Action Line for April 3, 2009
Volume XXXII, Number 12
The governor’s office and legislative leaders are still working to finalize the budget picture for FY 2009 and FY 2010. Included in this mix are the federal economic stimulus funds. Unless the Legislature takes action, allowable growth for FY 2010 is still at 4 percent. Gov. Culver’s revised budget recommendations, following on the heels of the Revenue Estimating Conferences revenue estimates on March 20, are due to be released today, April 3. IASB will analyze the budget details and share them with members, including any requests for advocacy, as soon as they are available.
As local district leaders prepare budgets, keep in mind that the Iowa Department of Management (DOM) will allow a district to lower a cash reserve levy but it will not allow you to increase the levy after the public process to set the budget has been completed. After the DOM enters all the appropriate numbers and sends them back to your district, likely in mid-May, you may request lowering the cash reserve levy if it is later determined that federal stimulus funds provided sufficient cash to fund spending authority for FY 2010.
The latest rumors on collective bargaining (Ch. 20) and teacher contract termination (Ch. 279) legislation suggest that the changes will not be acceptable to IASB members, and until seen in writing, we can’t confirm if they are significantly different from last year. IASB adamantly opposed last year’s changes. Keep talking to your legislators about the importance of your board maintaining the ability to govern your district. Talk about the board’s role in the hearing process for teacher termination, due process rights for boards, and the difficulties of expanding the scope of bargaining, especially during tough budget times. See IASB’s Web page for Collective Bargaining and Teacher Contract Termination Advocacy Resources, including talking points, at http://www.ia-sb.org/LegislativeAdvocacy.aspx?id=5870.
Use the following link to fill us in on any responses you are getting from legislators: http://www.ia-sb.org/LegislativeAdvocacy.aspx?id=6466. You can describe your conversations via the Local Legislative Contact Report.
Bills on the Move
HF 777, SF 282 - Open Meetings/Public Records by State Government
Much work has been done on the open meetings and public records bill and all of it good! The latest amendment pulls the new definitions of public records, eliminates the private e-mails of board members and employees from being public records if the e-mail was about school district business and, most importantly, includes in the definition of “confidential record” applicant files with no requirement that the names and qualifications of the final five candidates have to be public records. IASB is currently monitoring the bill, which is on both chambers’ calendars (with the House File being the one that is expected to move). IASB’s registration will likely change to “For” when the amendment is adopted by the full House.
SF 464 - Biodiesel Mandate
Proponents of a mandate that only biodiesel blend is sold in the state have proposed an amendment to SF 464. This amendment would:
- Allow emergency backup generators to use conventional diesel
- Restore the tax credits for blends of B10 and above
- Mandate that retailers sell, at a minimum, only B5 diesel
- Provide authority to waive the requirement if the governor determines:
- There is a lack of infrastructure in the state to support the sale of biodiesel
- There is a significant shortage of B5 in the state
- Supply or price changes would cause economic hardship.
The amendment eliminated a winter waiver provision contained in an earlier version. IASB continues to oppose a mandate because of concerns about the performance of B5 biodiesel in winter months, the availability of conventional diesel for generators and the potential fuel cost increase’s impact on schools’ general fund budgets. The mandate, if approved, is effective upon enactment.
SF 445 – Teacher Quality and Phase II in Single Salary Schedule
This bill requires school districts and AEAs to include the teacher quality salary and Phase II salary per pupil funds into their district salary schedule beginning in FY 2011. This would eliminate the multiple salary schedules or addendum letters that school districts and AEAs currently have. When the funds were included in the school foundation formula as per pupil amounts during last year’s session, a budget guarantee was also created to set a floor for any district’s allocation. IASB worked with other education stakeholders, including ISEA, on a compromise amendment in the full Senate Education Committee that requires a reopener if funds are reduced from these specific salary allocations. A controversy has developed over what is considered a drafting error. This appears to eliminate the Phase I monies. Because this bill is not an appropriations bill, the legislative leaders have assured IASB and ISEA that the money will be restored in the standing appropriations bill. The bill, which IASB supports, now goes to the governor.
SF 470 – Education Appropriations
This bill makes numerous appropriations and changes to requirements impacting PK-12 school districts, AEAs and community colleges. The bill makes the following appropriations:
- Teacher shortage forgivable loan program $438,282
- DE General Administration $7,906,880
- Vocational Education Administration $573,009
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division $5,155,508
- Regional Telecommunications Councils $1,232,071
- Vocational Education to Secondary Schools $2,651,819
- School Food Service $2,266,069
- Iowa Empowerment Fund:
- General Aid $6,560,975
- Preschool Tuition Assistance $7,688,850
- Family Support /Parent Ed $15,214,551
- Birth to age three $1,554,304
- Four-year old preschool grants $13,538,863 (limits DE administration to $303,531)
- Nonpublic School Textbook reimbursement $625,634
- Beginning Administrator mentoring and induction $225,733 and defines beginning administrator as being engaged in administrative leadership, but excludes assistant principals and assistant superintendents
- Core Curriculum and Career Information and Decision Making System $1,979,540
- Student Achievement and Teacher Quality Program $7,614,750
- Community Colleges General State Aid $158,678,501
- Community College Salaries $916,680
- UNI $35,000 for an engineering study to evaluate the Price Lab School facility and options for a research, development, demonstration and dissemination school
- Strikes the requirement that Home School Assistance Program (HSAP) expenditures in a future year be no lower than the base year of FY 2009, and strikes the requirement that school districts must continue to offer HSAP if offered in FY 2009
- Makes conforming changes to the teacher quality and Phase II code sections to implement the salary supplement and professional development cost per pupil
- Defines beginning teacher to not include a teacher whose employment with a school district or AEA is probationary unless the teacher is serving under an initial or teacher intern license issued by the BOEE
- Defines a career teacher as a teacher who holds a statement of professional recognition issued by the BOEE or meets certain requirements already in Code
- Allows a school district to apply to the DE for a waiver to use class size allocations to meet minimum salary requirements if teacher quality salary per pupil amounts are not sufficient to meet the minimums, as long as the shortfall is at least $10,000
- Allocates $1,125,000 for national board certified teacher stipends
- Allocates $3,949,750 to beginning teacher mentoring.
IASB is monitoring this bill, now on the Senate calendar
SF 469 –Economic Development Appropriations
Although this bill primarily addresses economic development and workforce development issues, it includes one provision impacting education. The bill requires the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) to allocate $15,000 for maintaining a Web site that allows searchable access to a database of collective bargaining information. IASB supports this provision, but is monitoring the bill, which now moves to the House.
HF 687 – School Reporting Requirements
This bill was requested by the Iowa Department of Education (DE) to eliminate unnecessary duplication of data reported by schools. It eliminates or reduces school reporting requirements for schools and for the DE in various areas. The bill eliminates the requirement of reporting graduation rates, as defined by the National Governor’s Association. The bill also requires school districts to post financial information on their Web sites by Jan. 1 rather than at the end of the school year and requires that outstanding levies be posted at the beginning of the school year rather than on Jan. 1. The bill eliminates the requirement that school districts report on the number of students pursuing GEDs, on proficiency in grade 11 on math, science and reading and that districts obtain signatures from parents regarding diagnostic reading tests for K-3 students reading below grade level. The bill also prohibits a school district director, officer or teacher from acting as an agent for textbooks, supplies, sports apparel or equipment, in any transaction in that school district and makes the same provisions for AEA employees within their AEA. The bill eliminates the requirements that DE submit the following reports: the biennial condition of schools to the governor, the recommendations of the state board of education on various matters, and an annual report on character education. The bill also eliminates the requirement that the DE post the agendas and hearings of the school budget review committee, eliminates the requirement that the DE report the maximum tuition rate to school districts, and eliminates the requirement that community colleges require students to identify their high school of residence and of enrollment. This bill was passed by the Senate and now goes to the Governor. IASB supported this bill.
Other Resources
IASB Government Relations Team
Margaret Buckton, mbuckton@ia-sb.org
Mary Gannon, mgannon@ia-sb.org
Emily Piper, emily80@mchsi.com
Marte Brightman, mbrightman@ia-sb.org
Delivery Note: IASB sends you the Action Line by the fastest method possible: E-mails are usually sent Thursday evening; the print version is mailed Friday. If you prefer the Action Line by a method other than how it's now being sent to you, please contact Marte Brightman at IASB, mbrightman@ia-sb.org, or 1-800-795-4272.