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EXPECT OCTOBER CHECKS FROM
$149 MILLION EDUCATION JOBS FUND

Alabama’s application is in for $149 million of the $10 billion Congressionally approved Education Jobs Fund. Approval is expected in the coming weeks, and money should be available to schools by October. Local K-12 education agencies get 100 percent of the funding and may use it for the 2011 and/or 2012 school years.

The federal dollars – distributed at $3,079 per unit based on the state’s Foundation Program formula – must be used by Sept. 30, 2012, for school-level employee compensation, benefits and such related expenses as support services. About 2,700 education jobs could be saved in Alabama, among 160,000 preserved education jobs nationwide.

The outlook for 2011 signals another year of additional cuts.  Guidance continues to be developed by the U.S. Department of Education and state Department of Education.
Next month, the state board will announce plans to clarify rules regarding the state superintendent’s authority to impose sanctions upon or take action against certificates or licenses. A vote is expected in November that would, among other things, make clear that a decision regarding an individual’s fitness to teach and suitability for public employment is permanent. The state superintendent has the authority to revoke, suspend, recall, non-renew or refuse to issue a certificate or license. He may also publicly reprimand a certificate holder or put that person on probation. Superintendents who fail to meet the reporting obligations outlined in the rules could face disciplinary sanctions against their certificates.  

In other business, the state board discussed administrative rules changes, all to transportation, necessary to align with the legislatively approved Education Trust Fund allocations. Also proposed Thursday was requiring one certified bus mechanic per 25 buses and authorizing the state superintendent to approve debt obligations for school buses. The state board also plans to consider a resolution at its Sept. 9 regular K-12 meeting to support lesson plans developed for the 2010 Gubernatorial Election. The lesson plans are posted on the Alabama Learning Exchange website.

As an aside, state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton gingerly provided an update on the state’s initial $148 million British Petroleum claim. State officials say BP’s Gulf Coast oil spill meant lost tax revenue that would’ve otherwise gone toward public education and other services. Talks between BP and officials stalled, Morton said, following the state lawsuit filed against the oil company this month by the attorney general. News reports say the lawsuit claims punitive and economic damages.

“Whenever a payment comes, it certainly would help this year because we’re not sure the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30 can end without more proration being declared,” Morton said. “It’s going to be a very close call. We’re at 7.5 percent now.”

EDUCATION TRUST FUND UPDATE

Receipts to the Education Trust Fund in the current year continue to lag behind the amounts received during the same period last year. There is still concern that the gulf oil spill will negatively impact receipts to the fund in the current year and early portion of the 2011 fiscal year. These factors are causing doubt that the revenue base used in the current budget and 2011 FY budget will be sufficient, thus raising the possibility of proration in either or both years. The Education Jobs bill infused $149 million into the 2011 FY budget, but there still exists some doubt as to whether that will be sufficient to completely plug the hole in next year’s budget. State Department of Education officials have advised school boards to budget for 3-5 percent proration.

MISSED YOUR DISTRICT MEETING?

Fall AASB District Meetings are still underway. Those who missed their district meetings may attend any of the following.

• District 3, Sept. 16 at Enterprise High School in Enterprise
• District 4, Sept. 14 at The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon  Conference Center in Auburn
•  District 6, Sept. 13 at Classic on Noble in Anniston
• District 7, Sept. 2 at Wintzell’s Oyster House in Northport
• District 8, Aug. 30 at Decatur Holiday Inn in Decatur
• District 9, Aug. 31 at Huntsville Center for Technology in Huntsville

Meetings begin at 6 p.m. central, followed by a 6:30 p.m. dinner and a 45-minute program titled Getting Kindergartners Ready for Big School. The presentation peels back the layers on quality pre-kindergarten education and its impact on school readiness. Fall District Meetings are also an opportunity to celebrate winners of the President's Award. The honor recognizes school boards that have 60 percent or more of their members attend at least three AASB conferences in a School Board Member Academy year. The program is a member service worth one academy hour, and the only cost is dinner. Register now.

GET YOUR RULES IN ORDER! ON SEPT. 8!

Parliamentary procedure is more than just the rules and customs governing your board meetings and operations. Board procedures, done appropriately, can actually facilitate more effective discussions, which leads to better decision-making. Does your school board exhibit the best practices of effective meetings and an expert use of parliamentary procedure? Join Zenda Bowie, director of field services for the Georgia Association of School Boards, and LuAnn Bird, AASB’s director of board development, as they present Effective Meetings Using Parliamentary Procedure. The Sept. 8 webinar/teleconference will cover school board member decorum using Robert’s Rules of Order to guide discussion and engage your school board. Space is limited. Register now.

DISCOUNT HOUSING ENDS SEPT. 16 FOR OCTOBER ACADEMY CONFERENCE

Check your AASB School Board Member Academy statement to ensure you’ve had the Leadership for Academic Achievement core course necessary to advance to a new level in the four-level school for school board members. Even if you have taken the course, you’ll learn something new Oct. 3-4. Keynote speakers will address raising the academic bar for all children to ensure college and career readiness and will discuss the state’s look at factoring student achievement in to how teacher effectiveness is measured. You’ll even enjoy a close encounter with a real-life 21st century school! This is an exciting opportunity you will not want to miss. So, book your housing at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery now. The discount rate ends Sept. 16. Register here. Call 800/562-0601 if you have questions.

Note: An optional dinner on Sunday, Oct. 3, will be provided by TCU Consulting Services, Payne & Associates Architects, McKee & Associates and Bush Holland Architects at Dreamland Barbeque, 101 Tallapoosa St. The Executive Committee of the Alabama Caucus of Black School Board Members will meet at 11:45 a.m. Monday, Oct. 4 in Riverview IV.

DISTRICT DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS DUE SEPT. 1

If you are interested in serving a two-year term as an AASB District Director, now is your chance. Nominations for AASB’s odd-numbered districts must be received in writing and postmarked or received by the executive director no later than Sept. 1. Each school board will receive a ballot to vote on during its October school board meeting. Ballots must be returned to AASB by Oct. 31. District 1 Director Stephanie Walker of Brewton, District 3 Director Roxie Kitchens of Troy and District 9 Director Dr. Jennie Robinson of Huntsville are eligible for re-election. New directors will be chosen in districts 5 and 7. A director completing a full term is eligible for another. Nominations thus far: Stephanie Walker of Brewton for District 1, Kim Benos of Vestavia Hills for District 5 and Tracy Estes of Winfield for District 7. Download the nomination form, details about the election process and a district director candidate brochure at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org. Address questions about the election process to AASB Executive Assistant Tammy Wright. 

ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER, IT’S NOT TOO SOON!

Newly-elected and veteran lawmakers alike will be asked to build an education budget using far fewer dollars for the 2012 school year.  It will be an overwhelming challenge.  Understanding how your school system has handled being underfunded and 18.5 percent proration in the last two years is critical, so local lawmakers can best decide funding priorities with your schools in mind.  Please contact lawmakers and include them in the difficult funding decisions. Offer your help as a resource, so state-level decisions best work for you locally.  Not sure how?  Contact AASB Director of Governmental Relations Lissa Tucker, 800/562-0601.

FREE WEBINAR ON EVALUATIONS

eBOARDsolutions recently announced a new evaluation module for its integrated suite of web-based tools.  The module allows school boards to enhance, align and streamline governance and leadership evaluations and assessments such as: school board standards; board self assessments; superintendent evaluations; and district accreditation. Register for Sept. 1 and 15 or Oct. 6 and 20. Participants earn a special introductory subscription price of just $500 plus set-up fee. Through a strategic partnership with AASB, subscribers in Alabama receive an additional discount on eBOARD modules. Visit www.eboardsolutions.com.

GET AN EDGE IN ARBITRATION CASES

AASB has launched a useful arbitration database that can be analyzed and searched for outcomes in Teacher Tenure and Fair Dismissal cases. Discover the trends and data that will give your board of education the edge! Superintendents and school board attorneys are invited to sign up for one of two free webinars demonstrating aB@SE. Only 20 spaces are available for each session, Tues., Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. Call 800/562-0601.

SHOPPERS EARN FREE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS

A free webinar for superintendents and principals, 10-11 a.m. on Sept. 1, will demonstrate how an easy-to-add fundraising portal on school websites can earn free revenue for your schools. Register for the webinar at http://www.itybityurl.com/11685 or call AASB at 800/562-0601 for details.

— Denise L. Berkhalter,
publicrelations@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org

Thanks to special partner High Ground Solutions Inc.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Aug. 23-Sept. 13
AASB Fall District Meetings
(1 Academy hour)
Oct. 3-4
Leadership for Academic Achievement
(6 Academy hours)
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel, Montgomery
Dec. 2
Effective Boards & Relationships Orientation
(6 Academy hours, formerly Leadership II)
Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham
Dec. 2-4
AASB Annual Convention
(8 Academy hours)
Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham
 Jan. 18-Feb. 10, 2011
AASB Winter District Meetings
(1 Academy hour)

Connect with alaschoolboards via Facebook and Twitter and download our free iPhone/Blackberry smart phone application (search for BoardCast at the iTunes store). Special thanks to AASB’s business partners, eBOARDsolutions, Inc. and High Ground Solutions, Inc. To learn more or to schedule your free webinar or demonstration, contact AASB at info@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

— Denise L. Berkhalter,
publicrelations@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org

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