Joint Interim Committee on Education – August 26, 2009
Posted on August 26th, 2009
Date & Time: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Location: Room 171, State Capitol
Agenda: http://staging.arkleg.state.ar.us/calendar/ARSessionAgendas.asp?ATP=2&Committee_Code=410&Htm_Path=I7720.pdf
Attachments: none
1:39 pm – Meeting called to order by Rep. Bill Abernathy
1:40 pm – Minutes of meeting on May 26, 2009 approved.
1:41 pm – Today is Rep. Buddy Lovell’s Birthday, I think that makes 85 or 86. If you run into him today, offer your well wishes to a fine Representative.
1:42 pm – Richard Wilson, Assistant Director of Research Services at the Bureau of Legislative Research, is reviewing information prior to a discussion of adequacy recommendations pursuant to Act 199 of 2009.
1:47 pm – We are currently reviewing the recommendations found in the Report on Legislative Hearings for the 2008 Interim Study on Educational Adequacy. The previous link takes you to the report containing eleven recommendations.
1:53 pm – I am having problems connecting to the standard ARKLEG website, the links above are to the STAGING. They may not work in the future.
1:55 pm – Senator Elliot is asking questions about recommendation #7, concerning changes in the amount of funding in the matrix for public school transportation. The opinion of the chair (and Sen. Elliot) is that the current funding system for transportation is broken.
1:59 pm – Rep. Eddie Cheatham is asking what we are going to do about the difference in funding teachers in Northwest Arkansas. Richard Wilson said that no matter what, if a school district votes for millages above the 25 URT or have a better tax base, then they will always be able to pay their teachers more. Rep. Eddie Cheatham complained that it is another case of the have and the have-nots.
2:06 pm – Perhaps my biggest regret about my time in the legislature is spending three terms on the Education Committee.
2:12 pm – The discussions today are fundamentally counter to proven educational reform techniques proposed by countless groups ranging from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Southern Regional Education Board, and Arkansans for Education Reform.
2:18 pm – It is time to stop picking our legislators because they say they are “for education” (who isn’t?) and start asking if they are “for education reform” and then ask them what that means. If it does not mean, “accountablity, choice, and tranparency” then they will be adding to the problem rather than solving it.
2:23 pm – Legislators who want to keep the status quo and keep the state moving down the same underperforming path use the claim of “avoiding the courts” as a reason for not bringing about fundamental reforms. In reality, I believe most of them who are clinging to the same old status quo would be thrilled for the courts to get involved again.
2:27 pm – Every single discussion today of adequacy and every single recommendation ( look at the linked report ) for adequacy has centered on money, more money, more and more money.
2:30 pm – Senator Broadway is talking about the amount of work that went into the funding matrix and why it was done. New legislators need to make sure they talk to Sen. Broadway or former Senator Bisbee to learn WHY the matrix was done the way it was. They need to learn why is it so important to prevent pulling items out of the matrix.
2:35 pm – We are currently honoring Patricia Laughter, a House Education Committee Staffer. She is retiring after 35 years. She has been a very diligent staffer and an extremely pleasant person to serve around.
2:41 pm – Sen Elliot is announcing that Mark Hudson was recongnized by NCSL for Excellence in Educational Legislative Staff. He deserves it. He is a rock solid professional who has never failed to keep an objective and confidential demeanor serving in a non-partisan position.
2:45 pm – Dr. Dee Cox, Infections Disease Physician for the Arkansas Department of Education is updating the legislature on the preparations of the ADE and ADH to deal with potential H1N1 (Swine) flu outbreak in public schools.
2:48 pm – Sen. Jimmy Jeffress is asking if there are guidelines established for plans for closing schools in the event of a pandemic. One of the other presenters will discuss that further.
2:50 pm – The flu clinics for immunizations at the schools will be optional and require parental consent.
2:55 pm – Dr. James Phillips, Infectious Disease Physician for the Arkansas Department of Health, has said that diligence of parents to monitor their children and keep them home.
2:57 pm – Dr. Phillips said that the danger from H1N1 is compatable with the standard seasonal flu, but said that while 8% to 12% of the population will get the flu this season, the H1N1 could result in as high as 30% infection rate.
3:01 pm – Dr. Phillips said schools and companies may need to “lighten-up” on some rules to promote people to stay at home get out and about for doctors notes and thereby, infecting others in the population. He said that they are NOT encouraging people to automatically go to the doctor, if you are stable and normally healthy.
3:11 pm – Mr. Donnie Smith, Assistant Director of Reseach Services at the Bureau of Legislative Research says it is not a matter of IF we have cases H1N1, but that it is already here. There were reports of positive diagnosis H1N1 through out the summer, which is unual. They are getting about 20 tests per day and 15 to 18 per day are checking positive.
3:14 pm- As a public official in constant contact with the public all over the state, I get almost everything being passed around. Oh goody
3:17 pm – Highest priorties for vaccinations according for CDC seem to focus on children, pregnant mothers, and those who are otherwise unhealthy.
3:18 pm – Meeting adjourned.
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