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MINUTES OF HOUSE EDUCATION
STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 445, State Capitol
February 8, 2012

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Rep. Francis Gibson, Chair
        Rep. Bill Wright, Vice Chair
        Rep. Patrice Arent
        Rep. LaVar Christensen
        Rep. Becky Edwards
        Rep. Steven Eliason
        Rep. Greg H. Hughes
        Rep. Rebecca D. Lockhart    
        Rep. John G. Mathis
        Rep. Kay L. McIff
        Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
        Rep. Merlynn Newbold
        Rep. Marie H. Poulson
        Rep. Kraig Powell
        Rep. Ken W. Sumsion

MEMBERS EXCUSED:    Rep. Rebecca D. Lockhart
                    
STAFF PRESENT:    Constance C. Steffen, Policy Analyst
        Linda Service, Committee Secretary
        
Note: List of visitors and copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes.

Chair Gibson called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Poulson moved to approve the minutes of February 6, 2012. The motion passed unanimously. Rep. Arent, Rep. Christensen, Rep. Hughes, Rep. Mathis, and Rep. McIff were absent for the vote.

H.B. 115    Peer Assistance and Review Pilot Program (Rep. C. Moss)

Rep. Moss introduced the bill which appropriates money for school districts to pilot programs that utilize peer assistance and review in evaluating certain teachers. Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Director of Teaching and Learning, Utah State Office of Education, assisted in the presentation of the bill.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Ms. Patti Harrington, Utah School Boards Association and Utah School              Superintendents Association
    Ms. Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh, , Utah Education Association
    Ms. Elizabeth Wade, American Federation of Teachers

Mr. Peter Cannon, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.

MOTION:    Rep. Poulson moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion

passed with Rep. Christensen, Rep. Sumsion, and Rep. Wright voting in opposition.
    
H.B. 128    School Community Council Revisions (Rep. B. Wright)

Rep. Wright introduced the bill which modifies requirements for the operation of school community councils.

MOTION:    Rep. Wright moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 6, Lines 154 through 157 :    

             154          (iv) An election for the parent or guardian members of a school community council
             155      shall:
             156          (A) extend for a period of at least three consecutive school days;

{   and   }

             157          (B) commence no later than [30] 15 days after the first day of the school year
{   .   }        ; and

    (C) end no later than 20 days after the first day of the school year.  


2.    Page 6, Lines 158 through 160 :    

             158          (c) (i) The principal of the school, or the principal's designee, shall provide notice of
             159      the available community council positions to school employees, parents, and guardians at least
             160      [21]
{   15   }        10       days before the date that voting commences for the elections held under Subsections


3.    Page 9, Line 266 :    

             266          (iii)
  either       a telephone number      {   ,   }        or       email address, or both, where each school community council

The motion passed unanimously. Rep. Mathis was absent for the vote.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Ms. Patti Harrington, Utah School Boards Association and Utah School              Superintendents Association
    Dr. Martell Menlove, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction
    Ms. Susan Edwards, school community council member
    Mr. Ben Horsley, Granite School District

MOTION:    Rep. Newbold moved to pass the bill out as amended with a favorable recommendation.



SUBSTITUTE MOTION:    Rep. Edwards moved to amend the bill as follows:

    On line 157 delete "15" and reinsert "30".

The motion passed unanimously.

A vote was taken on the motion to pass the bill out as amended with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 322    Higher Education Tenure (Rep. C. Herrod)

Rep. Herrod introduced the bill which prohibits state institutions of higher education from granting academic tenure.

MOTION:    Rep. Edwards moved to delete in title and body H.B. 322 and replace it with 1st Substitute H.B. 322. The motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Cherie Gardner Rawlings, citizen, spoke in support of the bill.

The following spoke in opposition to the bill:
    Mr. Dave Buhler, Associate Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education
    Dr. Brad Cook, Provost, South Utah University
    Dr. Loris Betts, Interim President, University of Utah
    Ms. Marilyn Bown, League of Women Voters

MOTION:    Rep. Wright moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion failed with Rep. Hughes, Rep. Newbold, Rep. Sumsion, and Rep. Wright voting in support of the bill.

Chair Gibson adjourned the meeting at 3:57 p.m.





            ___________________________________
            Rep. Francis Gibson, Chair