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EXPERT: MAKE AGE 60 THE REQUIREMENT FOR RETIREMENT, DROP

Make age 60 the only eligibility threshold for retirement and participation in the state’s Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). That’s the course of action suggested by Retirement Systems of Alabama Deputy Director Marc Reynolds at Thursday’s state Board of Education work session for K-12.

For retirement purposes, the current law simply requires an employee to have a minimum of 25 years of experience, while participation in DROP requires an employee to be at least 55 years of age and at least 25 years of experience. The DROP program is designed to encourage seasoned education employees to work longer.

Late last year, state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton suggested making retirement contingent upon 30 years of experience and 55 years of age, while limiting DROP participation to those age 57 and with 30 years of experience.

Reynolds said the age 60 requirement is critical because the state bears retirees’ health care costs through the Public Education Employees Health Insurance Plan (PEEHIP) until federal Medicare picks up 80 percent of the tab at age 65. 

Morton also suggested last fall that education employees contribute 6 percent of their salary toward retirement rather than the current 5 percent contribution that has been in place since 1975. The proposed changes would only impact new employees.

The proposed changes would only impact new employees.

Reynolds said the state’s escalating costs for insurance is the more pressing problem, particularly since there are about 100,000 active teachers and 223,000 people covered by the insurance program, including dependents and a growing number of retirees. He adds, however, that 6 percent is very reasonable for the level of benefits received.

“Going from 5 to 6 percent, all I see, is sharing the cost of fixing this system where it’s stable, and teachers have a great interest in seeing that happen,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said plainly that the state is in “a big hole,” and if nothing is done within the next decade, the state could see an employee rate for teachers at 17 to 20 percent of payroll. There are those, Reynolds said, who would wait until the last minute to see if the economy and situation improve.

State Board Vice President Randy McKinney said that’s a gamble he wouldn’t want to make with anything as valuable as retirement and health benefits. “I’d rather be prepared for the worst,” he said.

The worst of a 29-year court battle over teacher testing is now behind the state. In a news conference preceding Thursday’s work session, the state Board announced final judgment to dismiss the Allen v. Board of Education case that alleged racial bias in using tests for teacher certification.

“Every person who wants to teach in Alabama classrooms will have to pass a subject-matter test in what they plan to teach,” Morton said. “It’s been a long journey, but it was the right thing to do.”

While still under federal court order, the state Board adopted the Praxis II test as a prerequisite for teacher certification in 2005 and adopted minimum passing scores in June 2007. Dismissal of the case ensures teacher testing can continue without any court orders or consent decrees hanging overhead.

The state board heard Thursday that local education agencies can compete for more than $58 million in 2009 Title I School Improvement Grant 1003(g) money, which the state Department of Education expects to receive by May. The grants will fund comprehensive reforms to dramatically transform school culture and increase student outcomes in persistently low-achieving schools.

Making adequate yearly progress under No Child Left Behind doesn’t preclude grant eligibility. Specific criteria must be met for Title I schools that apply for the funding, and secondary schools that are eligible for but don’t receive Title I funds may meet the criteria.

Applications are due to the U.S. Department of Education by Feb. 8. Implementation by the grantees must begin this fall. Ninety-five percent of the allocation must go directly to the selected local education agencies in amounts of no less than $50,000 and no more than $2 million per school annually.

Alabama estimates another $24.9 million in 2010 student improvement grants from the same federal funding stream.

Also at Thursday’s work session, it was suggested that educators who completed approved programs more than five years ago be allowed to apply for an Alabama teaching certificate. It was also proposed that applicants who completed approved programs in other states be allowed to seek educational administration certification in Alabama as long as they meet the Aug. 31, 2010, deadline. A vote on amending those teacher certification rules is expected soon.

After a detailed presentation to the state Board, the 2010 Social Studies Course of Study committee has to wait a bit longer for a vote on its recommendations built around teaching students responsible citizenship through civics and government, geography, economics and history. Public concerns raised during the process will be reviewed and discussed at the state Board’s Feb. 25 work session.

The state board’s regular K-12 meeting is Feb. 11, when it is likely to vote on the Mathematics Textbook Committee members.

CHARTER SCHOOLS 101 CD AVAILABLE

The Alabama Association of School Boards recently presented a webinar titled Charter Schools 101 that has been captured on a resource CD. The $25 CD recaps the audio and presentation by former National School Boards Association attorney Thomas Hutton. Contact AASB at 800/562-0601 or dnorris@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org to order your copy.

STILL TIME TO ATTEND AASB WINTER DISTRICT MEETINGS

Didn’t make it to your district’s winter meeting? No problem. Join us at any of the remaining meetings, which continue through Feb. 18 and that begin at 6 p.m. Central Time. The only cost is your meal. You don’t want to miss vital information on student anti-harassment and board training policies and the latest update from the Alabama Legislature.

The Student Harassment Prevention Act requires each school board to adopt a local policy by July 1, 2010. At the district meeting, you’ll hear a review of the model policy created by the state Department of Education, as directed by the statute, to guide local boards of education. You’ll also hear a presentation on Student Anti-Harassment: What Boards Should Know by Dr. Sue Adams, retired director of the state Department of Education’s Prevention and Support Services Section.

Participants receive a fiscal/legislative look ahead, as well as updates on AASB news and the mandate for putting local board training policies in place by March 1. Register online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org for any of the remaining district meetings:

• District 3, Feb. 11 - Colby’s Country Cooking Restaurant, 129 S. East Ave, Ozark; Meal cost: $18; Boards in District: Andalusia, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Daleville, Dothan, Elba, Enterprise, Eufaula, Geneva County, Geneva City, Henry, Houston, Opp, Ozark, Pike, Troy.
• District 4, Feb. 8 - Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, 2555 Hilton Garden Drive, Auburn; Meal cost: $22; Boards in District: Alexander City, Auburn, Bullock, Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Department of Youth Services, Elmore, Lanett, Lee, Macon, Montgomery, Opelika, Phenix City, Randolph, Roanoke, Russell, Tallapoosa, Tallassee.
• District 7, Feb. 4 - Wintzell’s Oyster House Restaurant, #1 Bridge Ave., Northport; Meal cost: $25; Boards in District: Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jasper, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa County, Tuscaloosa City, Walker, Winfield.
• District 9, Feb. 18- Embassy Suites Hotel, Downtown, 800 Monroe Street, SW, Huntsville; Meal cost: $25; Boards in District: Albertville, Arab, Blount, Boaz, Guntersville, Huntsville, Jackson, Madison City, Madison County, Marshall,
  Oneonta, Scottsboro.

REGISTER NOW FOR MARCH 19-20 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURSE

Register online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org for the AASB School Board Member Academy core course on Leadership for Financial Accountability set for March 19-20 at The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. Unfortunately, as the economy continues to languish, school systems face difficult choices. Attend this spring conference to discover the value in funding what matters most and to learn how to create economic hope. And, don’t forget to register for the March 19 Early Bird Workshop, Governing for Higher Achievement, to learn from school-board-and-superintendent teams that are participating in Alabama’s Governing for Achievement Project how your board can do more to impact student learning. Contact AASB for details at 800/562-0601 or dhendricks@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

PER YOUR REQUEST SUMMER CONFERENCE IS NOW IN JUNE, BOOK YOUR ROOMS!

Plans are underway for this year’s AASB Summer Conference, as well as the leadership orientation course designed for new school board members. These vital, educational sessions come at the start of summer vacations, so you'll want to beat the housing rush. Make housing reservations early at the Perdido Hotel in Orange Beach, 800/634-8001 (mention AASB to receive the discounted hotel rate). The orientation course, Leadership I, is set for June 12, and the annual conference runs June 13-15. Expect detailed information to be posted soon at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org/Conferences.htm.

WANT TO BE MORE INVOLVED?

AASB members participate in association governance through standing committees and ad hoc committees formed as needed. Committee members are appointed for one-year terms by AASB’s president with the approval of the Board of Directors. School board members interested in taking a more active role in AASB are encouraged to serve on one of the following committees: Budget and Finance, Academy Advisory, Resolutions, Bylaws, Pre-K & School Readiness (ad hoc) and Multicultural (ad hoc). To volunteer, notify AASB Executive Director Sally Howell, J.D., (P.O. Drawer 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123; 800/562-0601 or 334/270-0000, fax). The deadline to apply for committee membership is Feb. 22.

WE CAN BRING TRAINING TO YOU

While AASB's conferences, workshop and convention bring you a wide array of training opportunities, you don't always have to leave home to work on your boardmanship skills. We can bring training to your local  meetings, work sessions or retreats with programs on a variety of topics -- from governing for student achievement, school board roles and responsibilities, team building and conducting tax referenda to updating your policy manual and getting the most from a board self-evaluation. These services are offered as either a member service with no additional fee or for a nominal cost. To find out more, contact AASB Board Development Director LuAnn Bird at lbird@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org or 800/562-0601.

FREE WEBINARS & DEMONSTRATIONS?

Looking to go paperless? AASB’s strategic partner eBoardsolutions Inc., offers free webinars and on-demand videos on Paperless Board Meetings, Strategic Planning and More! Learn more at www.eboardsolutions.com.

Is your community not engaged? AASB’s strategic partner High Ground Solutions Inc. can help you engage your community by keeping them informed. High Ground Solutions’ SchoolCast product provides messaging via multiple communication vehicles – e-mail, text messages, cell or landline voice calls, and PDAs/Blackberries. Learn more at www.highgroundsolutions.com/schoolcast.html.

To learn more or to schedule your free webinar or demonstration, contact AASB at info@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

— Denise L. Berkhalter,
publicrelations@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org

Alabama Association of School Boards:
Developing excellent school board leaders through quality training, advocacy and services.