Association of Alaska School Boards

Legislative Bulletin

A weekly digest of activity by the Alaska Legislature and U.S. Congress for Alaska’s School Board Members. AASB Tel. 907-586-1083, Fax 907-586-2995. Executive Director, Carl Rose, crose@aasb.org; Editor, John Greely, Review past issues of the Bulletin on the AASB website at http://www.aasb.org. To unsubscribe send an email requesting the same to jgreely@aasb.org

This bulletin is distributed by email only. School districts should copy for board members not online.

April 4, 2008

GOVERNOR WHACKS BUDGET; $3.6 BILLION PUT IN SAVINGS

About $3.2 million worth of education projects fell to the governor’s veto pen as she signed a supplemental budget bill on Thursday, April 3. In all, Governor Sarah Palin struck down $58 million in capital projects. Of the $12 million in projects she allowed to become law, about $1 million was allocated to 14 education projects, among them repairs to existing buildings that she said could only be accomplished in a short summer construction season before classes resume in August. The governor suggested to legislators that of the $3.2 million in vetoed education projects, the vast majority would meet her approval if inserted into the FY 2009 capital budget now taking shape in the House. Here are links to the governor’s veto message and the list of capital projects:

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/09_omb/budget/SB256_Gov_Transmittal_Letter_to_Sen_Green_4-3-08.pdf

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/09_omb/budget/SB256_Section13_Decisions.pdf

The supplemental budget (SB 256) includes $3.6 billion in appropriations to two budget reserve accounts. The bill also provides $300 million for weatherization programs, $180 million to restore municipal revenue sharing and $18 million to fund the Senior Benefit Program. A news story on the supplemental budget vetoes is here:

http://www.adn.com/legislature/story/365220.html

In the meantime, there is still plenty of business to take care of in the regular session with just 8 days left before the voter-imposed deadline to adjourn on April 13. For educators, the House and Senate must still address a short list of policy and budget issues. They include:

Additional School Funding

With the signing of HB 273, action has been completed on the major school funding bill of the session, an historic rewrite of the foundation formula for K-12 schools. The capital budget (SB 221) includes a separate appropriation of $20.7 million to school districts for energy relief. As written by the Senate, the money would go to districts based on their adjusted ADM, or average daily membership. SB 221 is now before the House Finance Committee, where public testimony on the bill is scheduled for Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.

State Intervention in School Districts

SB 285 passed the Senate by a vote of 18-0 on Monday, March 24. It establishes the rules for the Department of Education & Early Development to intervene in the management of schools where students are performing poorly on state assessments. The measure is now in the House Finance Committee, where a hearing is scheduled on Monday, April 7, at 1:30 p.m. A copy of the latest version of the bill is here:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0285C&session=25

School Bond Debt Reimbursement

HB 373 extends the state reimbursement program for local school bonds until November, 2010. The program now provides up to 70 percent state financing of local school bonds authorized by municipal voters. A Senate substitute bill drafted by the Finance Committee changes the level of property values that trigger local participating share requirements. A value per ADM of up to $150,000 would trigger a 5 percent participating share; from $150,001 to $275,000 would be 10 percent; $275,001 to $800,000 would be 30 percent; and over $800,000 would be 35 percent.

Consortium for Digital Learning

AASB has requested $5 million to implement the next phase of the 1-to-1 laptop program begun in 2006. The funds were included in the capital budget (SB 221) adopted by the Senate.

Student Questionnaires and Surveys

HB 207 would ease restrictions on the use of anonymous surveys and questionnaires by school districts to sample student opinion. A House Rules Committee substitute narrows the list of surveys allowed through passive parental permission to one – a youth risk behavior survey by the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill passed the House on Thursday by a vote of 28 to 12. It is now in the Senate. Here is a copy of the latest version:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=HB0207D&session=25

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, OMB DIRECTOR SCHEDULED AT APRIL FLY-IN

Senate President Lyda Green and House Finance Committee Co-chairman Mike Chenault will speak to the AASB Legislative Fly-in on Monday and Tuesday, April 7 & 8. Green and Chenault will be joined on the agenda by Karen Rehfeld, director of the Office of Management and Budget, who will address participating school board members on Sunday, April 6. The legislative leaders and Rehfeld will give an update major education issues before the 25^th Alaska Legislature.

Also addressing the Fly-in will be Eddy Jeans, director of School Finance at the Department of Education & Early Development, and Carl Rose, AASB executive director. An agenda for the Spring Boardsmanship Academy and Legislative Fly-in is here:

http://www.aasb.org/Calendar/sprboardflyin.html