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.