Vol. 22, No. 11
June 10, 2010
Click here for past issues of the For Your Information newsletter.
STATE SUPT. & STATE BOARD VP ANNOUNCE PLAN
TO BILL BP FOR ATTRIBUTABLE ETF LOSSES
Calling the British Petroleum oil spill now encroaching on the Alabama Gulf Coast a “nightmare,” state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton joined state Board of Education Vice President Randy McKinney in putting BP on notice.
“We will charge BP with restoring the revenues lost so far as well as future lost revenues to the Education Trust Fund,” Morton said in a news conference following Thursday’s K-12 state board meeting. The state will follow the company’s claims process, he said, but future litigation isn’t out of the question if claims aren’t expeditiously processed.
“We will enlist economic experts outside the department of education to work with (SDE staff) to develop an irrefutable economic model of lost revenues to the ETF per month and send BP a bill,” Morton said. He pointed to reports of as high as a 50 percent drop in peak-season tourism that could eventually eat away income, sales and utility tax revenues that largely makeup the Education Trust Fund. The $5.3 billion ETF comprises more than $3 billion in income tax and $1.5 billion in sales tax. K-12 receives about 70 percent of ETF dollars.
McKinney, a businessman whose district and livelihood are in the affected region, described the oil spill “catastrophe” that is already wreaking havoc on tourism, industry and the local and statewide tax base.
“The unfortunate thing is our school boards on the Gulf Coast have done everything they can do to do as much as they can with what they have,” McKinney said. “There is absolutely no way we can ask these school boards to do more with less as a result of the BP oil spill.”
McKinney said he supports the state’s pursuit of lost school tax revenue since in time it will be evident “exactly how much the Gulf Coast contributes to the state of Alabama revenue stream.”
Morton said department officials have not been in contact with BP and hesitates to estimate how much has been lost or will be claimed until the tax losses are tracked. He also implied the coastal disaster could possibly lead to proration.
Prior to the news conference, the state board approved financial procedures for handling public and nonpublic funds that will serve as a manual for school personnel. The manual complements continuing education on school finance for school personnel. To view the manual, click here.
Morton also announced the 10-year look at state graduation rates from 1997 until 2007 in the recent report, “Diplomas Count” published by Education Week. Morton said the state tied for 12th in the ranking for gains in graduation rates. The report noted Alabama with a 62.5 percent graduation rate in 2007 compared to a 56.9 percent rate in 1997. Click here to view the study.
The state board meets for one joint session in July on the 13th. Its next work session, however, is June 24.
SUMMER CONFERENCE STILL GOES ON IN SUPPORT OF GULF COAST REGION
The AASB (June 13-15) and ACSBA (June 13-14) Summer Conference and the Roles and Responsibilities leadership orientation for new board members (June 12-13) are still a go! Registration will now be onsite. This is not only an opportunity for educational training, but also a chance to support Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Our sources tell us the beaches near our conference headquarters, the Perdido Hotel aren’t heavily hit. Obviously, conference training is indoors. We are monitoring the situation daily and will contact our members about any major concerns. There will be informational materials as well as coupons for inland activities at the registration desk. AASB’s welcome reception on the Perdido’s beach deck is FREE to all attendees and their families. For more information, visit www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org. Safe travels! We’ll see you in Orange Beach!
EDUCATION TRUST FUND UPDATE
Receipts to the Education Trust Fund increased during May compared to May 2009. The decline for the current fiscal year starting Oct. 1, 2009, compared to the same period in the previous year decreased to 1.42 percent. There is cautious optimism that receipts to the ETF will be sufficient to avoid further proration in the current fiscal year. Also, it appears that receipts to the ETF, at this point, will be sufficient to support the growth rate (1.175 percent) reflected in the 2011 FY budget, though the 2011 FY budget contains additional revenue sources, the viability of which are unknown at this time.
ALABAMA RACES TO THE TOP AGAIN
Alabama joins Washington, D.C., and 34 other states seeking to win a share of the $3.4 billion remaining Race to the Top grant funds meant to drive education reform. It’s the state’s second attempt after revising its application with input from stakeholders, including school board members. In the first phase, only two states won a total of about $600 million – Delaware and Tennessee. Phase 2 winners will be announced in September. Alabama stands to receive nearly 180 million federal dollars, half of which goes to local school systems. To find out more, visit www.alsde.edu or http://sites.google.com/site/alabamaracetothetop/home.
FREE WEBINAR FOR BOARD & SUPERINTENDENT SECRETARIES
Whether a veteran or new secretary for the school board or superintendent, administrative assistants will learn from free webinars on AASB’s member database. The database, called eMEMBERSHIP, allows secretaries to easily keep their board members’ files up to date electronically. Register board members for AASB training and events or simply log in to find out such important information as an AASB School Board Member Academy report, dates for upcoming events, and more. AASB and strategic partner eBOARDsolutions will provide the free webinar 10-11 a.m. central time June 22 and, again, on June 30. As an added bonus, participants will get the latest information about going paperless with their board meetings. School board members who wish to participate may do so. Register today! Space is limited.
AASB SURVEY DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JUNE 30
If you haven’t had the opportunity to provide the Alabama Association of School Boards with your feedback, there is still time. The deadline has been extended to June 30. The membership survey is online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org/Survey.html or call 800/562-0601 to request a faxed copy. Your opinion matters!
SUBMIT PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS & BYLAWS CHANGES BY AUG. 13
School board members are asked to submit their proposed resolutions or changes in association bylaws by Friday, Aug. 13. Proposals, which must be submitted in writing, will be considered by AASB’s Delegate Assembly in December. Fax submissions to AASB at (334) 270-0000; mail to P.O. Box 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123-0488; or e-mail to twright@alabamaschoolboards.org. Resolutions approved by the Delegate Assembly at AASB’s annual convention set the association’s goals and positions on major education issues.
SALES TAX HOLIDAY SET FOR AUG 6-8
As belts tighten across the state, communities should be reminded of an opportunity to save on school supplies – the annual Sales Tax Holiday. Shoppers can enjoy a weekend free of state sales or use taxes on certain items, such as computers and clothing, purchased between 12:01 a.m. Aug. 6 and midnight Aug. 8. Each county and city decides whether to pass a resolution or ordinance to also exempt the items from all or a portion of local sales or use taxes that weekend. For details and a full list of participating local governments, visit http://www.ador.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.htm.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT COMMON STANDARDS
Alabama has taken steps toward embracing the voluntary national common core standards developed, with the state’s participation, by the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers. Expect the standards to soon come before the state board for consideration. There are plans, outlined in the state’s second-round Race to the Top application, to offer the standards for board vote in November and for the state to participate in a consortium to develop common assessments. Read the standards here. MARK YOUR CALENDAR
July 29
Effective Evaluations Webinar
Aug. 23-Sept. 13
AASB Fall District Meetings
(1 Academy hour)
Oct. 3-4
Leadership for Academic Achievement
(6 Academy hours)
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel, Montgomery
Dec. 2
Effective Boards & Relationships Orientation
(6 Academy hours, formerly Leadership II)
Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham
Dec. 2-4
AASB Annual Convention
(8 Academy hours)
Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham
Jan. 18-Feb. 10, 2011
AASB Winter District Meetings
(1 Academy hour)
Connect with us via Facebook and Twitter and download our free iPhone/Blackberry smart phone application (search for BoardCast at the iTunes store). Special thanks to AASB’s business partners, eBOARDsolutions, Inc. and High Ground Solutions, Inc. 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.
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