STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 25, 2002
Room 414, STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
Members Present: Sen. Bill Wright, Chair
Sen. Ron Allen
Sen. D. Chris Buttars
Sen. David L. Gladwell
Sen. David H. Steele
Sen. Howard A. Stephenson
Sen. Alicia L. Suazo
Sen. Michael G. Waddoups
Sen. Carlene M. Walker
Member Excused: Sen. Karen Hale
Staff Present: Constance C. Steffen, Research Analyst
Dee S Larsen, Assoc. General Counsel
Saundra Maeser, Secretary
Public Speakers Present: Karen Derrick, Utah School Boards Association and Utah School Superintendents Association
Nancy Deford, Superintendent, Park City School District
Kay Smith, Principal, Payson High School
Marian Gardner, Education Commissioner, State PTA
Stephen Ronnenkamp, Superintendent, Granite School District
Phyllis Sorensen, President, Utah Education Association
Paula Plant, Trust Land Specialist, Utah State Office of Education
Steven Laing, State Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education
Steve Peterson, Utah School Boards Association
Susan Kuziak, Executive Director, Utah Education Association
Carol Murphy, Park City School Board
David Armstrong, Superintendent, Carbon School District
Richard Kendall, Governor's Office
Visitor list on file.
Chair Wright called the meeting to order at 8:12 a.m.
MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to approve the minutes of February 5, 2002. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Allen and Sen. Stephenson absent for the vote.
Sen. Wright relinquished the chair to Sen. Waddoups.
Minutes of the Senate Education Standing Committee
February 25, 2002
Page 2
1. S.B. 167 School Community Councils (B. Wright)
Sen. Wright explained the bill consolidates various school councils.
The following spoke in opposition to the bill or suggested changes to the bill:
Ms. Karen Derrick, Utah School Boards Assoc. and Utah School Superintendents Assoc.
Supt. Nancy Deford, Park City School District
Ms. Kay Smith, Principal, Payson High School
Ms. Marian Gardner, Education Commissioner, State PTA
Supt. Stephen Ronnenkamp, Granite School District
Ms. Phyllis Sorensen, Utah Education Association
The following spoke in favor of the bill:
Ms. Paula Plant, Utah State Office of Education
Supt. Steven Laing, Utah State Office of Education
MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Allen, Sen. Steele, Sen. Suazo, and Sen. Walker voting in opposition.
Sen. Waddoups relinquished the chair to Sen. Wright.
2. S.B. 155 Education Budget Reserve Account (L. Blackham)
Sen. Blackham explained the bill requires surplus monies in the Uniform School Fund at the end of a fiscal year to be deposited into the Education Budget Reserve Account.
Mr. Steve Peterson, Utah School Boards Association, had questions concerning the bill.
Ms. Susan Kuziak, Utah Education Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Steele moved to remove line 96 of the bill. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Waddoups absent for the vote.
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to go to the next item on the agenda. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Waddoups absent for the vote.
3. S.B. 138 Charter Schools Amendments (H. Stephenson)
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to adopt the first substitute to S.B. 138. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Waddoups absent for the vote.
Sen. Stephenson said the bill allows the State Board of Education to sponsor New Century High Schools, magnet charter schools focused on math, science, and technology.
Minutes of the Senate Education Standing Committee
February 25, 2002
Page 3
The following suggested that changes be made to the bill:
Ms. Carol Murphy, Park City School Board
Mr. David Armstrong, Carbon School District
The following spoke in support of the bill:
Mr. Richard Kendall, Governor's Office
MOTION: Sen. Gladwell moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Waddoups absent for the vote.
Chair Wright adjourned the meeting at 9:15 a.m.
Minutes were reported by Saundra Maeser, Secretary.
Sen. Bill Wright, Chair