The Alabama Association of School Boards

Leg-Alert

Volume 35, No. 2
February 13, 2009

Congress Action Sets Up Fate for
State Education Budget

Education Trust Fund budget planning is in limbo until the federal economic stimulus package is enacted. With bated breath, Alabama’s public education leaders wait for the president to receive and sign a final version to determine the fiscal impact for 2010. Local school boards’ expectations yo-yo from bracing for severe state funding cuts to sighing with relief because federal intervention may alleviate the worst cuts. In no event, however, would the federal stimulus package prevent the ETF budget from a shortfall in 2010.

Hopes are pinned on parts of the stimulus package that would target education dollars to be allocated according to the state education funding formula. These stabilization funds would be distributed according to the Foundation Program targeted for student learning. The funds would save education jobs and safeguard student instructional materials.

The U.S. Congress still must accept the compromise proposal totaling $790 billion, with $53.6 billion included for state budget stabilization. It would include $13 billion nationally for Title I grants and $12.2 billion for special education. State incentive grants would be funded at $4.3 billion.

For Alabama, it means anywhere from $382 million to $424 million reserved for K-12. Approximately $133 million would be available for other governmental purposes, including education. Alabama’s Title I programs would receive $199 million and special education $180 million.

State Budget Committee Members Concerned

House and Senate education budget committee discussed the 2010 budget outlook. Senate Chairman Hank Sanders’ questions made it clear that federal dollars are not sufficient to fill the hole in the overall education budget. Senate President Pro Tem Rodger Smitherman voiced concern that the governor’s proposed cut to state-funded teachers hurts student learning and costs jobs. Committee members are seeking alternatives to cuts that force layoffs and hurt student achievement.

Education cuts impacting K-12 schools will have to be made. In anticipation of the budget process, AASB surveyed local school leaders asking them to prioritize possible state funding cuts. The results confirm that the priorities for local school boards are to protect student achievement, preserve education employees’ jobs and protect programs to help close the achievement gap among students.

For example, the governor’s initial budget contains significant cuts to how local schools earn state-funded teachers by raising the divisors in the foundation formula. The result would be larger class sizes because of the net loss of teachers. Raising divisors is a heavy blow to the classroom and negatively impacts student learning. School board members spoke clearly and firmly about preserving the divisors. Survey results show which funding local school boards most want to protect and which areas could be cut first to minimize the harm to student learning. The survey results are available by either calling 800-562-0601 or online at www.alabamaschoolboards.org/Lobbying.htm .

AASB encourages local school boards and lawmakers to discuss their budget priorities in their districts. Walk through the scenarios of different levels of state funding and the impact on your students. Budget cuts will have an impact, but your decisions about where to make cuts can mean the difference between Alabama’s students and teachers weathering the economic crisis or being its victims.

ETF Rolling Reserve Act
Common Sense for Common Good

Imagine, as the nation experiences this deep recession, that Alabama’s education budget actually grew by 6.6 percent. Even better, instead of having endured proration nine times since 1979, Alabama schools sustained steady growth between 4 percent and 7 percent in that time. It’s not magic; it’s simply responsible budgeting.

H.509, the Education Trust Fund Rolling Reserve Act, would put in place a state budgeting process that would protect public schools from the roller coaster impact of economic cycles and builds in systemic, sustainable growth. Rep. Greg Canfield’s bill proposes building reserves in strong fiscal years to allow stable growth when the economy slows. Using 15-year budget history, the process would also allow the ETF to begin to pay down unfunded liability reserves for employee health benefits (PEEHIP), education employee retirement benefits (TRS) and by accumulating funds for school construction.

AASB advocates prudent education budgeting, and this legislation would fulfill that goal of its legislative agenda. Local school boards strongly support consistent, measured growth for public education. Alabama’s public students suffer great setbacks when proration is called, and it takes years to recover. A responsible budgeting process removes the risk and provides local school boards the tools to plan and build public education.

The plan will not change the fact that public education is underfunded in Alabama. However, the budget proposal would make the best use of education dollars and protect students and employees in the process. The companion bill is S.341, sponsored by Sen. Steve French.

Tourism is Big Business
Pushing for School Start Date….Again

“Tourism is Big Business” announce flyers on lawmakers’ doors at the state house, heralding tourism groups that arrive next week to lobby a school start date bill. Not a new issue, the effort by tourism and the summer camp industry to push back school start dates and expand/define public school summers returns. Tourism is big business but has no business dictating the education business.

A new approach would change how the school year is calculated from a defined number of instructional days to an aggregate number of instructional hours. That approach is used in several other states and may give more flexibility for school scheduling. However, H.495/S.348 remain unacceptable because it requires school to finish the Friday before Memorial Day and mandates a minimum 12-week summer holiday. A simple conversation with a school board member or school superintendent or any community member who serves on the local school calendar committee quickly shows the proposal is a no-go. Local school boards and superintendents unequivocally oppose school start date legislation. Student learning and achievement is the business of educators.

All “GO” for School Board Member Training

Local school boards support early passage for legislation requiring each board to craft a policy outlining orientation and ongoing training for its members. Governing a school system requires immediate familiarity with a complex and sophisticated education system. It requires familiarity with student achievement best practices; state, federal and local finance; employment law; health and school safety codes; open meetings laws; student transportation requirements; and much, much more.

Research shows that professional development for school board members positively impacts student achievement. The legislation gives local boards autonomy to determine the training that best meets their needs. The legislation is supported by the entire education community.

Please urge lawmakers to support S.220/H.182 as a bipartisan, non-controversial bill. S.220, sponsored by Sen. Ted Little, is in line for passage on the Senate floor. H.182, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Oden, is scheduled for the House Education Policy Committee Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Outdated Law Needs Revision for School Nurses

H.47/S.184 would update obsolete language in Alabama law regarding school nurses and provide authority for school systems to employ licensed practical nurses (LPNs) under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs).

The current law is badly outdated and conflicts with efforts to keep school systems staffed with nursing professionals for our students. AASB supports early passage of the legislation. H.47, sponsored by Rep. Robert Bentley, is pending in House Appropriations Committee. S.184, sponsored by Sen. Quinton Ross, is pending in Senate Finance & Taxation Education Committee.

Public Education Tax Authority Needs Fix

Alabama has authorized all counties in the state to levy up to 15 mills in property taxes for educational purposes. Through various constitutional amendments, that authority allows any school system to use all or a portion to support its schools. Five specific taxes comprise the 15 mills. All but one require a simple majority of voters to approve the tax. It is the 1- mill county tax that requires a 3/5 super majority for approval that has put some school systems in a quandary

AASB supports H.253, passed by the Education Appropriations committee Wednesday, to fix this problem. H.253/S.116 is a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would make it easier to renew the existing local one mill countywide property tax for education. It would remove the 3/5 super majority requirement and changes it to a simple majority. H.253 next moves to the House floor.

Bank Program Good for Local Schools

AASB supports H.143, a bill to allow school boards to place certain funds in programs that provide full FDIC coverage for deposits that exceed normal FDIC limits. These programs represent a viable alternative to the current requirement that all board funds be secured by the SAFE program. H.143 is pending in the House Banking and Insurance Committee.

Support SSA Program Legislation

H.495/S.262 would establish School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) to administer the professional development program for county and city superintendents. AASB supports this legislation.

Education-Related Bills
To track the status of additional education-related bills, visit AASB’s Web site:

www.alabamaschoolboards.org/lobbying.htm

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Local school boards work with legislative leaders to accomplish the public’s highest priority -- educating our children.
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