ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 1, 2013
7:59 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Stevens, Chair
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Vice Chair
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Charlie Huggins
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 84
"An Act relating to the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 6
"An Act providing for funding for school lunch and breakfast;
and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 84
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY YOUTH ACADEMY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) GIESSEL
03/21/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/21/13 (S) EDC, FIN
04/01/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 6
SHORT TITLE: FUNDING FOR SCHOOL MEALS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WIELECHOWSKI
01/16/13 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/13
01/16/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/13 (S) EDC, FIN
04/01/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 84.
LINDSAY WILLIAMS, Staff
Senator Cathy Giessel
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed the fiscal impact of SB 84.
MCHUGH PIERRE, Deputy Commissioner
Alaska Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information about the fiscal notes
for SB 84.
CLYDE T. BURTON, Director
Alaska Military Youth Academy
Alaska Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supportive testimony for SB 84.
MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS H. KATKUS, Commissioner
Alaska Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Fort Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supportive testimony for SB 84.
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 6.
KENDRA KLOSTER, Staff
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 6 on behalf of the sponsor.
ADRIANNE SCHWARTZ, Food Service Supervisor
Juneau School District
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supportive testimony for SB 6.
DAVID NEES, representing himself
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in opposition to SB 6.
ACTION NARRATIVE
7:59:52 AM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 7:59 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Gardner, Stedman, Huggins, Dunleavy, and
Chair Stevens.
SB 84-MILITARY YOUTH ACADEMY
8:00:03 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced that the first order of business would
be SB 84.
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, sponsor of SB 84, related that the bill
does three things: it amends the state statute to change the
funding mechanism for the Alaska Military Youth Academy (AMYA),
it establishes the program in the Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs (DMVA), and it updates the program name from
Alaska Challenge Youth Academy to the Alaska Military Youth
Academy.
She explained the reason she was carrying the bill. She related
how impressed she was with AMYA when she first encountered it.
She said the program consists of kids who otherwise would "fall
through the cracks." She shared a personal story about John
Lopetrone, the carpentry teacher at AMYA. She stressed that the
Academy makes a tremendous difference in kids' lives. She noted
that the Academy has rigorous standards, which is what the kids
need.
8:02:16 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL explained that the Academy targets students
between 16 and 18 that have dropped out of high school. It is a
22-week residential school program. It has graduated over 4,000
cadets. She noted that out of 27 states with similar programs,
Alaska's program is ranked in the top five.
8:03:03 AM
LINDSAY WILLIAMS, Staff, Senator Cathy Giessel, explained that
currently under AS 14.37.40, about one-third of the program
funding comes from a space/student calculation. The formula is
equal to the Base Student Allocation (BSA), multiplied by 7 for
each residential student, added to the BSA, multiplied by .6 for
each non-residential student, and then any amount received by
the program and by federal matching grants is subtracted. The
formula was created in 2002 to protect a young and fledging
program. Over the past decade the Academy has grown and proven
to be very successful. It is time to move the program funding to
a direct appropriation so that the Academy can budget and focus
on results and graduation rates.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY joined the committee meeting.
MS. WILLIAMS pointed out that the Academy has been operating
since 1993. It was never formally established in statute under
the direction of DMVA. This bill helps to correct this
oversight.
She explained that in 1999, Senator Stevens, along with the
legislature, encouraged changing the name of the program to the
Alaska Military Youth Academy.
8:04:34 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked for an explanation of the funding mechanism
and the impact of the fiscal note on the budget in the future.
MS. WILLIAMS replied that the bill repeals the current BSA
calculation and changes it to a direct appropriation from DMVA.
CHAIR STEVENS asked how many students receive a GED versus a
high school diploma and how many enter the military after
graduation.
SENATOR GIESSEL deferred to the Academy's staff to answer.
SENATOR GARDNER asked about Section 2 of the bill, which makes
the Academy a part of the National Guard Youth Challenge
program.
MS. WILLIAMS explained that it is simply a formality. By
repealing the BSA, the reference to the Academy is removed;
therefore, it needs to be formally established under DMVA.
CHAIR STEVENS noted the letter previously referenced has not
been sent to the committee. He requested the spelling of the
person who sent the letter.
SENATOR GIESSEL said it was John Lopetrone.
8:07:15 AM
MCHUGH PIERRE, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of
Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA), noted there were two fiscal
notes; one from DMVA and one from the Department of Education
and Early Development. He addressed the fiscal note from DMVA,
which he said is a "zero change" and is a formality. The current
operating budget is the vehicle that will fund the program. The
effective date of the bill is for next fiscal year, which means
there will be a direct appropriation from DMVA at that time.
There is a total of $9.5 million operating dollars in FY 14,
which includes $1.5 million in access authority. The Academy
will not come from the Department of Education, but rather from
a National Guard program in DMVA.
CHAIR STEVENS asked how that will impact the state.
MR. PIERRE said there is no fiscal impact to the state. The goal
is to focus on graduating students.
8:09:33 AM
SENATOR GARDNER asked about any expected changes to the funding
of the matching grant program from the Department of Defense.
She requested more information about not using the BSA with an
October student count.
MR. PIERRE addressed the first question by saying that DMVA has
been given commitments from the National Guard Bureau that the
funding will remain the same. In answer to the second question,
he explained that DMVA's funding formula is a multiplier of the
BSA which was needed in 2002 when the BSA was $3,000 per
student. The needs of the program have changed and that funding
does not fit. He said he does not have the expertise to say if
it is relevant to a K-12 school.
8:11:03 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS recalled the demographics of the Academy and
termed it "a school of choice."
MR. PIERRE deferred to Mr. Burton to answer.
SENATOR HUGGINS noted the first line of the Academy letter and
corrected that 30 percent of high school freshmen fail to
graduate. He asked if the Academy is open to all students in
Alaska, who must apply to be accepted.
MR. PIERRE said yes.
8:12:35 AM
MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS H. KATKUS, Commissioner, Alaska Department
of Military & Veterans Affairs, introduced himself.
CLYDE T. BURTON, Director, Alaska Military and Youth Academy,
Alaska Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, introduced
himself.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS provided an overview of how the Academy
evolved. He explained that the need for a youth academy was
first identified 20 years ago and was put under the National
Guard and the Department of Defense (DOD) in order to help
prevent the high national dropout rate. The program was to
target high risk youth and was designed to use a military
approach on discipline, organization, and instilling values. It
was not for the purposes of recruitment.
He noted the program has been very successful. He said he could
not predict DOD's future funding in light of today's economy.
The State of Alaska has provided the majority of the funding,
rather than the federal government.
He explained that SB 84 would facilitate a needed change to the
funding formula. The goal is to get more students to graduate,
not to get more students in the program at the beginning. A
direct appropriation provides the commission the opportunity to
identify the Academy's needs each year and make a funding
request.
8:15:04 AM
MR. BURTON agreed with Major General Katkus's statements. He
called the Academy a customer-service-oriented and results-based
organization. In the past, with 330 students, there was less
than a 50 percent success rate. The current class had the
highest retention rate so far.
He agreed that the current funding formula creates a ceiling and
limits efficiency.
CHAIR STEVENS noted the Governor's goals to increase the
graduation rate and to enhance digital learning. He inquired how
the military deals with a GED or diploma when accepting new
recruits. He also wanted to know the number of graduates who
earn their GED, versus a diploma.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS replied that the Academy provides dropouts
the ability to get the remaining credits necessary to graduate
or a GED, both of which are acceptable for entry into the
military.
8:17:36 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS noted that students with a GED can go back to
school to earn a diploma. He characterized the program as
allowing those who are close to graduating to get a diploma and
those who are not to go back to their school to earn the credits
needed to graduate.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS said that is correct. The Academy also
provides students the opportunity to experience military culture
or work.
MR. BURTON pointed out that the program is voluntary. The
student must volunteer for the program, which increases
retention. Half of the class is made up of sixteen-year-olds,
which is a great advantage toward getting the students back on
track in order to graduate from their high school. The number of
high school diplomas the Academy awards is small.
8:20:17 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked how many staff are at the Academy.
MR. BURTON replied that there are 75 staff and some unfilled
positions.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY inquired how many are teachers.
MR. BURTON said eight are teachers.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked if they are certified teachers.
MR. BURTON said they are not certified.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked if there is a chaplain at the Academy.
MR. BURTON said there are voluntary church services every Sunday
and guest chaplains lead them.
SENATOR STEDMAN asked about the advantages and disadvantages of
certified versus non-certified teachers.
MR. BURTON replied that the Academy has extremely good teachers.
He did not see an advantage of certification in the Academy's
program. He noted the reading/writing teacher is certified. He
stressed the holistic approach of the Academy's curriculum, with
a focus on academics, as well as life skills, job skills, and
fitness.
8:22:29 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked if Mr. Burton had considered expanding
the Academy to being a full-fledged military academy.
MR. BURTON said he personally thinks that is a good idea;
however, the Academy is constrained from doing so by the
cooperative agreement it operates under. The Academy is only
allowed to take dropouts.
He noted the Academy has a great teaming relationship with the
Department of Education and with school districts and does not
wish to take away from public school programs.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS further explained that the cooperative
agreement consists of rules and regulations from the National
Guard Bureau, the national program.
8:24:13 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked Mr. Burton to verify if an Academy
graduate went on to the Naval Academy.
MR. BURTON said that was correct.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked what a graduation from the Academy is
like.
MR. BURTON replied that the most recent graduation was very
emotional and patriotic. There were 144 graduates.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS described the growth of confidence shown in
graduates by their firm handshakes.
MR. BURTON pointed out that the graduates are sincerely grateful
for their Academy experience.
He noted that the standards of the Academy are very high.
8:27:12 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS opined that it does not matter if the graduates
have the diploma or the GED, the program provides hope and the
ability to move forward when many had given up. He asked for an
explanation of how the Academy demonstrates when a student has
challenges.
MR. BURTON said Senator Huggins is referring to the Hard Core
Program involving consequences for behavior.
8:30:00 AM
CHAIR STEVENS noted his appreciation for military training and
the Academy.
CHAIR STEVENS announced that SB 84 would be held in committee.
8:30:40 AM
At ease
SB 6-FUNDING FOR SCHOOL MEALS
8:32:17 AM
CHAIR STEVENS called the meeting back to order. He announced
that the final bill before the committee would be SB 6.
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, sponsor of SB 6, said the bill would
provide a state match for schools participating in the federal
free and reduced-price school breakfast and lunch program. The
state match would be 35 cents for each breakfast and 15 cents
for each lunch. Alaska is one of the few states in the country
that does not have a state contribution which causes a gap of
about $2.1 million for schools to fund out of their general
funds. He noted that studies strongly show that kids that
receive meals at school tend to be less obese, have better
attendance records, and do better academically. The state spends
over $1 billion for education every year. If students are hungry
and cannot pay attention, that money is not being used as well
as it could be.
He noted that the bill has passed the Senate twice before.
8:34:03 AM
KENDRA KLOSTER, Staff, Senator Bill Wielechowski, introduced SB
6. She explained the three goals of SB 6 as follows: to increase
the number of meals served, increase the number of students
receiving meals, and providing more nutritious meals.
She shared statistics related to kids in need. One out of eight
Alaska families struggles to put enough food on the table each
year. She said 74,000 families seek food assistance and 43
percent of households visiting food pantries have children under
the age of 18. She related that 51,000 Alaskan children are
eligible for free or reduced lunch, however, six school
districts do not offer either breakfast or lunch and 20 percent
of the schools are not offering breakfast. Alaska is in the
bottom 10 percent of the state for participation in food
programs.
She discussed statistics related to schools in need. It costs
rural schools more to provide food programs.
8:36:02 AM
MS. KLOSTER listed the reasons to have food programs in schools.
They provide a solid investment in children's futures. They
promote better health, and behavior and performance in school.
They lower the dropout rates, prison populations, and obesity,
and provides higher incomes.
She cited a number of studies that show positive effects of the
school meal program.
8:38:31 AM
MS. KLOSTER addressed the state supplement to federal funding.
She said the more the program increases, the more federal
dollars are available to the state. She referred to letters of
support for the program.
She summarized that SB 6 is a solid investment in children's
futures.
CHAIR STEVENS asked to Ms. Kloster to clarify if SB 6 increases
the number of children who would receive the breakfast/lunch
program or if is simply replaces funding from one source.
MS. KLOSTER replied that funds were being taken out of schools'
operating budgets and SB 6 provides funding from a different
source. It will not cover the entire recent shortfall, but will
help. She reported that some of the schools plan to use the
funding to increase the nutrition of the meals. One of the goals
is to add more students and receive more federal funding.
8:40:41 AM
SENATOR GARDNER asked about the cost of the state's supplemental
funding mentioned on page 27. She wondered why the breakfast
cost more than the lunch.
MS. KLOSTER deferred to Ms. Schwartz to answer.
ADRIANNE SCHWARTZ, Food Service Supervisor, Juneau School
District, testified in support of SB 6. She explained that there
is a very low number of students participating in the breakfast
program, so more funding would increase the numbers. The
reimbursement rate for the breakfast is a lot lower than that
for the lunch program. The supplemental funding would also
provide for a higher quality breakfast.
8:42:18 AM
SENATOR GARDNER noted a concern about ensuring enough time for
the breakfast so that children would not be late for class. She
asked if the program currently provides food that the children
can eat in the classroom.
MS. SCHWARTZ said yes. Typically, the breakfast consists of
something fast. Half of the schools participate in the National
School Breakfast Program and half use a volunteer donation
program. The latter is having a higher success because it is
offered for no cost for everyone. She opined that the funding
found in SB 6 is vital in order to offer students a full,
complete breakfast.
8:44:00 AM
SENATOR GARDNER asked if some districts require students to pay
for a portion of the cost of breakfast.
MS. SCHWARTZ replied that half of the schools participate in the
National Program where students pay full price - $1.75 - for the
breakfast. Some students are eligible for a reduced-price
breakfast for $.30 and some qualify for the free breakfast.
CHAIR STEVENS asked for a rough idea of how many receive free,
reduced, or full-fare meals.
MS. SCHWARTZ replied that Juneau is serving 1,300 meals per day
for free, reduced, and full-fare meals. Half of the students are
eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked how many Title I schools are in the Juneau
School District.
MS. SCHWARTZ said she did not know.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked what the qualifying percentage for Title I
is.
MS. SCHWARTZ said it is in the 40 percent to 50 percent range.
Two elementary schools have higher than 40 percent of their
students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. One of the
high schools has 60 percent eligible. District-wide, 30 percent
of students are eligible.
8:46:57 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS discussed food quality in schools as it relates
to obesity.
MS. SCHWARTZ responded that food requirements are changing and
now require healthier fare.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if the federal government is a reliable
partner in light of the national debt.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he does not know if sequestration will
impact SB 6. He noted the bill was originally passed by Congress
in 1946 as a measure of national security because too many men
were unfit for military service due to malnutrition. He said he
would be surprised if there were cutbacks in this area. He added
that it is a bi-partisan issue.
8:49:48 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked a question about the cost of the program.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI reiterated that it costs 35 cents for
breakfast and 15 cents for lunch per student. That is the base
amount and it is tied to the funding formula so rural Alaska
schools would receive a greater amount to compensate for the
much higher costs.
He related that the Anchorage School District would use this
funding to expand the meal program and to increase the quality
of the food. Schools would have the option as to how to spend
the money.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY he asked how much the fiscal note is.
8:51:21 AM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI replied that the fiscal note is for $2.3
million per year.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if some schools were using other funding
sources for the meals program, so that SB 6 would free up those
funds to be used in other ways.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said that was correct and noted the fiscal
gap of $7.8 million to $9 million.
8:52:26 AM
DAVID NEES, representing himself, testified in opposition to SB
6. He questioned how reimbursements would take place. He pointed
out in the Anchorage School District 22,000 of 50,000 children
are eligible because USDA standards for the poverty level are
used. He did not believe the fiscal note would cover those
costs. He suggested that the allocation for the funding needs to
come out of the money allotted to families to feed their
children.
8:54:59 AM
CHAIR STEVENS requested clarification of Mr. Nees' question.
MR. NEES asked if the schools that receive the funding get
reimbursed for the children served or for those who are eligible
for the program. He also wondered how much waste there was. He
questioned the use of USDA standards.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI replied that the way the legislation is
written is to supplement the cost of lunch and breakfast
provided to each student who is eligible for a free or reduced-
price lunch. The state produces the fiscal note.
MS. KLOSTER explained that for every meal that is served, the
cost is reimbursed.
CHAIR STEVENS summarized that it is based on the number served.
MS. KLOSTER agreed.
CHAIR STEVENS inquired about the issue of wasted food.
MS. KLOSTER deferred the question to Ms. Schwartz.
CHAIR STEVENS requested comments about USDA funding.
SENATOR GARDNER restated the question to ask why the program
uses USDA levels for eligibility that are cut off at the $50,000
income level.
MS. KLOSTER did not know.
8:58:49 AM
CHAIR STEVENS held SB 6 in committee.
8:59:05 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Stevens adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
hearing at 8:58 a.m.