Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/26/1993 01:37 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
February 26, 1993
1:37 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Steve Rieger, Chairman
Senator Bert Sharp, Vice Chairman
Senator Loren Leman
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Johnny Ellis
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Jim Duncan
Senator Judy Salo
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Confirmation Hearings:
Board of Education; Professional Teaching Practices
Commission; Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners; Board
of Nursing, Board of Direct-Entry Midwives; Board of Marital
and Family Therapy.
WITNESS REGISTER
Judy Norton
9824 Atka Circle
Eagle River Alaska 99577
Don Fancher
P.O. Box 2027
Bethel, Alaska 99559
William McCain
P.O. Box 873042
Wasilla, Alaska 99687
Marsha Katherine Van Abel
3430 West 31st Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99517
Peggy Conner Jones
901 Woodmar Place
Anchorage, Alaska 99515
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-17, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN RIEGER called the Senate Health, Education, and
Social Services Committee (HESS) to order at 1:37 p.m. He
announced that the first part of the meeting would be a
confirmation hearing for Judy Norton and Don Fancher to the
Board of Education. He asked Ms. Norton if she would like
to discuss her experience or her philosophy towards
education.
JUDY NORTON informed the committee that she has been on the
State Board of Education since September when a member from
the Anchorage area resigned. She has been a classroom
teacher for the last twenty years and is currently teaching
fourth grade for the Anchorage School District. Ms. Norton
said she believes that the Board of Education is very
committed to making some important changes for the
betterment of all students. She said it is a great honor to
be considered for the board.
SENATOR MILLER asked where she sees education going in
Alaska over the next five to ten years. Ms. Norton said she
thinks that the process might be a lot slower than many of
us would like to see. She said Alaska 2000 is the beginning
of restructuring education. It has put education and the
things that need to be dealt with on the table. She hopes
that parents, teachers, legislators, etc., can agree to make
decisions that are in the best interest of children. Ms.
Norton complimented the student member of the board.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked Ms. Norton what her view is on
extending the school year. Ms. Norton indicated she
supports increasing the school year. She said she is a
classroom teacher and every year she is asked to teach more
and more curriculum. She said she feels that three months
is too long for students to be out of school. The students
could receive a better well rounded education without it
being such a rush.
SENATOR LEMAN said he doesn't agree with Ms. Norton on
lengthening the school year but does agree with her on many
other issues. He said he believes that Ms. Norton is highly
qualified and is a good addition to the board.
Number 111
There being no further questions of Ms. Norton, CHAIRMAN
RIEGER introduced Don Fancher.
DON FANCHER stated that he is from Bethel. He said the
committee members have his resume and indicted he doesn't
have and comments but would answer any questions the
committee may have.
SENATOR MILLER asked Mr. Fancher where he sees education
going in the state over the next five to ten years. He also
asked how he believes education can be improved in rural
Alaska. Mr. Fancher said where education will go over the
next few years will depend on the aggressiveness of the
public, legislature, and the State Board of Education. He
explained it will also depend on the outcome of Alaska 2000.
In five to ten years, perhaps there will be a long range
plan in place. He referred to education in rural Alaska and
said they need to be provided with the opportunity to make
any kind of course work available to the children. He said
it would be good to prepare the children for a long range
plan such as attending college or vocational schools. Rural
Alaska is very weak in the vocational education area. Mr.
Fancher said many kids in the villages want a challenge.
SENATOR ELLIS said President Clinton is expected to make
some proposals based on an apprenticeships in Arkansas and
connecting young people more along the European model. The
European model is a connection between young people being in
apprenticeships and preparation programs to go into jobs of
varying skill levels. He asked what Mr. Fancher's thoughts
are. Mr. Fancher indicted he believes in helping children
to identify and work towards a goal early in life.
Currently, schools are requiring a lot of things that makes
it very difficult to teach the basics. For kids that want a
vocation, the curriculum could be tailored for them. A core
curriculum could be developed for various walks of life. It
would need to be kept flexible and some kids would probably
change their minds. Mr. Fancher said he believes that the
earlier you begin preparing for what you want to do, the
better off you're going to be.
Senator Ellis referred to strengthening the school
counseling programs and urged that the Board of Education
consider how to expanded the role of counselors to deal with
all the problems that kids bring to school, and how that
will fit into young people's preparation for the first job
they get.
CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked Mr. Fancher what his view is on
extending the school year. Mr. Fancher said the goal is
outcomes. He said he isn't positive that twenty more days
will make a big difference unless there is a good plan for
it.
There being no further questions, Chairman Rieger thanked
Mr. Fancher for attending the meeting.
Number 289
Chairman Rieger indicated that the next nominee would be
William McCain to the Professional Teaching Practices
Commission (PTPC). WILLIAM MCCAIN said he is thankful for
the opportunity to serve on the commission. He said he
thinks the commission is very important and necessary.
MARSHA KATHERINE VAN ABEL, also appointed to the
Professional Teaching Practices Commission, explained she
has been a teacher in the Anchorage School District for the
last fifteen years in a variety of positions. Ms. Van Abel
said she also considers it an honor to represent her
profession and to help develop standards and make
recommendations.
SENATOR ELLIS said he would like to pose a question to any
of the people nominated to the Professional Teaching
Practices Commission regarding the level of assessment on
the professionals who fall under the jurisdiction of the
PTPC. If there is a violation of the standards of conduct,
the whole apparatus would go into operation. He asked what
the view is of the adequacy of the fees. He said he
believes that they more than cover the cost of the
administration of the program. He questioned the level of
funding proposed by the governor for the PTPC and the
adequacy of the licensure fee to cover those costs.
Ms. Van Abel said Shanna Green could give the committee
information regarding the certification fees. She noted
that the PTPC is a self sufficient commission in that the
certification fees more than pays for their budget. Mr.
McCain reiterated Ms. Van Abel's comments.
Senator Ellis posed a question to the people being
nominated. He asked if before they were selected, were they
quizzed on their willingness to see the PTPC rolled into the
Department of Education as proposed by the governor and then
rejected by a previous legislature. Mr. McCain said he
wasn't quizzed on that aspect and indicated he hasn't really
thought about it.
Ms. Van Able pointed out that the commission is a quasi-
judicial commission. She said she believes it was not
rolled into the Department of Education because it is in
state statute that the commission is a commission that was
appointed by legislative statutes. Senator Ellis pointed
out that state statute hasn't constrained the governor, in
the past, of appointing all people from one political party
to the State Board of Education.
The next person to come before the Senate HESS Committee was
PEGGY CONNER JONES. Ms. Jones indicated she has been a
classroom teacher in the Anchorage School District for about
thirteen years. She indicated she spends a great deal of
her professional time learning about methods and strategies
that will help students. Ms. Jones said she sees herself as
a professional, therefore, she is a member of several
professional organizations. She indicated she is
participating in continuing education by taking and teaching
classes and workshops. It is very important that all
teachers be treated as professionals. In turn, teachers
must act like professionals. She said she is very willing
and very honored to be a part of the commission.
Number 397
CHAIRMAN RIEGER referred committee members to the resume for
nominee Fred Lau from Nenana. He asked if there was any
committee discussion. There was no discussion.
The next nominee was Brian Carter of North Pole. SENATOR
SHARP indicated that he was familiar with Mr. Carter as he
has been a teacher at Denali Elementary.
The last nominee was Richard Clevenger of Ketchikan. There
were no comments from the committee. Chairman Rieger
indicated that two of the people were going to call in but
weren't able to.
Chairman Rieger then referred to the Board of Clinical
Social Work Examiners and said there are two names, Kenneth
Fallon, Jr. of Wasilla and Kris Jenkins of North Pole. He
asked if the committee had any comments. There were none.
Number 459
Chairman Rieger referred to the Board of Nursing nominees
Belle Cunningham, Marion Lampman, and Betsy McCune all of
Anchorage, and asked if there were any comments. There
being no comments regarding the Board of Nursing, the next
nominees were to the Board of Certified Direct-Entry
Midwives. They were Sydney Flint of Fairbanks, Kaye Kanne
of Juneau, Peggy Downing of Palmer, Pam Weaver of Chugiak,
and Paula Korn of Anchorage.
SENATOR LEMAN asked what the requirements are for the Board
of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives. Chairman Rieger said
the composition of the board is five members appointed by
the governor: two certified direct-entry midwives; one
physician (licensed by the State Medical Board) who has
obstetrical practice or has specialized training in
obstetrics; one certified nurse midwife (licensed by the
Board of Nursing); and one public member.
Chairman Rieger referred to the Board of Marital and Family
Therapy and said there are three therapist counselor
positions and two public members. The nominees were Mercy
Dennis of Anchorage, Randall Jones of Wasilla, Dennis
Schlotfeldt of Fairbanks, R. Brock Shamberg of Anchorage,
and Elaine Stoneburner of Anchorage.
TAPE 93-17, SIDE B
Number 001
Chairman Rieger reminded the HESS Committee members that a
committee report must be signed regarding each of the
boards. There being no further business to come before the
committee members, Chairman Rieger adjourned the Senate HESS
Committee at 2:25 p.m.
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