Vol. 22, No. 6
March 26, 2010
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STATE BOARD TO VOTE ON FLEXIBILITY
TO POOL, PLACE PARTIAL STATE-FUNDED UNITS
At its April 8 regular K-12 meeting, the state Board of Education is expected to consider a measure that would allow boards of education to combine fractions of earned units into full units. Before school boards could exercise that flexibility, they would need to submit their proposal for using the combined partial units to the state Department of Education.
State Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton discussed at Thursday’s work session a waiver to the state board’s 1997 and 1998 resolutions on class size because of “difficult financial times.” The new resolution would “authorize the state superintendent to grant exceptions to the assignment of Foundation Program units that are calculated for each school.” Morton said the measure has overwhelming support from other K-12 education advocacy groups, including AASB.
“It allows the flexibility … to kind of move those [fractional units] around so that you get the best advantage of the dollars available,” Morton said. Without the ability to pool and place fractional units, school systems face a decision to make the units whole using local funds. According to an SDE official, there are fewer than 1,800 locally funded teaching units.
The state board also discussed legislative developments on the education budget (see AASB’s Leg-Alert newsletter). K-12’s portion of the proposed 2011 budget making its way through the State House is a lean $3.8 billion. After 7.5 percent proration in this fiscal year, K-12’s total from the Education Trust Fund was nearly $3.7 billion. While budget losers include textbooks and the “Other Current Expense” budget line used for operations and maintenance, the proposed budget also level funds at the prorated level the state department’s science and technology, distance learning and reading programs. Morton also mentioned a memo going to superintendents reiterating state finance experts’ forecast of no additional proration for FY2010.
Though Deputy state Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice believes most questions and concerns regarding the 2010 Social Studies Course of Study have been addressed, state board members Betty Peters and Stephanie Bell called for a detailed look at the facts presented in the proposed document. Bice indicated the committee will oblige. The course of study could mean more local flexibility with the removal of grade designations for social studies courses in grades 9-12, as well as a shift to thematic teaching strategies for the eighth-grade social studies course rather than reliance on event-by-event, chronological presentation of facts in history (available online).
Also at the April K-12 meeting in Montgomery, the state board is expected to vote on proposed teacher certification amendments that impact, primarily, out-of-state candidates.
EDUCATION TRUST FUND UPDATE
As the 2011 fiscal year budget is being crafted with a 1.175 percent growth rate in Education Trust Fund revenues, current year receipts to the fund continue to lag behind last year. However, the general consensus is that the current level of proration will be sufficient to address the decline and additional proration will not be necessary.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT WEBINAR & TELECONFERENCE SET FOR APRIL 28
Not sure if your board of education has the proper policies and procedures in place? Don’t know if your administrators and staff are aware of the legal definition and implications of sexual harassment? Do you know what preventative measures to take or how to respond to allegations? Join AASB for this important session and learn the answers to these questions and more. Education law expert and attorney JoClaudia Moore of Balch & Bingham LLP answers the tough, pertinent questions for participants in the April 28 teleconference/webinar. The cost is only $40 per individual caller and $150 per group. The workshop is intended for school board members, human resource personnel, superintendents, principals and board attorneys. Register now.
CHECK THE MAIL FOR SUMMER CONFERENCE REGISTRATION INFO
The early bird gets the worm, or, in this case, rooms at the Perdido Hotel for the 2010 Alabama Association of School Boards and Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys Summer Conference. Expect registration brochures in the mail soon or visit www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org for details. The annual conference runs June 13-15 and seeks to strengthen your relationship with your full-board team. The theme is “Build Winning Teams for a Brighter Future.”
The new board member orientation course is set for June 12-13, followed by the June 13-15 AASB conference. School board attorneys meet June 13-14.
Conference highlights include keynote speakers Walt Coleman, a National Football League referee; educational administration expert Dr. Thomas Alsbury; and those vying for Alabama governor in a scheduled Governor Candidates Forum. ACSBA members earn CLE credit, while AASB members earn hours in the School Board Member Academy.
Make housing reservations early at the Perdido Hotel in Baldwin County, 800/634-8001 (mention AASB to receive the discounted hotel rate).
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES ORIENTATION FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
To better reflect the training offered through AASB’s required, two-part leadership orientation for new school board members, AASB has changed the name of Leadership I to Roles and Responsibilities Orientation. Leadership II has been renamed Effective Boards and Relationships Orientation.
If you are brand new to board service and trying to get a feel for the job, sign up for the Roles and Responsibilities Orientation to be held June 12-13 at The Perdido Hotel in Baldwin County. Veterans who want to refresh themselves on the basics are also invited to attend. Attendees will earn eight credit hours. This course is necessary to advance in the School Board Member Academy.
CAN YOUR TEAM UNSEAT THE REIGNING CHAMPS, PERRY COUNTY?
On the kick-off date of the AASB Annual Summer Conference, the gauntlet will be dropped, the shovels will be wielded and the sand construction will commence! If your team has what it takes to unseat Perry County, the reigning champs, sign up today for the June 13 Sand Castle Building Contest sponsored by American Fidelity Insurance. This is your chance to show off your family or board’s team-building skills. If your group wins, your school system wins! Prizes will be awarded to the school systems of the first-, second- and third-place winners. Pre-register for this fun-filled event at 7 p.m. Sunday by calling 800/562-0601 or sending a list of your participants to dhendricks@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.
WINNERS OF FREE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION & PRIZES ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to Gwen Harris-Brooks of Lanett City whose name was chosen from those who completed and returned AASB evaluation forms at AASB’s March conference. Harris-Brooks wins free registration for either the upcoming October 2010 or March 2011 AASB School Board Member Academy conferences.
Kudos also go to the 2009 spring conference “above and beyond” attendance prize winners. Gesna Littlefield of Gadsden City won an iPod touch loaded with BoardCast, powered by AASB strategic partner High Ground Solutions. High Ground Solutions is the maker of SchoolCast rapid notification and messaging software. Emanuel Ford of Birmingham took home a mini Netbook loaded with eBOARD, dynamic governance and paperless board meetings software. AASB partners with eBOARDsolutions to provide this cost-saving tool to Alabama’s school boards at a discounted rate.
NATION’S REPORT CARD: GOOD NEWS FOR EIGHTH-GRADE READERS
Alabama’s eighth-grade reading score rose from 252 in 2007 to 255 in 2009 on The Nation’s Report Card, based on average score results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP. The average score for public school eighth graders in the nation was 262. The state’s fourth graders remained steady with an average reading score of 216 in 2009, the same as two years prior. The average fourth-grade reading score for the nation in 2009 was 220. Read the full report.
WORKSHOP ON FEDERAL INVESTING IN INNOVATION GRANTS MARCH 30
Boards of Education interested in learning more about the Investing in Innovation (i3) grant program, established under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, should attend the March 30 Pre-Application Workshop in Atlanta from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel-Atlanta Airport. The workshop targets applicants with a record of improving student achievement using innovative practices. Register now.
NEW STUDY OF RESEARCH
“Charter Schools: Finding Out the Facts”
www.centerforpubliceducation.org
— Denise L. Berkhalter,
publicrelations@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org
Alabama Association of School Boards:
Developing excellent school board leaders through quality training, advocacy and services.
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