0MINUTES OF THE

SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

210 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

February 11, 2015

 

Members Present:     Sen. Ann Millner, Chair

                                    Sen. Jim Dabakis

                                    Sen. Mark B. Madsen

                                    Sen. Aaron Osmond

                                    Sen. Howard A. Stephenson

                                    Sen. Stephen H. Urquhart

                                   

Members Excused:    President Wayne L. Niederhauser

 

Members Absent:      Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson        

 

Staff Present:             Ms. Allyson Goldstein, Policy Analyst

                                    Ms. Wendy Hill, Committee Secretary

 

NOTE:  A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

 

Chair Millner called the meeting to order at 3:46 p.m.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Dabakis moved to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2015, meeting.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.    

 

S.B. 34         Charter School Authorization Amendments (Sen. A. Osmond)

 

Sen. Osmond explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:       Mr. Craig Frank, Utah Charter Network

Mr. Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools           

                    

Spoke against the bill:             Ms. Tami Pyfer, Education Advisor, Utah Governor’s Office                                     Ms. Sara Jones, Director, Utah Education Association         

                                               

MOTION:   Sen. Osmond moved to replace S.B. 34 with 1st Sub. S.B. 34. The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Madsen moved to pass out 1st Sub. S.B. 34 favorably. The motion failed, with Sen. Dabakis, Sen. Millner, and Sen. Urquhart voting in opposition. 

 

Sen. Stephenson explained S.B. 145 would not be heard today.

 

 

1st Sub. H.B. 169        English Language Arts Instructional Tool (Rep. C. Moss)

 

Rep. Moss explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:       Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Deputy Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education

 

MOTION:  Sen. Osmond moved to pass the bill out favorably.  The motion passed unanimously.

           

S.B. 151       National Board Certification Scholarships for Teachers (Sen. A. Osmond)

 

Sen. Osmond explained the bill to the committee. Sen. Osmond made a power point presentation and distributed handouts to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:         Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Deputy Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education

 

Spoke for the bill:       Ms. Dessie Olson, President, Utah National Board Coalition

                                    Ms. Mary Alsop, teacher        

                                    Ms. Amy Merrit, teacher

                                    Ms. Jacqueline Eckert, teacher

 

Spoke against the bill:  Dr. Carl Boyington, Director, Secondary School Principals Association    

                                      Mr. Peter Cannon, citizen

                    

S.B. 116 was not considered.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Osmond moved to adjourn.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

 

Chair Millner adjourned the meeting at 5:58 p.m.

 

 

 

 

________________________

Sen. Ann Millner, Chair