Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:04/16/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:33 PM to
Holbert
X
Johnston
*
Place:SCR 356
Kerr
X
Merrifield
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Neville T.
X
Senator Hill
Todd
X
Woods
X
This Report was prepared by
Marble
X
Rachel Kurtz-Phelan
Hill
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Conf 15-Private Occupational School Board
Conf 15-Fort Lewis College - Board Of Trustees For
Conf 15-Western State Colorado University Board Of Trustees
Presentation by University of Colorado- Colorado Springs
SB15-267		Refer to the Full Senate
Refer to the Full Senate
Refer to the Full Senate
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Referred to Appropriations


01:33 PM -- Confirmation of Private Occupational School Board

Senator Hill, chair, welcomed the committee members to the meeting. He invited Lorna Candler, Director of the Division of Private Occupational Schools, to the table to introduce the appointees and reappointees to the board, Joseph Wolf, Rochelle Krovitz, and Jean Robinson. Copies of the Governor's appointment letter and the appointee's and reappointees' resumes and applications were distributed to the committee (Attachment A). Ms. Candler provided background information about the board and discussed it's mission and purpose. Mr. Wolf told the committee about his professional background in the banking industry specializing in small businesses. He answered questions from the committee. Ms. Robinson introduced herself and told the committee about her professional background in government relations for several national trade associations. She discussed her expertise in how trade schools are regulated. Ms. Robinson answered questions from the committee. Ms. Krovitz introduced herself to the committee and spoke about her background as an attorney, former teacher, and small business owner.

15SenateEd0416AttachA.pdf15SenateEd0416AttachA.pdf













BILL:Conf 15-Private Occupational School Board
TIME: 01:45:33 PM
MOVED:Marble
MOTION:Refer the appointment of Jean Robinson and the reappointments of Rochelle Krovitz and Joseph Wolf to the Private Occupational School Board to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
Yes
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


01:46 PM -- Confirmation of Fort Lewis College - Board Of Trustees For

Senator Hill invited Dene Kay Thomas, President of Fort Lewis College, to the table to introduce the appointees to the board, Honora Jacquez and Alan Hill. Copies of the Governor's appointment letter and the appointees' resumes and applications were distributed to the committee (Attachment B). Ms. Jacquez told the committee about her personal and professional background, and about why she would like to be a member of the board. Mr. Hill told the committee about his educational and professional background, and about why he would like to be a member of the board. He talked about his experience as an undergraduate student at Fort Lewis College. The appointees answered questions from the committee.

15SenateEd0416AttachB.pdf15SenateEd0416AttachB.pdf
















BILL:Conf 15-Fort Lewis College - Board Of Trustees For
TIME: 01:56:21 PM
MOVED:Marble
MOTION:Refer the appointments of Honora Isabelle Jacquez and Alan G. Hill to the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
Yes
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


01:57 PM

President Thomas answered questions from the committee.


02:00 PM -- Confirmation of Western State Colorado University Board Of Trustees

Senator Hill invited Greg Salsbury, President of Western State Colorado University (Western), to the table. President Salsbury provided background information about Western, and introduced the appointee and reappointee to the board, Erich Ferchau and Todd Wheeler. Copies of the Governor's appointment letter and the appointee's reappointee's resume and application were distributed to the committee (Attachment C). Mr. Ferchau introduced himself to the committee and talked about his personal, educational, and professional background. Mr. Wheeler introduced himself and told the committee about his prior service on the board. The appointees answered questions from the committee.

15SenateEd0416AttachC.pdf15SenateEd0416AttachC.pdf










BILL:Conf 15-Western State Colorado University Board Of Trustees
TIME: 02:07:05 PM
MOVED:Marble
MOTION:Refer the appointment of Erich Marshall Ferchau and the reappointment of Todd M. Wheeler to the Western State Colorado University Board Of Trustees to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0, with two members excused.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
Excused
Todd
Excused
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:11 PM -- Presentation by University of Colorado- Colorado Springs

Senator Hill invited Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Chancellor of the University of Colorado- Colorado Springs to the table to begin her presentation on collaborative projects. Ms. Shockley-Zalabak told the committee about the school's efforts to improve educational access and outcomes in southern Colorado. She discussed curriculum sharing across institutions, the summer bridge programs in five community college and universities, and efforts to increase concurrent enrollment in high schools, especially in rural high schools. She told the committee that five universities across the country are designing curriculums in cybersecurity with industry partners. Chancellor Shockley-Zalabak answered questions from the committee.


02:26 PM

The committee took a brief recess.















02:33 PM -- SB15-267

The committee came back to order. Senator Marble took over as committee chair. Senator Hill, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-267 which is the annual School Finance Act. He discussed the bill's drafting process and fiscal note, budget challenges, the negative factor, and local control. He explained that the bill increases the base per pupil funding amount by 3.8 percent.

The following people testified on the bill:

02:39 PM -- Pam Swanson, Superintendent of Adams County School District 50, spoke about the bill. She explained that she is an advocate for equal opportunity for all students in Colorado. She distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment D). She discussed the demographic make-up of her district, and said that it is important to make sure that under-served families have a voice. She spoke about the challenges of districts with a large population of at-risk students, and discussed the importance of local control and innovation at the district level. Dr. Swanson answered questions from the committee.

15SenateEd0416AttachD.pdf15SenateEd0416AttachD.pdf

02:50 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Board (CASB), spoke about the bill and discussed the portions of the bill about which she is concerned.

02:53 PM -- Eric Sutherland, representing himself, spoke about the bill. He told the committee about his concerns with school finance in the state and about unlawful use of Tax Increment Financing.


02:58 PM

There were no more witnesses and Senator Marble closed public testimony. Senator Johnston distributed amendment L.004 (Attachment E) and explained the amendment. Committee discussion ensued.

15SenateEd0416AttachE.pdf15SenateEd0416AttachE.pdf

03:08 PM

The committee continued to discuss amendment L.004 (Attachment E) and the bill.


03:20 PM

The committee continued to discuss the merits of the bill.


03:41 PM

The committee took a brief recess.





03:46 PM

The committee came back to order.
BILL:SB15-267
TIME: 03:47:45 PM
MOVED:Johnston
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E). The motion failed on a vote of 4-5.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
No
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
No
Todd
Yes
Woods
No
Marble
No
Hill
No
YES: 4 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL































03:48 PM

Senator Johnston distributed amendment L.003 (Attachment F) and explained the amendment. Committee discussed ensued.

15SenateEd0416AttachF.pdf15SenateEd0416AttachF.pdf
BILL:SB15-267
TIME: 03:53:06 PM
MOVED:Johnston
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment F). The motion failed on a vote of 4-5.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
No
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
No
Todd
Yes
Woods
No
Marble
No
Hill
No
YES: 4 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


























03:57 PM

The committee continued to discuss the bill. Senator Hill gave closing comments and asked for the committee's support.
BILL:SB15-267
TIME: 04:08:58 PM
MOVED:Hill
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-267 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
Yes
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


04:09 PM

The committee adjourned.