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Senate OKs new funding formula Wednesday, Apr 5, 2006 By Doug Thompson and Aaron Sadler Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The state Senate passed a proposed $132.5 million increase in school funding Tuesday, the centerpiece of the Legislature's response to a state Supreme Court order to adequately finance public education. A cost-of-living adjustment was among seven core components of the education package that won Senate approval on the second day of a special session on education. "If you've got something you're interested in, you better be awake, because it's coming, flying through there," said Charles Dyer, superintendent of the Alma School District. Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Jim Argue, D-Little Rock, passed 32-2. It requires a separate appropriation, which is contained in bills endorsed by the Joint Budget Committee earlier Tuesday. The funding bills were expected to come to votes in the House and Senate as early as today. In addition to money to increase per-student funding, the appropriation bill includes more money for school facilities, schools with declining enrollment and more money for isolated school districts, raising the total to nearly $200 million. The Senate passed the seven bills within 45 minutes Tuesday afternoon, with little debate. However, Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, did express concern during discussion of SB 5 that one part of the education package had not been introduced - legislation to cap administrative expenses at schools at no more than 8 percent of the district's budget. He asked that a vote be delayed until that portion of the package had been introduced, but dropped his objection and voted for Senate Bill 5 after being assured that the administrative cap would be filed. Sen. Gene Jeffress, D-Louann, said after the vote that he would file the administrative cap legislation in the Senate. Sen. Shawn Womack, R-Mountain Home, said he would support the bill but that "once again, we have a package put together by a few people that all the rest of us are supposed to accept." He called out "a frustrated aye" during the roll call. SB 5 also would increase minimum teacher pay and makes changes to the state's contribution to the state teacher's retirement fund. Also passed Tuesday afternoon was SB 1 by Argue, which makes the state Commission for Public School Academic Facilities permanent. The commission, which reviews school plans, was due to lapse next year. The bill passed 32-1. SB 3 by Argue authorizes spending up to $473,000 for staff development of teachers and administrators at public schools by electronic means, and would also require a separate appropriation bill. That bill passed 32-1. SB 4 by Argue requires school districts to offer the same level of health benefits to all employees. That bill passed 33 to 1. Also passed Tuesday were: SB 6 to clarify law on property tax collections for schools; SB 7 to require uniform accounting and reporting requirements for school district fund balances; and SB 2, which removes limits in state law on the amount of debt a school district can incur, but requires state approval before assuming more debt. In the House, House Bill 1007 by Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, passed 84-8. The bill is identical to SB 2. Introducing identical bills in opposite chambers is a common legislative practices that allows quick amendments of bills if they run into a problem. The House also approved HB 1008 by Elliott, which mirrors SB 4 on benefits, 86-7. HB 1009, also by Elliott, passed 96-0. That was the same wording as SB 7 on property tax records. The Joint Budget Committee signed off on a multimillion dollar appropriations bill to remedy school funding problems with little discussion or debate. The committee endorsed SB 21 and its companion, HB 1023. The bills appropriate $132.5 million in increased school aid over two fiscal years, plus $11.6 million in assistance to districts with declining enrollment and $3 million for isolated districts. Another $50 million was earmarked for school facilities needs this year. Committee co-chairman Rep. Sam Ledbetter, D-Little Rock, said the bills were "the crux of why we're here this week." Gov. Mike Huckabee said he wanted consensus backing of education reforms before he would call a session. Consensus on the major funding package was evident Tuesday, as no one spoke against the spending bills. The committee referred the bills to their respective houses. The spending bills set aside $57.8 million for the 2005-06 school year and $74.7 million for 2006-07 to cover teacher salary hikes, higher operating expenses and increases in employer contributions to the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. Another $500,000 was appropriated for development of a uniform statewide school accounting system, and about $500,000 more was dedicated for the Department of Education to enhance professional development programs. The state would have to tap into unobligated general revenue to pay for the education funding hike. About $12.75 million from the General Improvement Fund will be used this fiscal year, and $56.12 million in fiscal 2007, according to the bill. Unappropriated money in Department of Education funds will pay for the remainder of the increase. State Budget Director Mike Stormes said the General Improvement Fund would be reimbursed with any surplus revenue in the education accounts. Also Tuesday, the Joint Budget Committee has just three votes more than necessary to recommend $125,000 for a program involving the state teacher of the year. Huckabee backs a plan to make the annual state teacher of the year an ex-officio member of the state Board of Education and an ambassador to the state school districts. The appropriation covers salary and travel expenses, plus reimbursement to the teacher's school district for hiring a long-term substitute to replace the teacher for a year. The bill needed 29 votes. It received 32. Five committee members voted "no." Rep. Marvin Childers, R-Blytheville, questioned the necessity of removing the state's best teacher from the classroom. Sen. Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett, wondered about the spoils for the award winner. "Is there going to be some kind of tiara this teacher will wear? Or some kind of head piece?" He asked. Education Commissioner Ken James said the recommendation to make the teacher of the year a state employee came out of a series of meetings Huckabee held with nine previous teachers of the year. Huckabee organized the group in December, after the Supreme Court's decision. |
