House Committee on Education (04/16/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	04/16/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	04:05 PM to 05:41 PM	Baumgardner	X
		Benefield	X
Place:	SupCt	Massey	X
		Middleton	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Murray	X
	Representative Merrifield	Peniston	E*
		Priola	X
This Report was prepared by		Scanlan	X
	Katey McGettrick	Schafer S.	X
		Summers	E*
		Todd	E*
		Solano	X
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB09-256		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

04:05 PM -- Senate Bill 09-256

Representative Merrifield explained how the committee would proceed with Senate Bill 09-256, noting that Representative Scanlan will address amendments to be offered on Monday. The bill pertains to the financing of public schools. He explained how the witness testimony portion of the meeting would be handled.

04:07 PM

Representative Scanlan, co-prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-256 explained that she would highlight the areas of the bill that will be amended on Monday. She specifically noted that changes would be made to:

the funding for the Centers of Excellence Program;
the size factor reduction, in order to mitigate the impact the cut would have on rural districts;
the declining enrollment averaging, to reflect current law;
charter school capital construction funding;
elimination of hold-harmless provision in categorical funding;
at-risk funding, which will be amended to reflect current law;
College in Colorado language to include other college preparation tools; and
charter boarding school provisions added in the Senate will be changed to a study.

04:19 PM

Representative Schafer asked how the proposed changes affect the fiscal note. Representative Pommer responded that the final numbers will be similar, but the allocations will change. Representative Pommer responded to questions from the committee about the effect of the changes on school districts.

04:21 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

04:22 PM -- Wilson Hatcher, representing Academy School District 20, testified on the bill, and asked that the size factor in current law not be changed, and asked that other changes be made to the bill.

04:23 PM -- Ann Elrod, representing Academy School District 20, testified on the bill, and asked for no further cuts to K-12 education.

04:28 PM -- Glenn Gustafson, representing Colorado Springs School District 11, testified in support of the bill and shared a handout with committee members (Attachment A).

04:29 PM -- Jan Tanner, representing Colorado Springs School District 11, testified in support of the bill, and noted the budget challenges the district faces.

04:31 PM -- Bruce Broderius, representing Greeley-Evans School District 6, testified on the bill and presented concerns about at-risk funding.

04:33 PM -- Glenn McClain, representing Platte Valley School District, testified on the bill, and asked for the removal of the size factor change currently in the bill.

04:36 PM -- Nina Lopez, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified on the bill and discussed the Centers of Excellence, charter school capital construction, and College in Colorado provisions in the bill.

04:38 PM -- Karen Wick, representing the Colorado Education Association (CEA), testified on the bill, noting provisions CEA agrees with as well as the one it has concerns with in the bill.

04:40 PM -- Linda Barker, representing CEA, testified on the bill and discussed the school audit process.

04:42 PM -- Mike Munier, representing Jefferson County Charter Schools, testified on the bill.

04:46 PM -- Sam Todd, representing Peak to Peak Charter School, testified on the bill, specifically on capital construction funds.

04:51 PM -- Peg LaPlante, representing Englewood Schools, testified in support of the bill, with amendments, and addressed declining enrollment provisions in the bill. She also provided a handout to committee members (Attachment B).

04:54 PM -- Jeff Durbin, representing Otis Schools, testified in support the bill with amendments, and shared the challenges rural school districts face.

04:56 PM -- Lorie Gillis, representing Jefferson County Schools, testified in support of the bill.

04:57 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, testified on the bill and presented concerns about long-term funding for K-12 education.

05:04 PM

The committee discussed the long-term outlook for education funding.

05:06 PM -- Carol Meininger, representing Pinnacle Charter School, testified on the bill and discussed the charter school capital construction funding provisions in the bill.

05:09 PM

Representative Benefield asked if Ms. Meininger has thought of a solution for the at-risk funding formula in school finance. Committee discussion ensued on this topic.

05:13 PM -- Jim Griffin, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, testified on the bill, specifically on charter school capital construction.

05:18 PM

Representative Benefield asked the amount of private and foundation funding charter schools receive in Colorado. Committee discussion ensued on this topic.

05:29 PM -- Chris Newby, representing Boulder Valley Schools, testified on the bill and discussed the impact of school finance on school children.

05:32 PM -- Bruce Caughey, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives, testified on the bill and noted the budget challenges school district face.

05:35 PM -- Roberta Selleck, representing Adams 50 School District, testified on the bill and discussed declining enrollment issues.

05:38 PM -- Nancy Corabell, representing herself, testified on the bill and weighed in on some of the discussion around the charter school provisions in the bill.

05:40 PM -- Vicki Newell, representing Colorado PTA, testified against the bill.

05:41 PM

Representative Merrifield explained that the bill would be laid over for action on Monday. With that, the committee adjourned.