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SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Room W130, West Office Building, State Capitol Complex
Members Present: Sen. Margaret Dayton, Committee Chair
Sen. Greg Bell
Sen. Lyle Hillyard
Sen. Pat Jones
Sen. Darin Peterson
Sen. Ross Romero
Sen. Howard A. Stephenson
Members Excused: Sen. Curtis Bramble
Staff Present: Phillip V. Dean, Policy Analyst
Dee S. Larsen, Attorney
Norda Shepard, Secretary
Public Speakers Present: Sharon Lay, Utah State Office of Education
Grant Hansen, Principal, Gunnison Elementary School
Kim Pickett, South Sanpete School Board
Mike Zody, Youth Steering Counsel, United Way
Kari Gardner
McKell Withers, Superintendent, Salt Lake City School District
G. G. Grant, President, League of Women's Voters
Steve Peterson, Utah School Boards and Utah Superintendents Associations
Holly Langton, Utah PTA
Steve Norton, Cache County School Board
Kurt Howell, United Way
Tyson McBride, Utah Eagle Forum
Gayle Ruzicka, President, Utah Eagle Forum
A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.
Committee Chair Dayton called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m and announced that S.B. 180, School Construction Contract Amendments, would not be heard.
MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to approve the minutes of February 9, 2007.
The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Hillyard, Peterson and Stephenson absent at the time of the vote.
1. S.B. 49 Optional Extended-day Kindergarten
Sen. Hillyard presented the bill. Sharon Lay, Pre-kindergarten specialist, Utah State Office of Education; Grant Hansen, Principal, Gunnison Elementary School, and Kim Pickett, South Sanpete School Board, helped with the presentation and spoke in support.
Sen. Stephenson offered a substitute bill.
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to delete in title and body S.B. 49, Optional Extended-day Kindergarten, and replace it with 1st Sub. S.B. 49, Optional Extended-day Kindergarten.
The motion failed with Sens. Hillyard, Jones, Peterson, and Romero voting in opposition, and Chair Dayton, Sens. Bell and Stephenson voting in favor.
Mike Zody, Youth Steering Counsel, United Way; Kari Gardner; McKell Withers, Superintendent, Salt Lake City School District; G.G. Grant, President, League of Women's Voters; Steve Peterson, Utah School Boards and Utah Superintendents Associations; Holly Langton, Utah PTA; Steve Norton, Cache County School Board; and Kurt Howell, United Way, spoke in support of the original bill. Mr. Howell distributed a handout.
Tyson McBride, Utah Eagle Forum, and Gayle Ruzicka, President, Utah Eagle Forum spoke in opposition.
MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to pass S.B. 49, Optional Extended-day Kindergarten, out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed with Sens. Hillyard, Jones, Peterson, and Romero voting in favor and Chair Dayton and Sens. Bell and Stephenson voting in opposition.
MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.
Chair Dayton adjourned the meeting at 9:55 a.m.
Minutes were reported by Norda Shepard, Secretary.