Volume 35, No. 16
Special Edition
As of August 17, 2009
2009 First Special Session
ENACTED LEGISLATION
The first special session convened Monday, Aug. 10 and adjourned Friday, Aug. 14. The special session was completed in five days, the minimum time to enact legislation.
The legislature met primarily to consider legislation targeting the ongoing Jefferson County fiscal crisis. Two local bills addressing the situation passed. Additionally, legislators approved a bill to allow Alabama to access federal funds to extend unemployment benefits to its unemployed workers for an additional 20 weeks. For public education, the legislature approved S.1 to deal with qualified school construction bonds (see below). As expected, no action was taken upon any legislation outside the scope of the governor’s official “call.”
Gov. Riley signed S.1 on Friday, Aug. 14, and it has become law. For a copy of the act, visit www.sos.state.al.us. For additional questions, call AASB at 334/277-9700.
Qualified School Construction Bonds
09-813 Authorized Alabama’s Public School and College Authority to be the vehicle for local school boards to apply for pooled qualified school construction bonds authorized by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. [S.1]
Q & A for the local boards about the construction bonds
Is my board eligible for this bond funding?
All local boards are eligible to apply for the bond funding. The governor has discretion on the amount of funding depending on statewide requests and each system’s ability to repay debt with local and state Public School funds. Total funding for FY 2009 is approximately $169 million, with $50 million available to the three largest school systems in the state and $119 million available to all other school systems.
What is the deadline for applications?
The original deadline was Aug. 15. The deadline has been extended to Aug. 28 to ensure all systems have had the chance to evaluate their construction needs and ability to repay the debt. School systems should complete their analysis and submit an application. The state will assist in monitoring individual system’s ability to repay their debt via the PSCA Education Incentive Fund Council.
How are these bonds different from the usual PSCA bond funds and repayment?
The legislation tweaked state law to allow: 1) The pooled debt to be repaid by local school boards using their local funds and state Public School Funds. Prior PSCA pooled bond issues were solely funded by the Public School Funds. Also, local boards will be required to irrevocably pledge sufficient revenue to meet their share of the debt obligation for the entire bond maturation period; 2) Requires the state to sell the bonds using a negotiated sale or bid process and 3) Requires that contractors used in the bond sale reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the state.
What are allowable expenditures of proceeds from the qualified school construction bonds?
Allowable expenditures include land purchase and construction of new facilities. Repairs and the rehabilitation of existing facilities are also allowable. Bond proceeds may not be used for expenditures to fund athletic facilities, central administration or maintenance personnel costs.
Teacher’s Code of Ethics:
Effort to Codify in Administrative Regulations Meets Legislative Hurdle
A legislative council met Wednesday, Aug. 12 to review the state Board of Education’s decision to codify the Teacher’s Code of Ethics in Alabama’s Administrative Regulations. Legislators voted by voice vote to reject the proposal with amendment. The proposal returns to the state Board of Education. The state board can either accept or reject the legislative council’s amendment. In the event the state board refuses to amend, the legislature must seek a joint resolution opposing the proposal during the 2010 Regular Legislative Session to stop the proposal from being implemented.
The legislative council voiced concern that the code of ethics was too vague. The state Department of Education argued that the code has been in effect for several years without complaint and that the codification simply solidified practice of the state board’s intent. To view a copy of the legislative council’s suggested amendment, click here.
***********************************************************
Register Now for Sept. 14-Oct. 5 Fall District Meetings
Achieve results by becoming a data-driven decision maker at the AASB Fall District Meetings. Learn how you can use data to improve student achievement in your school systems at AASB's Sept. 14-Oct. 5 Fall District Meetings.
Attend, so you can understand and target your students' learning needs for the greatest impact; take action with confidence by aligning actions with achievable, yet challenging goals; and use data to make timely, appropriate and measurable decisions.
Networking begins at 6 p.m. in every district except District 5, where the meeting starts at 5:30 p.m.
The program is 45 minutes long and is a membership service. Dinner is your only cost. The meetings will be:
- District 1 - Sept. 15
- District 2 - Sept. 14
- District 3 - Oct. 5
- District 4 - Oct. 1
- District 5 - Sept. 17
- District 6 - Sept. 29
- District 7 - Sept. 24
- District 8 - Sept. 21
- District 9 - Sept. 22
Attendees earn one hour of School Board Member Academy credit. Go online to register or download a district meeting brochure, or contact AASB at 800/562-0601.
Optimal Learning Environment Focus of Oct. 25-26 AASB Conference
Check your AASB School Board Member Academy statement? If you’re missing the core course, Leadership for the Optimal Learning Environment or simply have an interest in the training, mark your calendar for Oct. 25-26.
Learn how to make schools great places to learn and work. Learn how morale of quality teachers, student behavior, school culture, technology and other intangibles affect student achievement.
The conference will be held at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center (877-545-0311) in Montgomery and is sponsored by AASB in conjunction with its School Board Member Academy. Established in 1986, the academy is an ongoing school for school board members designed to improve skills and knowledge in all areas of boardmanship.
For conference information, contact AASB at 334/277-9700 or toll free in-state at 800/562-0601.
*********************************************************
The 2010 Regular Legislative Session will convene January 12, 2010.
Alabama Association of School Boards
Celebrating 60 years of helping local education leaders improve
student achievement.
|
