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.

March 16, 2007

--HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE TAKES PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON BUDGET

--LAWMAKERS DEMAND CHANGES TO NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW

--MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS SPONSOR SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS ACT

--EDUCATION BILLS SCHEDULED FOR HEARINGS NEXT WEEK

--AASB LEGISLATIVE WEBCAST & AUDIO CONFERENCE SCHEDULED MARCH 23

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HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE TAKES PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON BUDGET

AASB encourages school districts to take part in a series of legislative teleconferences on the state budget for Fiscal Year 2008. The operating budget (HB 95) appropriates funds for a wide variety of services, including K-12 education. Public schools in Alaska are counting on the Legislature to increase basic support for education this year to help attract and retain quality teachers and meet increasing retirement costs, among other issues.

Each school district in Alaska has a unique perspective on the needs of their students for a quality education. During the AASB Legislative Fly-in last month, school leaders agreed on six key issues that affect schools. The position statement, “School Boards United,” is available at the AASB website, here:

http://www.aasb.org/Frontpage/Feature1.html

The House Finance Committee is taking testimony from the public beginning Friday, March 16, and concluding on Monday, March 19. See the schedule below for the time set aside for testimony from your community:

Saturday, March 17 10 a.m.

Public testimony

10 - 11:30 a.m. Kenai, Valdez, Kodiak, Ketchikan, Seward, Matsu, Glennallen, Tok.

11:45 to 1:00 p.m. Sitka, Wrangell, Homer, Petersburg, Dillingham, Cordova.

1- 2:00 p.m. Lunch

2:00- 3:15 p.m. Bethel, Kotzebue, Barrow, Nome, Delta Junction, offnets

3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Fairbanks.

Monday, March 19 4:00 p.m.

Public testimony - Anchorage

Tuesday, March 20

House Finance considers amendments to HB 95 and HB 96

LAWMAKERS DEMAND CHANGES TO NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW

President Bush’s signature No Child Left Behind education law is headed for fundamental changes as Congress rewrites it this year, including a likely softening of do-or-die deadlines. Key Democrats who control the federal purse strings are demanding changes. Moderate Republicans say the law must be more flexible. On Thursday, they were joined by dozens of GOP conservatives who want an even more radical overhaul. See full story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/15/congress.no.child.ap/index.html

MURKWOSKI AND STEVENS SPONSOR SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS ACT

Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens have signed on as cosponsors to legislation that would extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act by one year. The program provides a dedicated funding stream for local municipalities and school districts dependent on forest timber receipts that have been unable to rely on consistent and sustainable payments due to the continued controversy over timber sales in national forests. See full news release here:

http://murkowski.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=270410

EDUCATION BILLS SCHEDULED FOR HEARINGS NEXT WEEK

March 22, 3:00 p.m. House Health, Education and Social Services Committee

HB 72 School District Cost Factors

HB 181 Traffic Offenses in School Zones

AASB LEGISLATIVE WEBCAST AND AUDIO CONFERENCE SCHEDULED MARCH 23

An hour-long audio conference updating member districts on the 2007 legislative session is scheduled for March 23 from noon to 1 p.m. AASB Executive Director Carl Rose will host the session. A question and answer session is also planned.

“Although the legislature has yet to attain critical speed when it comes to education issues, it won’t be long before both houses are moving very quickly,” says Rose. “I look forward to this opportunity to discuss legislative issues with our members and organize our advocacy efforts around specific priorities.”

The March 23 session will allow members to access the Internet and the telephone at the same time to follow the presentation on various issues and bills. Click here for more information:

http://www.aasb.org/Frontpage/audioconf.html