House Committee on Education (03/03/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	03/03/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:35 PM to 08:07 PM	Buckner	X
		Court	X
Place:	LSB A	Everett	X
		Fields	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Holbert	X
	Representative Hamner	McNulty	E
		Murray	X
This Report was prepared by		Pettersen	X
	Lisa Gezelter	Priola	*
		Wilson	X
		Young	X
		Peniston	X
		Hamner	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB14-1298 HB14-1292		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

01:37 PM -- HB14-1298

Representative Hamner, Chair, called the meeting to order and welcomed the audience and committee members. She explained that she would be presenting bills and that Representative Peniston would be chairing the remainder of the meeting. Representative Peniston informed the members of the audience that witness testimony would be limited to two minutes and explained the reasons for the time limit. She discussed the importance of the bills and informed the audience that no action would be taken on either bill at this meeting.

Representative Hamner, co-sponsor, introduced House Bill 1298, which funds what is required under the school finance formula with a 2.8 percent increase, and recommends that the General Assembly keep the negative factor constant. Additionally, the bill increases preschool and kindergarten slots by 5000, and increases funding allocations to Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Representative Hamner presented her overview of the bill (Attachment A) and distributed it to committee members. Representative Buckner, co-sponsor, added his comments and presented additional information on the BOCES funding request.

14HseEd0303AttachA.pdf

The co-sponsors responded to questions from the committee. They discussed the sources of funding for schools. Todd Herreid, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to explain the revenue streams that generate funds for schools. Mr. Herreid responded to questions from the committee. The co-sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

The following people testified:

02:00 PM -- Gloria Higgins, representing Executives Partnering to Invest in Children, testified in support of the bill.

02:03 PM -- Heather Tritten, representing Qualistar and the Early Childhood Summit, testified in support of the bill.

02:05 PM -- Bill Jaeger, Vice-President of Early Childhood Initiatives for the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

02:07 PM

The three preceding witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

02:08 PM -- David Martinez, a student at Sims Fayola International Academy, testified in support of the bill.

02:10 PM -- Josiah Kinchelow, a student at Sims Fayola International Academy, testified in support of the bill.

02:11 PM -- Armond Cardona, a student at Sims Fayola International Academy, testified in support of the bill.

02:12 PM -- Pedro Sainz-Martinez, a student at Sims Fayola International Academy, testified in support of the bill.

02:13 PM

The students from Sims Fayola International Academy responded to questions from the committee.

02:15 PM -- Paula Stephenson, representing the Colorado Rural Schools Caucus, gave comments on the bill and made suggestions regarding the cost of living factor adjustment.

02:17 PM

Representative Hamner called Todd Herreid, Legislative Council Staff, back to the table to address concerns about the cost of living factor adjustment. Mr. Herreid responded to questions from the committee. Ms. Stephenson responded to questions from the committee.

02:26 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Urschel distributed a packet of information to the committee (Attachment B).

14HseEd0303AttachB.pdf

02:29 PM -- Sean Ash, representing the Windsor Re-4 District School Board, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Ash responded to questions from the committee.

02:33 PM

Dr. Urschel responded to questions from the committee.

02:34 PM -- Tim Sanger, President of the Colorado BOCES Association and Director of the Northeast Colorado BOCES, testified in support of the bill.

02:37 PM -- Dale McCall, Executive Director of the Colorado BOCES Association, testified in support of the bill.

02:38 PM

The two witnesses from the Colorado BOCES Association responded to questions from the committee.

02:41 PM

Representative Peniston closed testimony on HB 14-1298.

02:42 PM -- HB14-1292

Representative Hamner, co-sponsor, introduced House Bill 14-1292, also known as the Student Success Act, which allocates funding to educational initiatives such as charter school capital construction, programs for English Language Learners (ELLs), and a statewide transition to an Average Daily Membership (ADM) method of counting students rather than a single count day. Representative Murray, co-sponsor, added opening comments to the bill and discussed education funding as a percentage of the state's budget. She discussed the provisions of the bill that allocate one-time funding or recurring funding that does not get applied to the base, and therefore does not obligate the state's General Fund on an ongoing, increasing basis. Representative Hamner discussed the handout she distributed to the committee (Attachment C) and the table of contents to the Student Success Act (Attachment D).

14HseEd0303AttachC.pdf

14HseEd0303AttachD.pdf

Representative Hamner discussed the needs of teachers in Colorado and how the bill would meet those needs. She discussed the wishes of parents and taxpayers about fiscal transparency and explained how the bill addresses those concerns. She discussed House Bill 12-1238 (the Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act, or READ Act) and how the bill addresses the needs that became apparent after passage of that law. She discussed the needs of ELL students and how the bill supports them. She discussed concerns about the current student count date, and how the bill shifts the state to an ADM count. She discussed concerns about facilities funding relating to kindergarten, charter schools, and technology. She explained how the bill meets those needs.

The co-sponsors responded to questions from the committee. Julie Pelegrin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to answer questions regarding the fiscal transparency portion of the bill. Representative Murray, Ms. Pelegrin, and Representative Hamner responded to questions from the committee. Todd Herreid, Legislative Council Staff, came back to the table to respond to questions from the committee. Ms. Pelegrin and Representative Hamner continued to respond to questions from the committee.

The following people testified:

03:17 PM -- Michael Clough, Superintendent of Sheridan School District, testified in support of the bill.

03:20 PM -- Larry Quintana, representing the Adams County School District 14 Board of Education, testified in support of the bill.

03:22 PM -- Pat Sanchez, Superintendent of Adams County School District 14, testified in support of the bill.

03:26 PM -- Lisa Nolan, representing Skyview Academy, testified in support of the bill.

03:28 PM -- Liz Wolfson, Director of the Girls Athletic Leadership School, testified in support of the bill.

03:31 PM -- Sally Sorte, Director of Schools for Academy 360, testified in support of the bill.

03:33 PM -- Al Timothy, Board Chair of Colorado Succeeds, testified in support of the bill.

03:36 PM -- Luke Ragland, Vice-President of Colorado Succeeds, testified in support of the bill.

03:38 PM -- Charles Ward, Vice-President of Public Affairs for the Denver Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill.

03:41 PM -- Dominic DeFelice, Superintendent of New America School, testified in support of the bill. Mr. DeFelice responded to questions from the committee.

03:50 PM -- Miranda Lane, Ricardo Barraza, and Trisha Reeder, members of the Bethune Student Leadership Advisory Committee, testified in opposition to the bill. The students responded to questions from the committee.

03:58 PM

Representative Peniston called a ten minute recess.

04:12 PM

Representative Peniston called the committee back to order.

04:12 PM -- Ethan Hemming, Executive Director of the Colorado Charter School Institute, testified in support of the bill.

04:15 PM -- Dan Schaller, Director of Advocacy for the Colorado League of Charter Schools, testified in support of the bill.

04:17 PM -- Sam Todd, representing the Board of Directors of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, testified in support of the bill.

04:20 PM -- Kirk Banghart, representing San Luis Valley Superintendents, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Banghart responded to questions from the committee.

04:23 PM -- George Welsh, Superintendent of Center School District, gave comments on the bill.

04:25 PM -- Kevin Schott, Superintendent of North Conejos Schools, gave comments on the bill.

04:26 PM -- Michael Moore, Superintendent of South Conejos School District, gave comments on the bill.

04:30 PM

The four superintendents responded to questions from the committee.

04:37 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, spoke about the bill. She testified that the bill should be amended to allow for more local control.

04:38 PM -- Jim Obrien, President of Cherry Creek School Board, spoke about the bill. He testified that the bill should be amended to allow for more local control of funds.

04:40 PM -- Harry Bull, Superintendent of Cherry Creek Schools, spoke about the bill. He testified that the bill should be amended to allow for more local control of funds.

04:43 PM -- Dennis Herman, representing the Holyoke School District Board of Education, spoke about the bill. He testified that the bill should be amended to allow for more local control.

04:46 PM -- Bret Miles, Superintendent of Holyoke School Districts, spoke about the bill. He testified that the bill should be amended to allow for more local control.

04:48 PM

The preceding five witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

05:00 PM -- Ranelle Lang, Superintendent of Greeley School District 6, gave comments on the bill.

05:03 PM -- John McCleary, Superintendent of Liberty School District and also representing East Central BOCES, testified in opposition to the bill.

05:05 PM -- Jeff Durbin, Superintendent of Stratton School District and also representing East Central BOCES, testified in opposition to the bill.

05:07 PM

The preceding three witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

05:16 PM -- Paul McCarty, Superintendent of Hanover School District 28, spoke about the bill. He testified that the bill should be amended to allow for more local control. Mr. McCarty responded to questions from the committee.

05:19 PM -- Stephanie James, President of the Adams 12 District Accountability Committee, gave comments on the bill.

05:22 PM -- Ron Patera, Chief Financial Officer for Elizabeth School District, gave comments on the bill. Mr. Patera responded to questions from the committee.

05:29 PM -- Lyndon Burnett, Chair of the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Board, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Burnett responded to questions from the committee

05:33 PM

Representative Hamner discussed the portion of the bill dealing with the BEST Program. Committee discussion ensued.

05:36 PM -- Randy Miller, Superintendent of the Eaton School District and also representing the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), testified in opposition to the bill.

05:38 PM -- Lisa Escarcega, representing CASE and Aurora Public Schools, testified in opposition to the bill.

05:40 PM -- Chris Selle, representing CASE, testified in opposition to the fiscal transparency and ADM provisions in the bill.

05:43 PM -- Bill Sutter, representing CASE and the Boulder Valley School District, testified in opposition to the ADM provisions in the bill.

05:45 PM

The preceding four witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

06:03 PM -- Tom Boasberg, Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, spoke about the bill. He testified in support of amending the bill to allow for more local control.

06:12 PM

Representative Peniston reminded the audience that the committee would not be voting on the bill.

06:13 PM -- Liz Fagen, Superintendent of Douglas County Schools, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Fagen responded to questions from the committee.

06:22 PM -- Karen Wick, representing the Colorado Education Association (CEA), testified in opposition to the bill. She explained that districts, schools, and teachers lack the capacity to implement its mandates and would prefer to receive funding without constraints.

06:24 PM -- Amie Baca-Oehlert, representing the CEA, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Baca-Oehlert responded to questions from the committee.

06:28 PM -- Cheryl Serrano, Superintendent of Fountain-Fort Carson District 8 and representing the Pikes Peak Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill and urged the committee members to consider amendments.

06:33 PM -- Brett Ridgeway, Chief Business Officer of Falcon District 49, testified in opposition to the bill.

06:37 PM -- Scott Murphy, Superintendent of Littleton Public Schools, testified in opposition to the bill.

06:39 PM -- Mary Nichols, member of the Littleton School Board, testified in opposition to the bill.

06:39 PM -- Lucie Stanish, President of the Littleton Public Schools Board of Education, testified in opposition to the bill.

06:43 PM

The three witnesses from Littleton Public Schools responded to questions from the committee.

06:50 PM -- Chris Watney, President of the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Watney responded to questions from the committee.

06:58 PM -- Krista Anderson, representing Stand for Children, testified in support of the bill.

07:00 PM -- Van Schoales, representing A+ Denver and Colorado Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), testified in support of the bill.

07:07 PM

Representative Peniston called a brief recess.

07:20 PM

Representative Peniston called the committee back to order.

07:20 PM -- Dave Gibson, representing the Haxtun School Board, testified in opposition to the bill.

07:23 PM -- Douglas Bisonette, Superintendent of the Elizabeth School District, testified in opposition to the bill.

07:25 PM -- Rob Sanders, Superintendent of the Buffalo Re-4J School District, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Sanders responded to questions from the committee.

07:30 PM -- Patrick Pratt, Director of Public Policy for the South Metro Denver Chamber, testified in opposition to the bill.

07:33 PM -- John Brackney, Chief Executive Officer of the South Metro Denver Chamber, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Brackney responded to questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.

07:50 PM -- Kathy Gebhardt, a member of the BEST board, testified in opposition to the bill.

07:53 PM -- Paula Stephenson, Executive Director of the Colorado Rural Schools Caucus, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Stephenson responded to questions from the committee.

07:59 PM

Representative Hamner, offered closing comments to the bill. She discussed the budget cuts that school districts have undergone in recent years and the need to restore funding. She discussed the increases in funding made by this bill and HB 14-1298. She discussed the Governor's budget request. Representative Murray, co-sponsor, offered closing comments to the bill. Representative Peniston thanked the sponsors for bringing the bill to the committee and for their efforts to work together.

08:07 PM

The meeting was adjourned.