School funding study committee members voted to support two key bills – returning the per-student allocation to $4,805 and implementing a timetable for capital outlay flexibility reduction – that will have lasting effects on K-12 education at their final meeting on Monday (Oct. 21).

 

In addition to those bills, the committee voted to support a number of other proposed bills and resolutions. Below is a summary of those decisions:

 

-Voted 13-1 to support a proposed bill that would set a minimum increase to the PSA of two percent annually, with the possibility for additional dollars. “We have to get that (funding) base up,” ASBSD Executive Director Wade Pogany said about the PSA. “If you can’t fund the base, you can’t fund schools.”

• To review a new ASBSD resolution supporting the two percent index factor, click here.

 

-Voted 10-4 to support a proposed resolution examining methods to improve teacher salaries and attract more individuals to the field. “Our best and brightest are getting plucked right from under us,” Sen. Billie Sutton said in reference to the current state of the profession.

• To review a new ASBSD resolution supporting increasing teacher salaries, click here.

 

-Voted 12-2 to support a proposed bill that would extend the school year by two days (or approximately 5.5 hours each day) for a period of five years. Funding for the additional days was not discussed, but Sen. Chuck Welke said the additional days were “a way to provide some additional funding.”

• To review a new ASBSD resolution supporting the increase in days for additional funding, click here.

 

-Voted 12-2 to support a proposed resolution encouraging school districts to build on their strengths through collaboration and cooperation with other districts by sharing programs, teachers, administrators and other resources to provide rich curriculum for students and meet the needs of their communities. Legislators passed a bill (SB 96) in 2013 that allowed districts falling below the 100 student enrollment threshold to remain open if they utilized the joint powers agreement.

 

-Voted 14-0 to support a proposed resolution exploring an articulation agreement between secondary schools and post-secondary institutes for CTE classes, an exam specifically tailored for students planning to attend technical institutes following high school and the creation of regional technical schools for rural school districts.

 

-Voted 13-1 to support a proposed resolution encouraging school districts to collaborate through technology to improve curriculum, assessing the current technology infrastructure of districts and continuing to provide funding for technology advancements.

 

-Voted 9-5 to support a proposed bill that would provide funding for teacher training and additional professional development days for using technology in the classroom.