For Your Information
Vol. 21, No. 19
October 23, 2009
Click here for past issues of the For Your Information newsletter.
BOARD DOESN'T OUTLINE
BUDGET PRIORITIES
This year, education has $1.4 billion less to spend on education than it did in the 2008 fiscal year. Yet, there was no spreadsheet outlining proposed budget cuts and priorities for K-12 education funding at Thursday’s state Board of Education work session.
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton did, however, outline a five-point plan of survival for 2011, a year he dubbed “the most difficult yet.”
Before a standing-room-only crowd that included local education leaders and media, Morton outlined the plan that called for:
- Designating at least 70 percent of all education dollars to be legislatively appropriated to K-12 and passing a Constitutional Amendment basing future funding exclusively for K-12, postsecondary and higher education on student enrollment;
- Freezing insurance funding at this year’s level, thus directing the Public Education Employee’s Health Insurance Plan Board (PEEHIP) to develop a plan that covers costs (possibly raising premiums that haven’t increased in 25 years or other changes that could include adjustments to co-pays, monthly allocations and/or benefit changes);
- Increasing retirement eligibility for all new employees beginning in 2010-2011 to 30 years experience rather than 25 and creating an age minimum of 55;
- Changing participation eligibility in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) from 25 years of experience to 30 and the age minimum from 55 to 57; and
- Increasing the employee contribution toward participation in the Retirement Systems of Alabama by 1 percent to equal 6 percent of their salary.
Morton also mentioned the need to fix flaws in the existing Tenure and Fair Dismissal laws to allow a hearing before the local board, immediate enforcement of the ruling after the board vote, ending the dismissed employee’s pay and releasing pay from an escrow account to those who win their appeal to a circuit judge.
Morton said the plan addresses two issues: the fundamental underfunding of K-12 public education and the disproportionate burden on the state’s Education Trust Fund to pay health and retirement benefits for education employees.
“I realize these are sweeping changes that likely will ruffle more than a few feathers on some really big birds, but we are in a survival mode in K-12 education,” Morton said in a news release issued following the work session. “We need immediate as well as longer term help, or we stand to lose the education of many students enrolled in our schools today.”
The state board is expected to vote at its Nov. 12 meeting on a detailed budget proposal, which then goes to the governor for consideration. The governor submits his budget proposal to the state Legislature, which convenes Jan. 12. Onlookers wonder if school officials will get a clearer picture of proposed budget cuts and adjustments at a Nov. 18 meeting with Morton in Montgomery.
Also discussed Thursday was a proposed policy on student seclusion and restraint, which would apply to all students but would be restricted to outlined, reasonable circumstances and methods. The policy proposal is in response to the U.S. Secretary of Education’s call for all states to submit a stated policy addressing seclusion and restraint of students. The state board is expected to vote on “announcing intent” to make the policy changes at its Nov. 12 meeting.
The board is also expected to consider a resolution that supports “no idling” of buses and other public education vehicles to reduce gas emissions, improve air quality and reduce costs.
EDUCATION TRUST FUND UPDATE
Receipts to the Education Trust Fund continue to fall short of projections. For the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, total receipts were $5.24 billion. This amount was more than $400 million less than the amount used in compiling the FY2010 budget, which led to the recent call for 7.5 percent proration of the ETF.
REGISTER FOR DEC. 3-5 CONVENTION
Online registration is now open for AASB’s Dec. 3-5 Annual Convention. The theme is “A Vision for the Next 60 Years: Lead, Inspire, Change!” The event pays tribute to AASB’s more than six decades of developing excellent school boards and provides a variety of sessions on hot education issues boards face as they govern in the 21st century. Hear from nationally acclaimed speakers William Draves and Salome Thomas-EL and interact with key legislators in a discussion about the education budget.
New school board members are urged to participate in the Dec. 3 AASB Leadership II orientation course just prior to the association’s convention. To reserve a room at The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham, call 800/996-3739 or 205/987-1600 and mention AASB group code 1AT8K2. For conference details, call 800/562-0601.
LAF FIGHTS FOR ‘TIMELINESS OF NOTICE’
AASB’s Legal Assistance Fund filed a “friend of the court brief” in the Webb v. Montgomery County Board of Education case. The primary issue that LAF advanced in its initial brief was that the arbiter does not have authority to revisit prior disciplinary issues – which already had been “litigated” involving the employee. The Supreme Court ruled in the board’s favor on this issue in September. Webb, a teacher who received termination notice after the school year’s end, has filed an application for rehearing on procedural grounds, claiming he did not waive his right to contest the timeliness of his termination notice. The Court of Civil Appeals had ruled that the notice was timely and the decision remains in place with the high court’s ruling. The Legal Assistance Fund Board of Trustees recently has agreed to help the Montgomery County Board of Education in an effort to maintain the precedent established in favor of school boards on the timeliness of termination notice.
HAVE A BELLSOUTH.NET E-MAIL ACCOUNT?
As is often the case with ever-evolving technology, glitches will occur. If you own a BellSouth.net e-mail account or use Outlook Express and haven’t received any e-mail from AASB, check your “spam,” “junk mail” or “trash” folders for our messages. Try making AASB a “safe sender” or add us to your “white list.” Please also call Bell South at 800/436-8638 (dial-up Internet) or 888/321-2375 (high-speed Internet), and the customer service technician will tell you how to fix the problem and explain how you can go online to view messages blocked by your spam filter.
EVALUATE YOUR BOARD
School board evaluation can be used to help raise student achievement. Effective evaluations help full boards set a course of action and serve as an accountability tool boards can use to stay on track. AASB offers a self-evaluation instrument at no charge, but more can be gained from a deeper analysis and a consultant-facilitated discussion of the results. The cost is only $400. For information, contact LuAnn Bird, director of board development, at 334/277-9700 or lbird@alabamaschoolboards.org.
NEWS RELEASES AVAILABLE ONLINE
In the age of time-efficient technology and environmental conservation, we are pleased to announce a change in the way we assist you in preparing news releases about your attendance at AASB’s events. Fully customizable news release templates will be posted online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org/Newsroom.htm for you to download and modify to meet your needs. We hope this will prove to be a positive change for you in your efforts to obtain positive press coverage in your school system.
KUDOS TO NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BOARDS
The National School Boards Association has recently honored two Alabama school boards for excellence in technology. The Madison Board of Education ranks first among medium-size school systems in the nation as a 2009 Digital School Board. The ranking was based on responses to the annual Digital School Boards Survey that NSBA conducts jointly with the Center for Digital Education. Cullman City Schools is one of three 2009 Salute Districts, recognized by NSBA for the use of technology to support innovative strategies that promote student achievement and organizational efficiencies. The 2009 Salute Districts and Digital School Boards will be recognized during NSBA’s T+L (technology plus learning) Conference in Denver, Oct. 28-30.
MAGNA AWARD NOMINEES DUE OCT. 31
From now through Oct. 31, your school system can apply for the 2010 Magna Awards, American School Board Journal’s annual program that honors best practices in the nation’s school systems. Co-sponsored by the National School Boards Association and Sodexo School Services, the Magna Awards recognize programs that showcase the system’s leadership, creativity, innovation and commitment to student achievement. Best of all, there is no cost to enter. All you have to do is fill out the nomination online at www.asbj.com/magnanominations. Grand prize winners receive a $3,500 award from Sodexo.
DELEGATE NAMES DUE BY NOV. 2
School boards have until Monday, Nov. 2, to notify AASB of the names of their delegate(s) and alternate(s) to the association’s annual Delegate Assembly. At AASB’s annual business meeting, set for Dec. 3, delegates will vote on resolutions that will determine the association’s legislative positions and elect officers. The delegate form should be faxed to Debora at AASB at 334/270-0000.
MENTORS WANTED FOR CONVENTION
Whether you’re a rookie school board member or a veteran board member who remembers what those first years are like, then you’re needed for AASB’s Convention Mentor Program. Veteran board members will be paired with new board members attending AASB’s Convention in December, so rookies can learn the ropes, gain insight, network and share ideas. If you’re interested in serving, contact AASB Board Development Director LuAnn Bird, lbird@alabamaschoolboards.org or 800/562-0601.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
T+L Conference 2009
Oct. 28-30 at the Colorado Convention Center
Presented by the National School Boards Association’s Technology Leadership Network
www.nsba.org/tl/
AASB 2009 Annual Convention
Dec. 3-5 at The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham
A Vision For The Next 60 Years: Lead, Inspire, Change!
Call 877/796-3922 to book housing
NSBA 2010 Annual Conference
April 10-12, 2010, at McCormick Place in Chicago
Online registration is open and housing opens Oct. 7
www.nsba.org
— Denise L. Berkhalter,
publicrelations@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org
Alabama Association of School Boards:
Celebrating 60 years of developing excellent school board leaders through quality training, advocacy and services.
|
