For Your Information

Vol. 20, No. 22
December 12, 2008

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State Board Grapples with Proration, Adopts First Choice Guide

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton predicted the governor’s declaration of proration is just days away.

Though Morton told the state Board of Education at Thursday’s K-12 meeting that he had no idea of just how deep the education budget cuts will be, news reports Friday point to proration in excess of 6 percent, which would more than absorb the $437 million in the state’s Rainy Day Fund that has to be repaid. Any shortfall leftover would result in cuts to this year’s school budgets. School systems have already been tapping into reserves, taking out loans and otherwise propping up budgets when state 25 percent of funds were sent to school systems late in October and November.

However, Morton said he expects K-12 education in Alabama to continue moving forward and “come out of this OK.” His only fear is that accomplishments in reading, math, science, advanced placement and other academic areas may be dampened.

“We don’t want to lose that ability to have students reach for a little higher star, a little more difficult course, a little more rigor,” he said. “We don’t want to go back where students lose hope and teachers lose hope.”

Last month, the state board put forth its 2010 education funding priorities – reaching more adolescent readers through the Alabama Reading Initiative, as well as expansion of the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative and the ACCESS distance learning program.

On a lighter note, Morton discussed his visit to the nation’s capital to meet with the president-elect’s transition team. He and eight other state superintendents traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to discuss the shift to a new U.S. secretary of education and national education agenda.

“We met with President-elect Obama’s transition team and shared ideas with them, and I think it was a very meaningful discussion,” Morton said. “Now we see, in terms of economic stimulus, education is in the mix and will be included to some degree. I think you will see, as we go forward with the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, what we expressed to that transition team.”

Also on Thursday, the state board approved a resolution to adopt the Alabama First Choice Implementation Guide produced by a committee of stakeholders – including AASB’s Executive Director Sally Howell and members Jennifer Parsons of Jefferson County and Laura Casey of Albertville.

Among the components of the First Choice Initiative are:

• Beginning with the ninth-grade class of 2009-2010, the Alabama High School Diploma with the advanced academic endorsement becomes the default diploma for all students, though there is an opt-out option. That endorsement will include Algebra II with trigonometry, two years of foreign language and an online experience – such as an online course or instruction in a virtual environment.
• Local school systems can voluntarily offer credit recovery and/or credit advancement. Students would have opportunities to obtain course credit based on proficiency or mastery of content, rather than time spent in the classroom. About 40 school systems have chosen to offer credit recovery, while eight systems are involved in a credit advancement pilot program.
• Seniors unsuccessful at passing all five sections of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam can seek the credit-based endorsed diploma available to students who have completed all coursework and have at least passed the reading, math and a third section of the graduation exam by the spring of their senior year.
• A stronger effort to ensure all middle grade students are prepared for success in college-preparatory level courses in high school.
  

Though suggested in the First Choice Implementation Guide, the board’s resolution doesn’t make changes to student assessments or authorize a suggested statewide grading scale. Additional board discussion and action would be needed before those changes could be made, Morton said. Read the full First Choice Implementation Guide.

The board’s December meeting also included a number of resolutions, notably the recognition of one of its own – outgoing District VII board member Sandra Hall Ray. She chose not to seek re-election and will attend her last K-12 board meeting Jan. 8. Ray is AASB’s longtime liaison to the state board and was first elected to the state board in 1995. She also formerly served the state board as president pro-tem and vice president and was previously a member of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education.

After hearing endearing words from fellow board members and the state superintendent, Ray was presented the resolution that expressed deep gratitude for Ray’s “unselfish service and commitment to public education.” Ray’s successor is Gary Warren, a retired career-technical and technology administrator for Haleyville schools.

SOUTHERN REGION CONFERENCE IN JULY

The National School Boards Association’s Southern Region Conference meets July 8-10, 2009, at Peabody Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Ark. Attend informative discussion sessions and meet with colleagues from other southern region states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

In addition to promoting public education and school board service, the annual conference promotes the exchange of information regarding public school policies, education advances, school management and related issues.

Complete details about the 2009 conference can be found on the Arkansas School Boards Association Web site or by calling 501/372-1415.

Keep in mind the following 2009 dates, as well:

• Jan. 12-Feb. 9 – AASB District Meetings on School Finance
• Feb. 3 – Legislature Convenes in Regular Session
• March 13 – AASB “Early Bird” Workshop, Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham
• March 13-14 – AASB Academy Core Conference, Leadership in Policy Planning, Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham
• July 25-29 – AASB Summer Conference, Perdido Resort, Orange Beach

REGISTER NOW FOR DISTRICT MEETINGS

Sick of numeric nonsense? Have you ever wondered what financial information is truly critical to your most vital board decisions? Get ready for school finance made simple. Join us at the Jan. 12-Feb. 9 AASB Winter District Meetings for Making Cents: What You REALLY Need to Know about School Finance, presented by AASB Chief Operations Officer Ken Roberts. Learn strategies crucial to effective board governance as it relates to fiscal management and leave with a better understanding of how to survive financially during economic downturns.

AASB Fall District Meetings begin with a 6 p.m. social time, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a 45-minute presentation. The exception is the 5:30 p.m. (CDT) start time in Districts 4 and 5. Reservations are required, and penalty-free cancellations must be made two days prior to the event. The only cost is your meal. School board members earn one credit hour in AASB’s School Board Member Academy for attending.

Go online to make reservations or call 800/562-0601 for details.

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS

Congratulations go to school board members David Strobel of Auburn and Jean Bush of Henry County. Strobel, who recently attended AASB’s Annual Convention, and Bush, who attended the Leadership II new education leader orientation course, won free registration for either the March 2009 or October 2009 AASB School Board Member Academy conferences. They were chosen from those who completed and returned AASB evaluation forms at the December events.

FAIR CAMPAIGN REPORTS DUE BY JAN. 31

Elected school board members and superintendents have until Jan. 31 to file their annual Fair Campaign Practices Act reports. The report, which details contributions to and expenditures by elected officials and candidates in 2008, is available through the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office and local probate judges’ offices and can be downloaded from the secretary of state’s Web site.

In addition, anyone who ran for a public office in 2008 and has not yet dissolved his election committee must file a report. Local officials should file with their probate judge; state officials file with the secretary of state.

BOARD RECOGNITION MATERIALS ONLINE

In preparation for Alabama’s annual observance of School Board Member Recognition Month in January, AASB will soon post promotional kits on www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org for superintendents, school principals, chambers of commerce and other education supporters to use. This is the first time the materials have been posted online rather than mailed. Downloadable and customizable templates for certificates will also be available in time for presentation at January board meetings. If you have any questions, please call Donna at 800/562-0601.

— Denise L. Berkhalter