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ALABAMA NOW THE 41ST STATE
TO ADOPT COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS

     
Alabama joined the rest of the Southeast Thursday and became the 41st state to adopt common core state standards.

Alabama will now prepare to implement the voluntary common core standards in 2012-2013. The process includes preparing professional development, resources and support materials. Educators would be trained during the 2011-2012 academic year and the summer.

Thursday’s K-12 state Board of Education meeting, fueled by the standards debate, was a barrage of public comments –– with a number addressing fears of federal intrusion on states’ rights. Sen. Scott Beason read Gov.-elect Robert Bentley’s request to postpone the vote until he and his policy team had a chance to review the standards. Supporters emphasized the voluntary initiative was led and developed by states and asked naysayers to shelve the politics and the what-ifs to focus on what’s best for students. Gov. Bob Riley, ex-officio state board president, supported and voted for the standards.
In her comments, AASB Executive Director Sally Howell allayed concerns about the standards eroding local decision-making.

“We are the local control people as local school boards, yet we don’t find this an erosion of our authority,” Howell said. “In Alabama, you have traditionally adopted a course of study, and local school boards have operated within the framework of that course of study. This is no different.”

Howell went on to note that there is “clear and convincing evidence that shows we need to increase the rigor in our state curriculum. We think this is the vehicle to help our students be more competitive in what is a global society.”

In the 7-2 vote, state board members Betty Peters and Stephanie Bell dissented. Bell repeatedly asked to delay board action until the February meeting, the first for incoming members. Ethel Hall of District 4, David Byers of District 6 and Dr. Mary Jane Caylor of District 8 chose not to seek re-election. Bentley will be sworn in as governor on Jan. 17. Mary Scott Hunter will take Caylor’s seat on the state board. Dr. Yvette Richardson will fill Hall’s seat, and Dr. Charles Elliott will take Byers’ seat.

It was Byers who amended the common standards resolution that eventually passed. Byers said he “felt better” by emphasizing that the state board “will continue to be the sole and exclusive entity vested with authority, without restriction, to adopt or revoke all academic standards in all subjects” for Alabama’s public schools.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton said nothing precludes the state board from reconsidering the voluntary common core standards. He has also said local boards can add to the standards.

Two possible K-12 education budget scenarios were presented to the state board in a work session that followed the meeting. The state board plans to submit its budget recommendations to the governor-elect in December or January. These recommendations are considered when the governor submits his suggested 2012 budget to the Legislature. The 2011 Regular Legislative Session starts March 1.

There are elements central to both budget proposals. They include protecting the existing split of Education Trust Fund dollars between K-12, at 69.7 percent, and postsecondary/higher education, at a little less than 26.4 percent. Both plans also assume 2 percent revenue growth in the current fiscal year and possible proration of 3.7 percent. It would also include about $157.8 million for the Other Current Expense line item previously paid for using federal funds. Also embedded in the plans are level funding of existing programs, 3 percent state revenue growth in 2012 and the expectation that the employer’s share in retirement for state-funded personnel will increase from 12.51 to 12.75 percent (nearly $6.9 million).

Under Draft A, the anticipated shortfall for 2012 would be $155.4 million. The total K-12 request for 2012 would be $3.95 billion. This plan includes an additional $10.8 million for transportation.

Draft B would result in a $4.1 billion FY 2012 request for K-12. The state Department of Education anticipates a shortfall of more than $326 million under this plan. Draft B adds:

•  $86 million for transportation;
• $5 million for technology coordinators;
• $2 million for the Career Tech Initiative;
• $5 million for career tech operations and maintenance
• $9.6 million ($200 per unit) for materials and supplies
• $4.8 million ($100 per unit) for technology
• $4.8 million ($100 per unit) for library enhancement
• $4.8 million ($100 per unit) for professional development
• $4.8 million ($100 per unit) for common purchases
• $31 million ($57.50 per student) for textbooks
• $22 million, lost to salaries, that goes to local education agencies under state law, Act 97-238.

The state board may also ask the Legislature to: allow school boards and the state education department more flexibility with expenditures among line items; keep the education employee benefit costs down near FY 2011 levels; reinstate the school board’s role in dismissing certificated and non-certificated personnel; close tax loopholes; protect “required, necessary and proven” educational programs from additional cuts; and to carefully reevaluate each FY 2011 Education Budget line item before inserting it into the FY 2012 education budget.

Morton said he expects the Legislature to face tough choices in 2011, ranging from temporarily decreasing the contract days for K-12 personnel to temporarily decreasing the number of teacher units funded by the state, which increases class sizes. He said he is watching to see if the holidays boost sales, the $116 million British Petroleum claim is paid and the tourists return to Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

In its Dec. 9 meeting, the state board will vote on replacing its administrative rules on teacher certification with a revised chapter of rules (available online at www.alsde.edu). The board will also decide whether to change the number of certified bus mechanics from one per 20 school buses to one per 25 buses.

EDUCATION TRUST FUND UPDATE

Education Trust Fund receipts for October 2010 reflected a substantial decrease of more than 12 percent compared to October 2009. However, this was primarily due to the timing of income tax refunds and debt payments on Public School & College Authority bonds occurring during October of this fiscal year. Considering only one month has elapsed in the current fiscal year, it would be premature to project the deficit to the entire year. However, with the shortage of ETF receipts during FY 2010 eroding the base that the FY 2011 budget is based upon as well as the uncertainty of specific revenue-generating strategies incorporated into the budget and the stagnate nature of ETF receipts in general, proration of the FY 2011 budget remains a real possibility. At this point, the consensus is that the anticipated level of proration for the current fiscal year will be in the range of 3 to 4 percent.

STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR CONVENTION

There is still time to register for AASB’s Dec. 3 and 4 Annual Convention and Delegate Assembly at The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. Enjoy keynote speeches on The Power of Hope in Turbulent Times from Sudanese refugee Gabriel Bol Deng, Overcoming Obstacles to Higher Performance to be presented by inspirational speaker Antowaine Richardson and the  Five Qualities of an Education Hero as delivered by Georgia education committee chairman Rep. Brooks Coleman. There will also be 22 clinic sessions covering everything from technology and academic rigor to dropout prevention and rescuing students in crisis. More than 450 school board members are expected to attend this year’s convention with the theme Take on Turbulent Times: Innovate to Move Students Forward! Register at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org. Earn up to 8 academy hours. Call The Wynfrey at 800/996-3739 or 205/987-1600 for housing information, use AASB group code 1B3456. Call the Hyatt Place Hoover, just minutes from The Wynfrey, for the AASB room rate, 888/492-8847 or 205/988-8444.  

NEW BOARD MEMBER ORIENTATION DEC. 2

If you’re a new school board member or want to refresh your understanding of board basics, plan to attend the Dec. 2 orientation course on Effective Boards & Relationships (formerly Leadership II). The course is required to advance in the AASB School Board Member Academy and occurs prior to the AASB Annual Convention. Attendees earn 6 hours of core academy credit. Registration is open at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

GET INVOLVED: SERVE ON A COMMITTEE

School board members interested in serving on an AASB committee this year should notify AASB Executive Director Sally Howell (P.O. Drawer 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123; 800/562-0601; or 334/270-0000, fax). The deadline to apply for committee membership is Feb. 21. 

DISTRICT MEETINGS JAN. 18-FEB. 10

You will not want to miss the Winter District Meetings set for Jan. 18-Feb. 10 in your local AASB district. The topic is School Boards and the New Political Climate. When Alabama voters went to the polls in November, they set off a political tsunami that drastically altered the political landscape in Montgomery. During the district meetings, you’ll learn just what the new political climate will mean for your schools and school board. AASB Executive Director Sally Howell and Governmental Relations Director Lissa Tucker will analyze the ways in which the new – and newly powerful – players are likely to respond to K-12 issues and how similar changes at the national level will impact education-related bills in Congress. In addition, they will update you on the condition of the Education Trust Fund and offer suggestions to help you work with your local delegation even more effectively. Registration is coming soon at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Jan. 18-Feb. 10, 2011
AASB Winter District Meetings (1 Academy hour)

April 9-11, 2011
NSBA Annual Conference, San Francisco

March 18-19, 2011
AASB Academy Conference
Leadership for Developing a Highly Effective Staff

Oct. 2-3, 2011
AASB Academy Conference
Leadership for Community Engagement

— Denise L. Berkhalter,
publicrelations@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org

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