Volume 34, No.2
February 15, 2008
Click here for a look at a list of education-related bills.
Governor’s Budget Points Education Trust Fund in Right Direction
Unveiled last week, Gov. Riley’s budget proposal earned support from K-12 advocates for attempting to better align dollars with Alabama’s students. State funding for education remains disproportionate between K-12 and higher education based on percentage of students in public schools compared to universities. AASB applauds the governor for adjusting state funding to better reflect enrollment and to show a commitment to the critical foundation of public K-12 education.
Funding Allocations
K-12 Higher Ed Other
2005 68.44% 26.20% 5.35%
2006 67.97% 26.82% 5.02%
2007 64.56% 27.42% 8.02%
2008 66.91% 29.02% 4.07%
2009* 69.24% 26.97% 3.79%
Percentage of students enrolled (most recent data):
K-12: 77.18%
Postsecondary: 8.13%
Four-year Colleges: 14.69% *proposed
What Are Your Local School Budget Priorities?
Consideration of the education budget is not expected until additional state revenue estimates become available to better estimate total dollars that will be available for the 2009 fiscal year. Local school board members have time to communicate with lawmakers about their local budget priorities. In every community, local school boards are driving their budget decisions based on what will best help students succeed. Knowing that projected revenues cannot sustain our current level of funding, school boards must decide which programs are priorities and where cuts must be made.
Decisions made within the state education budget in Montgomery are critical and directly impact what school boards do locally. If local school officials do not communicate their budget priorities, those decisions will be made without vital input.
Within the K-12 budget appropriation, funding priorities are evident. Key programs received increases while other areas were cut. The Alabama Reading Initiative, AMSTI and ACCESS each are slated to gain $10 million in funding. A new Pre-K program is being proposed for $20 million. Do the proposed increases and cuts align with local priorities? For example, the classroom instructional supply category also has direct impact on students and was cut.
Classroom Instructional Supplies
Teacher Materials: $525 to $400 per unit
Technology: $350 to $250 per unit
Library Enhancement: $200 to $175 per unit
Professional Development: $90 to $35 per unit
Textbooks: $75 to $57.50 per student
Common Purchases Funds: $200 to $125 per unit
Please communicate with lawmakers to ensure state funding is directed where your efforts best focus on student needs and achievement.
School Reserve Fund Use Defined
as State Faces Potential Revenue Shortfall
Sen. Hank Sanders has introduced legislation to outline when school systems may access their one-month reserves. A plan to establish and maintain a one-month reserve is required by the School Board Fiscal Accountability Act. The act, however, is silent as to when that reserve can be used.
S.91 clarifies that act’s intent is to allow flexibility to local school boards during proration or reductions in state funding. AASB supports the flexibility for local school boards to use those reserve funds within these limited circumstances. S.91 is pending the Senate Finance & Taxation Education Committee.
K-12 Opposes Uniform School Calendar
An early effort to put H.179 on the House Education Policy Committee agenda met with strong grassroots opposition from K-12. Local school board members and superintendents quickly contacted local lawmakers to oppose H.179 and any effort to essentially impose a mandatory calendar for public schools.
Local school boards are charged with prioritizing student achievement while incorporating community input when crafting their school calendars. Student achievement drives their efforts. Teaching professionals feel strongly about the academic calendar and the time they need to prepare students to succeed. School boards represent their constituents to reflect unique local needs.
H.179 would require schools to begin on or before the third Monday in August (if there are five Mondays) or on or before the second Monday in August (if there are four Mondays) and to end the Friday before Memorial Day. The bill claims that the prescribed start dates are needed to comply with federal reporting requirements. The bill aims to mandate longer summer seasons to benefit tourism and summer camp industries.
Local school boards currently are able to craft calendars suggested by the legislation, if their community wants them.
Local school board members must urge lawmakers to OPPOSE H.179. The House Education Policy Committee has scheduled a public hearing Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. School boards will join other K-12 advocates to testify against the legislation.
Bill Would Set Minimum P.E. Requirements
The House Education Policy Committee has scheduled a public hearing Wednesday on H.83, a bill to specify the minimum requirements of physical education for students. The bill would require P.E. weekly minimums of 200 minutes for elementary and 225 minutes for middle/high school students in public and private schools. AASB opposes statutory control of K-12 curriculum requirements.
School Boards Welcome Change to Competitive Bid Law
Legislation to update the state competitive bid law would make welcome improvements to bring the law in line with modern day needs and practices. H.442, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Oden and S.364, sponsored by Sen. Parker Griffith, would increase the bid threshold from $7,500 to $15,000. The $7,500 figure is no longer practical in today’s marketplace. The proposal would eliminate the requirement to have a bid bond. Currently, a bond is required from the date of a bid opening to the date the bid is approved by a local school board. In practice, this requirement is burdensome, limits local board options and is of little value. The proposal would exempt local school boards from competitive bidding when purchases are from certain joint purchase agreements. Lastly, the bills would explicitly allow local school boards to establish a local preference zone for local bidders. Local school boards urge lawmakers to approve H.442/S.364.
“Tim Tebow Act” – Famous Football Name
Does Not Cure Home School Access Bill
The legislation behind efforts to allow private and home school students to participate in extracurricular activities without being enrolled in local public schools has been dubbed the “Tim Tebow Act.” Referring to the Heisman Trophy winner from Florida, the bill aims to woo Alabama sports lovers to open up public school athletics to home-schooled students.
It is difficult to justify allowing those who opt out of attending public schools to retain the right as non-students to pick and choose selectively from activities they deem attractive. Not every enrolled public school student is able to participate in extracurricular activities due to limited space and competition. School boards believe participation in extracurricular activities is a privilege provided solely to their enrolled students. AASB opposes S.20/S.329 and H.334.
Threats to Annual Reappraisals Continue
Despite Alabama’s Rank as Lowest in Nation
A number of bills have been introduced and resolutions considered calling for the end of yearly reappraisals. There is no real discussion about Alabama’s rank as having THE lowest property tax rate in the nation. The discussion is simply about limiting state and local government’s ability to properly value and assess property by imposing an artificial time limit for value gains (or losses) to be realized, which keeps local revenue for vital services in limbo.
“Property taxes are the bread and butter for schools and local government,” said Sally Howell, AASB executive director. “When our communities grow and property values rise, so do the demands for those services.”
Urge lawmakers and the governor to oppose the bills and resolutions prohibiting annual reappraisals.
House Unanimously Approves
Student Suicide and Violence Prevention Act
House members Thursday unanimously approved H.90, sponsored by Rep. Betty Carol Graham, by a 96-0 vote. The bill directs the state Department to craft a model policy addressing violence, harassment and suicide prevention for K-12 students. It provides definitions and procedures as guidelines for the model policy. Thanks to Rep. Graham who amended H.90 on the House floor to address local school board concerns.
Comprehensive School Safety Plan
on Committee Agenda
At the request of the committee, K-12 advocates collaborated on H.54, sponsored by Rep. Earl Hilliard Jr., to incorporate practical suggestions to legislation requiring school boards to have a comprehensive safety plan for each school. The House Education Policy Committee is scheduled to consider the legislation Wednesday, Feb. 20.
Outdated Law Needs Revision for School Nurses
AASB urges lawmakers to quickly consider H.317 by Rep. Robert Bentley and S.55 by Sen. Parker Griffith regarding the school nurse law. The bill would remove obsolete language to give school systems authority to employ licensed practical nurses under the supervision of registered nurses. Current law is in conflict with how school systems staff nursing professionals for student care. Local school boards urge lawmakers to remedy the conflict with the new language.
For education-related bills & information
www.alabamaschoolboards.org
On funding and policy decisions,
local perspective can make a BIG difference.
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25 Days Remain in the Regular Legislative Session
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