an independent peer review and he
opined that it is not a duplication of efforts. The members are
educators and if a code of ethics violation is put forth, those
who are accused can be judged by their peers. There is no
guarantee that DEED is staffed with those who have been
educators.
8:31:03 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL thanked Mr. Piazza for his service and thought
his rural experience was important to PTPC. She asked what his
experience with big issues PTPC has addressed in the years he
has been on the commission.
MR. PIAZZA explained that each case is unique. He spoke of
PTPC's efforts to provide and strengthen outreach to new
educators regarding the code of ethics. He emphasized PTPC's
message that educators are role models and cautioned that social
media should reflect professional images and communication.
Student/teacher relationships should remain professional.
CHAIR HUGHES asked if there is any public testimony. She thanked
Mr. Piazza and introduced Mr. Runion.
8:34:30 AM
KENT RUNION, Appointee, Professional Teaching Practices
Commission (PTPC), testified as an appointee. He shared his
professional background as an educator for ten years and he has
worked both with students and teachers in the area of teacher
rights. He said he can provide the perspective of rural Alaska.
He believes that PTPC is an important body for protecting
students, teachers, and the teaching profession. He said he is
honored to be nominated to serve on the PTPC.
8:35:24 AM
SENATOR BEGICH thanked Mr. Runion for agreeing to serve. He
asked Mr. Runion why he wants to serve.
MR. RUNION noted that the PTPC serves as protection for
teachers, as well as for students and the profession. Teaching
is a calling and PTPC acts as a protection for all teachers.
CHAIR HUGHES thanked him for his willingness to serve.
She closed public testimony.
8:37:11 AM
SENATOR COGHILL moved the appointments of David Piazza and Kent
Runion for the Professional Teaching Practices Commission, and
Mary Hughes for the University of Alaska Board of Regents be
forwarded to the joint session for consideration. This does not
reflect an intent by any of the members to vote for or against
the confirmation of the individuals during any further sessions.
CHAIR HUGHES stated that, seeing no objection, the names will be
forwarded to the joint session.
8:38:40 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Hughes adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting at 8:38 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| EDU Piazza - Professional Teaching Practices Commission.pdf |
SEDC 3/20/2017 8:00:00 AM |
|
| EDU Hughes University of Alaska Board of Regents.pdf |
SEDC 3/20/2017 8:00:00 AM |
|
| EDU Runion - Professional Teaching Practices Commission.pdf |
SEDC 3/20/2017 8:00:00 AM |