Volume 34, No.9
April 11, 2008
Click here for a look at a list of education-related bills.
School Start Date Bill Compromised
Local control of school calendars was compromised Wednesday when the House Education Policy and Senate Education committees approved H.179/S.241. The effort to issue a statewide mandate for a school start date has faced strong opposition from school boards each year.
AASB held its ground, opposing the bills. Local school boards had secured commitments from senators to oppose S.241 in committee. However, an amendment was presented as a “compromise” amenable to the School Superintendents’ Association and immediately challenged solid opposition with a new dynamic that enabled passage of the bill.
The amended bill reads: “Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, no public and private school shall have regular instructional student days during the months of June, July, and the first ten days of August, unless specifically exempted by the State Superintendent of Education for emergency purposes.”
AASB Executive Director Sally Howell stood strong before committees and unequivocally stated local school boards’ opposition: school calendars are local decisions which make students the highest priority. The situation became very awkward when AASB was pressured to compromise on the spot, but local school boards believe discussion about a “more acceptable date” for a mandatory school start date window is simply not appropriate when the bill itself is neither necessary nor proper. The state Department of Education confirmed that school boards voluntarily comply with the departments’ request date to put requirements of the No Child Left Behind law in place.
Tourism had lobbied heavy support for the bill and, unlike previous years, lawmakers received a large number of emails from business interests.
Thanks go to Sen. Quinton Ross who voiced support for educator’s local control of school calendars and voted against the bill. Sen. Jabo Waggoner and Sen. Wendell Mitchell urged members to contact their local superintendents before accepting a compromise. But the committee, on the sponsor’s request, acted on the bill rather than postpone the vote the customary one week.
The House Education Policy Committee passed H.179 on a voice vote. Thanks to Rep. Tommy Sherer, who clarified that the compromise was not accepted by school boards and members who voted no on the voice vote.
Thanks go to Eleanor Dawkins of the Montgomery County Board of Education and Brett Whitehead of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education who also came to the state house to testify in opposition to the bills.
Local School Calendar Impact
Already, several school systems oppose the amended H.179/S.241 because their local calendars would not fit within the school start date parameters. Madison city educators and parents in the community strongly support their traditional fall break and ending the semester with exams before the Christmas holiday. The bills could prohibit their calendar. The Cherokee County Board of Education reports its recently approved calendar would not comply if the bills were in effect. Do your schools have a fall break? Do your schools have a block schedule? Do your students take exams before Christmas Break? With this legislation, your calendar is compromised.
Local school boards’ message is “preserve local decision-making,” and now members should assess impact of the proposed school start date window on their own calendars.
Committee discussion Wednesday regarded decisions that take place in over 130 school systems about student achievement, holiday preferences, conflicts with community events, programmatic partnerships with local colleges and universities and work days for educators to meet with parents.
This legitimate debate takes place where it belongs: locally. The public charges the school board to make those decisions and holds them responsible and accountable for student achievement.
There is no national movement for states to have a start date. Of the 14 states that have a start date, two are trying to repeal them, and two other states allow waivers.
The backdrop of testimony was a virtual commercial for Alabama summer tourism. Proponents were from amusement parks, summer camps, golf courses and museums and testified about dollars lost when schools start. Educators embrace state tourism and acknowledge the tax dollars it generates for public education. But as an opponent testified, educators do not seek to impose more amenable days or hours of operation on businesses. Educators do not welcome the statewide attempt to adjust educators’ school schedules for the pleasure of business. Urge lawmakers to prevent passage of H.179/S.241 in the House and Senate.
Crunch Time for Education Budget
After one week’s delay, the House Education Appropriations Committee is scheduled to reveal its budget plan Wednesday, April 15. Much is at stake for K-12 as leadership determines how much to appropriate and to whom. K-12 advocates urge lawmakers to protect K-12 students by protecting K-12 jobs and basic operation dollars. Wednesday’s budget discussion will set the stage for FY 09 local school budgets and personnel decisions that must be made in May.
The K-12 allocation has lost ground since 2001 with a higher percentage going to higher education. K-12 believes public education would be better served by aligning the dollars with students. The most recent data shows K-12 has 77.2 percent; postsecondary has 8.1 percent; and four-year colleges have 14.7 percent of all public students.
Colleges and universities are pushing hard to make K-12 shoulder a greater share of the anticipated budget cuts. The fact remains that K-12 has no tuition and no quick or simple way to raise public funds. K-12 must provide 10 mills of local tax support to receive even the first dollar of state support. Local school budgets rely on state funding for up to 80 percent while higher education only up to 20 percent of higher education budgets. There is compulsory school attendance for children age 7 to 16 and K-12 remains a state obligation. K-12 students deserve unfaltering financial support. Urge lawmakers to support the governor’s proposed budget split.
Members of the House Education Appropriations Committee are Rep.: Richard Lindsey, Chair; John Rogers, VC; Mac Gipson, Robert Bentley, Alan Boothe, James Buskey, Betty Carol Graham, Todd Greeson, Yvonne Kennedy, Mary Sue McClurkin, Jeff McLaughlin, Jeremy Oden, Sue Schmitz, Terry Spicer and James Thomas.
Regional Dietitian Requirement
Fails House Vote
H.767 failed on a 45-40 House vote. The bill would require the employment of a service center nutritionist in each of the 11 in-service centers in Alabama to review school menus.
In a flurry of activity during debate, lawmakers heard from school systems saying the bill would add a level of bureaucracy for their child nutrition programs. An amendment offered by Rep. Jim McClendon would have limited the bill’s application to only those systems that do not employ a licensed nutritionist, but the amendment was tabled. This issue may resurface before session ends.
P.E. Bill Awaiting House Vote
The list of bills awaiting House action includes H.83, a bill to require weekly minimums for
physical education for elementary and high school students. Local school boards are opposed to the bill because of its potential cost and its impact on high school students.
The new P.E. requirements would reduce courses available to students, including advanced placement courses, electives, band and career tech options. Contact your House members to oppose H.83.
Support $15,000 Bid Law Threshold;
Bill Poised for Final Passage
The Senate Education Committee Wednesday approved H.442, the competitive bid bill update. The bill would update the current $7,500 minimum bid threshold to $15,000 and adjust for 15 years of inflation.
H.442/S.364 provides the relief schools need to find the best products at the best price. AASB is working with bill sponsors to urge final passage. Please contact your senator and urge quick action on the senate floor to update the bid law.
Urge your senator to vote YES on S.364/H.442
S.364/H.442 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.
Education-Related Bills
H.317/S.55 would update the school nurse law to authorize school systems to employ licensed practical nurses (LPNs). H.317 has been assigned to the Senate F&TE Committee.
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.398 is pending final passage.
H.54/S.585 would require school boards to have a comprehensive safety plan for each school. H.54 passed the Senate Finance & Taxation Committee Wednesday and is ready for final passage.
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On education funding and policy decisions,
local perspective can make a BIG difference.
11 Days remain in the
Regular Legislative Session
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