JOINT HOUSE & SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE February 3, 1997 9:30 a.m. SENATE MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Gary Wilken, Chairman Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chairman Senator Jerry Ward Senator Johnny Ellis SENATE MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Lyda Green HOUSE MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Con Bunde, Chairman Representative Joe Green, Vice Chair Representative Brian Porter Representative Al Vezey Representative Tom Brice Representative Allen Kemplen HOUSE MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Fred Dyson OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Georgianna Lincoln Representative Eldon Mulder Representative Reggie Joule COMMITTEE CALENDAR Presentation by the Milken Foundation Award Recipients: Frederica Buffmire, David Gillam, Ledwina Jones, and Judy Kuhn ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 97-6, SIDE A Presentation by the Milken Foundation Award Recipients Number 001 CO-CHAIR CON BUNDE called the Joint House & Senate Health, Education & Social Services Committee (HES) to order at 9:30 a.m. He announced that the Milken Award Recipients were present to meet and talk with the committee. As a former teacher, Co-Chair Bunde was in awe of these teachers' accomplishments. He informed everyone that the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards program recognizes elementary and secondary teachers, principals, and other education professionals who are furthering excellence in education as well as offering a financial reward. Co-Chair Bunde reviewed the goals, as listed in the committee packet, of the Milken Foundation Award. Each Milken Educator Award carries with it an unrestricted award of $25,000 in order to further the recipients endeavors in education. Co-Chair Bunde introduced the award recipients and invited them to speak regarding the challenges in education and ways in which to improve education in Alaska. Number 094 DAVID GILLAM , as a teacher of 18 years, said that he had seen much change in Anchorage, the community itself as well as the classroom. Those changes have not always been positive. The changes reflect changes in families and their expectations. When Mr. Gillam began teaching in Anchorage, he saw children from two parent families where both parents put time into their children. Those families are being replaced by more and more children from families where education is not a priority. Some children come to school with their first priority being food. Mr. Gillam believed that many teachers in Anchorage are going beyond the call of duty working late hours and weekends. The teachers are trying to make a difference. FREDERICA BUFFMIRE informed the committee that she was a product of the Fairbanks school system as well as the university. The challenge educators face, apart from the challenges in the classroom that Mr. Gillam mentioned, is marketing. Teachers have not adequately articulated what teachers are doing well and the challenges they face. Ms. Buffmire indicated that education is required for teachers to stay current. There needs to be a new piece in the equation in order for teachers to address the social and educational needs of today's children. Ms. Buffmire reiterated that the teachers at her school were working late hours and weekends. Number 173 LEDWINA JONES began by "introducing" her students, who had all done drawings on her kuspuk. Ms. Jones was concerned that the Native Alaskan language was being lost. The emersion program has been in existence for only two years and is drawing many observers. She requested support for teaching any language in Alaska as a priority. Ms. Jones emphasized the importance of parents and strong families. JUDY KUHN , Alaska Teacher of the Year, felt that teachers were the bridge between the children and the policy. The beginning education of a child is very important. Ms. Kuhn pointed out that teachers and schools are asked to do many things that the family once did. The dysfunctional family has changed the schools, often children come to school from fights, abuse, alcoholism, and divorce. Can a student concentrate with all that is on their mind? Ms. Kuhn did not believe so, therefore, the teacher must balance the needs of the children in the classroom with the teaching of the curriculum and the policies. Number 243 Ms. Kuhn emphasized that teachers are dedicated and care about the children and excellence in education. Teachers are in the field, the classroom, and are experts on how to do this balancing. Whenever policy is made, a teacher's presence and input is very important. Ms. Kuhn noted that teachers hold some veto power in that the teacher implements the policy. The way the policy is implemented is determined by the teacher's support or opposition. Ms. Kuhn recommended that anytime policy is being determined, teachers and principals be involved. CO-CHAIR BUNDE recognized the presence of Rosemary Hagevig and asked if she would like to make any comments. She declined. REPRESENTATIVE GREEN noted that this was a new area for him. He recognized that only part of a teacher's day is spent educating; the other part of the teacher's day is spent acting as a mediator or an understanding adult for these children. Where can the limited resources available be spent to attack this problem? JUDY KUHN stated that funding for teacher training is necessary. There also needs to be a manner in which teachers can network on issues and ideas. With regards to the type of training, Ms. Kuhn said the training necessary would be broad and touch many issues. REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked Ms. Kuhn if the little time these children are in school could undo the two-thirds of the time children spend away from school in the dysfunctional family. JUDY KUHN believed in many ways that could be achieved by providing a stable environment, loving discipline, a hot lunch program, counseling services, the hope that there is a better future and that education does matter. Number 305 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said that the teacher was being treated as an omnibus, is that too much to ask the teacher whose primary purpose is to educate. JUDY KUHN did not know whether or not it was fair, but it is the reality. DAVID GILLAM emphasized that the baggage a child brings to the classroom cannot be separated from the learning in the classroom. As a teacher, both academics and the social issues must be addressed. He agreed that was asking a lot of a teacher, especially when there are overcrowded classrooms. As a teacher, LEDWINA JONES stated that it was very rewarding to see the positive side of a student come out. REPRESENTATIVE BRICE pointed out that the Governor has developed the Compass Program which uses the schools as the hub of service provision. He indicated the need for discussion regarding the elimination of barriers so that teachers have access to resources in the community versus being the front-line providers. Representative Brice asked Ms. Buffmire to address the new piece to which she referred. FREDERICA BUFFMIRE said she had the opportunity in the last couple of years, as part of the executive board of the Elementary School Principals and the Alaska Council of School Administrators, to be involved because the commissioner has attempted to broaden the input, to be the bridge between policy. She said they have been able to participate in some of the development of the Quality School Initiative, the accountability piece that is a good start. Referring to Representative Green's question about what can be done, she thought the answer lies in approaches like the Compass Program and the Quality School Initiative. Ms. Buffmire emphasized the need for training and funding in order to accomplish it. Although teachers are not trained to be counselors they are spending more time doing just that, as well as spending a significant amount of time teaching parents how to be more effective. CO-CHAIR BUNDE noted the presence of Senator Lincoln, Representative Joule and Representative Mulder. Number 370 SENATOR LEMAN commented that it is obvious that we have not done as good a job as we should in our schools when Alaska ranks in approximately the 50 percent category compared to other states. He said he has questioned what can be done to make education better, but he did not necessarily believe that adding more dollars was the most effective way to accomplish that. Although he believes the teachers are somewhat responsible, most of the responsibility for educating children rests on the parents; that is where the system is failing. He suggested everyone has to work together to change how we function in society and as families, otherwise teachers will continue to have problems in the classroom. SENATOR WARD congratulated the award recipients; teaching is one o the greatest callings. Senator Ward said that the recipients were the role models and charged them to live and honor sobriety and those who do so as well. He felt that approach could eliminate some of the problems that have been discussed. Senator Ward asked the recipients to review the Alaska Native Federation's Sobriety Pledge and pass it on to the children of Alaska. Number 431 CO-CHAIR WILKEN also congratulated the award recipients. He commented that Alaska has a quarter of one percent of America's population, but have three percent of the Milken Award recipients this year which reflects our quality of education. The education system, because of the baby boomers and the retirement system, will undergo a big change in the coming years. There will be numerous new teachers in the education system. Co-Chair Wilken expressed interest in the recipients' thoughts regarding how that change will effect how children are educated. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER also extended congratulations. CO-CHAIR BUNDE invited the award recipients to visit with committee members individually. On behalf of the committee, congratulations and thank you. There being no further business before the joint committee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:02 a.m.