Volume 34, No.8
April 4, 2008
Click here for a look at a list of education-related bills.
A Few Oreo Cookies Go a Long Way;
K-12 Anticipates Education Budget Trek
Imagine two stacks of Oreo cookies. K-12’s stack has 5 packages (225 cookies) and higher education’s stack has 9 packages (405 cookies). That illustrates how Alabama allocates state education dollars per student for public education. Now, open up the 9th package on the top of higher education’s stack and pull out 8 single Oreos. Add that to the K-12 stack. That’s what a shift of one percent from current higher education to K-12 allocations would look like. Shifting the few cookies as in the governor’s proposal will ensure K-12 students each get a fairer share of available funds.
The House Education Appropriations Committee has pushed consideration of the FY09 education budget to Wednesday, April 16. The committee must make education appropriations knowing that state revenue cannot sustain today’s budget. This year virtually all of the education savings account (Proration Prevention Account) will be depleted leaving only a line of credit (Rainy Day Fund) as a safety net in 2009.
There is high pressure for lawmakers who are struggling to appropriate only the dollars that will be available by using a fiscal crystal ball. As difficult as cuts are for education now, proration called in the midst of a fiscal year is much, much worse.
The governor’s budget allocates some $400 million less than this year’s education budget, but it appears even those cuts were based on optimistic revenue projections. Revenues through March have recovered slightly (3.1% growth as compared to the same period last year) but the projected hole likely will be even deeper than the $400 million cut.
For K-12, the governor tried to ensure that the state protect the basic foundation program and minimize cuts affecting the classroom. Riley’s proposal would shield local K-12 schools and students from the deepest cuts acknowledging that they can least afford to bear them. Shifting those few Oreos will make a critical difference to K-12.
Urge lawmakers to protect the governor’s split between K-12 and higher ed.
STOP Uniform School Start Date
Before House & Senate Committees Wednesday
April 9, the Senate Education Committee and House Education Policy Committees are each scheduled to hold a public hearing on school start date proposals: H.179 by Rep. Craig Ford and S. 241 by Sen. Zeb Little. Local school board members strongly oppose the effort to force schools to delay the start of school by imposing an arbitrary statewide start date.
Some chambers of commerce have been busy organizing and contacting their state lawmakers. Local school board members should be sure to contact their state senator and representative and explain the school calendar process at the local level. Crafting a calendar to schedule 180 instructional days for students and accommodate minimum breaks and weather dates is a challenge for the education community. The calendar should reflect academic achievement goals plus accommodate community preferences. Local school boards are free to adopt and adapt calendars that suit their communities’ needs. Those who wish to use the timeframe suggested by the bills can do so without imposing those constraints on every school system.
**Urge Lawmakers to Vote NO on H.179/S.241**
Contact local lawmakers and urge they OPPOSE the uniform school start date bills.
Members of the Senate Education Committee:
Sens: Vivian Davis Figures, Chair; Kim Benefield; Bobby Denton; Hank Erwin; Rusty Glover; Parker Griffith; Zeb Little; Wendell Mitchell; Myron Penn; Trip Pittman; Quinton Ross; Hank Sanders; and Jabo Waggoner. Senate switchboard: 334/242-7800
Members of the House Education Policy Committee are Reps.: Yvonne Kennedy, chair; Terry Spicer, vice chair; Mike Ball; Alan Baker; Barbara Boyd; Priscilla Dunn; Lea Fite; Mac McCutcheon; Joseph Mitchell; John Robinson; Tommy Sherer; Harry Shiver; Allen Treadaway; Cam Ward and Henry White. House switchboard: 334/242-7600
H.179/S.241 would require schools to begin on or after the third Monday in August (if there are five Mondays) or on or after the second Monday in August (if there are four Mondays) and to end the Friday before Memorial Day.
Support $15,000 Bid Law Threshold
Vote YES on H.442/S.364
The bill to update the competitive bid law will be considered by the Senate Education Committee Wednesday. Local boards urge swift passage for H.442, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Oden. The bill would raise the minimum threshold for requiring the competitive bid process from $7,500 to $15,000, effectively making a cost adjustment for 15 years of inflation.
Current law greatly inhibits schools’ ability to purchase the best products at the best price. The low threshold and requirement that school systems be contiguous to take advantage of joint purchasing power compromises schools’ purchasing options. H.442/S.364 provides the relief schools need.
Urge the Senate Education Committee to
vote YES on H.442.
H.442/S.364 would: increase the bid threshold from $7,500 to $15,000; make the bid bond requirement optional; exempt local school boards from bids when using certain joint purchase agreements; allow for life cycle costing in determining lowest responsible bidder; and allow school boards to award contracts to the second lowest responsible bidder if the lowest bidder defaults.
Regional Dietitian Requirement Added
The House Education Appropriations Committee Wednesday approved H.767, a bill to require the employment of a service center nutritionist in each of the 11 in-service centers in Alabama. System child nutrition program (CNP) directors would submit proposed monthly menus for each school. Regional nutritionists would review the menus, complete nutritional analyses, and offer improvement suggestions. The bill provides that the initial positions will be filled when sufficient funds are allocated from the ETF.
CNP directors testified that although well-intended, the bill adds another level of bureaucracy at a cost to the ETF without truly improving school menus. An amendment was offered to address CNP officials’ concern about time constraints. H.767 moves to the full House.
House Approves School Nurse Law; School Safety & Provisional Teaching Certificate Changes
The House this week approved three education-related bills that next move to the Senate for consideration. H.317/S.55 would provide authority for school systems to employ (LPNs) licensed practical nurses under the supervision of registered nurses.
H.398/S.574 would allow a provisional teaching certificate to be granted for grades 6-12 (currently grades 9-12); focus eligibility on knowledge of the subject to be taught; and extend the window for individuals to acquire their mandated teaching experience.
H.54 would require school boards to have a comprehensive safety plan for each school. K-12 advocates worked with the sponsor on this bill.
One-Month Reserve Bill Approved
The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved S.91, sponsored by Committee Chairman Hank Sanders. S.91 would codify when school systems may access the one-month reserve as outlined by the School Board Fiscal Accountability Act. As amended, the bill specifies, but is not limited to, use of the fund when the governor declares proration or there are reductions in state funding. The bill is pending full Senate action.
Threats to Property Reappraisals Resurface
The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Wednesday heard from sponsors on a variety of proposals to repeal annual reappraisals of property. Time ran out before all opponents could speak during the scheduled public hearings. AASB joins other education and local government advocates in opposition to these bills and will be ready to testify when the committee continues the public hearings.
Annual appraisals allow the revenues that fuel needed services to be captured in real time. Annual appraisals provide stable funding sources to allow schools to better budget and make future plans. And for school systems that have pledged anticipated revenues for bond issues and long-range plans, these proposals put those schools in a particular bind. Urge lawmakers to OPPOSE threats to annual property reappraisals.
P.E. Mandate Pending in House
H.83 would require weekly minimums for physical education for elementary and high school students and is pending in the House. The price tag to comply coupled with hurting students’ ability to take advanced courses, electives, band and career tech options force school boards to oppose H.83. Note: Oreo cookies mentioned above do not reflect school boards’ position on K-12 nutrition and were used for illustrative purposes only.
Local Mandate for Indoor Clean Air Act
Birmingham City schools may be forced to adopt a specific indoor air quality program after the Jefferson County Local Delegation approved H.659, a bill of local application only. Proponents of the bill clearly wish to make the bill apply statewide in the future. AASB has showcased the “Tools for Schools” program advocated by the legislation to inform school boards about its availability as a helpful tool on a voluntary basis. Unfortunately, the tool may quickly become a hefty liability should it be a forced statewide mandate because of the enormous potential costs. However, this bill is restricted to Birmingham City schools as a local piece of legislation.
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For education-related bills & information
www.alabamaschoolboards.org
On education funding and policy decisions,
local perspective can make a BIG difference.
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