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MINUTES OF HOUSE EDUCATION
STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 445, State Capitol
February 2, 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. 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. Greg H. Hughes
        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.


MOTION:    Rep. Moss moved to approve the minutes of the January 31, 2012 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Rep. Powell was absent for the vote.

H.B. 213    School Community Council Member Qualifications (Rep. L. Perry)

Rep. Wright moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 1, Line 15 :    

             15      council;
{   and   }       

    . requires the membership of a school community council to include two or more parent or guardian members than the number of school employee members; and  


2.    Page 3, Lines 64 through 74 :    

             64          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(c):
             65          (i) each school community council for a high school shall have six parent or guardian


             66      members and
{   five   }        four       school employee members, including the principal; and

             67          (ii) each school community council for a school other than a high school shall have
             68      four parent or guardian members and
{   three   }        two       school employee members, including the principal.

             69          (c) (i) A school community council may have a larger membership provided that the
             70     
{   number of   }        membership include two or more       parent or guardian members      {   exceeds   }        than       the number of school employee members.

             71          (ii) A school community council
  for a high school       may have a smaller membership provided that:

             72          (A) the
{   number of   }        membership include two or more       parent or guardian members      {   exceeds   }        than the       the number of school employee

             73      members; and
             74          (B) there are at least two school employee members on the school community council.
The motion passed unanimously. Rep. Eliason and Rep. Sumsion were absent for the vote.

Rep. Perry explained the bill which modifies provisions relating to the membership of a school community council.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Ms. Sara Jones, Utah Education Association
    Ms. Karen Peterson, Utah PTA

The following spoke in opposition to the bill:
    Mr. Peter Cannon, citizen
    Ms. Jackie de Gaston, parent

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved to pass the bill out as amended with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously. Rep. Sumsion was absent for the vote.

H.J.R. 2    Joint Resolution on World Class Curriculum (Rep. M. Poulson)

Rep. Poulson introduced the resolution which urges Utah's public schools to provide students with reading, writing, and math competency and with broad enrichment opportunities in other subjects.


The following spoke in support of the resolution:
    Ms. Shirley Ririe, Ririe Fine Arts
    Mr. Doug Foxley , representing Ms. Beverly Sorenson
    Mr. John Robison, Davis School District
    
Ms. Candice Wilson, Alta High School dance teacher

MOTION:    Rep. Mathis moved to pass the resolution out with a favorable recommendation.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION:    Rep. Christensen moved to amend the resolution as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 31 through 34 :    

             31      training so that students can soar and not just score;
  and      

             32          
{   WHEREAS, narrowing the curriculum in response to grading schools and evaluating

             33      teachers has already prompted some districts to drop art, physical education, and other
             34      non-tested subjects; and  
}

The motion to amend passed with Rep. Arent, Rep. McIff, Rep. Moss, Rep. Poulson, and Rep. Wright voting in opposition. Rep. Powell was absent for the vote.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION:
    Rep. McIff moved to amend the resolution as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 31 through 34 :    

             31      training so that students can soar and not just score;
  and      

             32          WHEREAS, narrowing the curriculum in response to grading schools and evaluating
             33      teachers
{   has already prompted   }        could cause       some districts to drop art, physical education, and other

             34      non-tested subjects; and
The motion failed. Rep. Arent, Rep. McIff, Rep. Moss, and Rep. Poulson voted in support of the motion.

The motion to pass the resolution out with a favorable recommendation passed. Rep. Mathis and Rep. Powell were absent for the vote.

S.B. 97    Grants for Online Testing (Sen. A. Osmond) (Rep. B. Wright)

Sen. Osmond introduced the bill which provides for grants to school districts and charter schools to implement online testing systems.


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

1.    Page 1, Line 18
    Senate 3rd Reading Amendments
    1-31-2012 :
    

             18      aligned with
{   the   } S. Utah's .S common core; and


2.    Page 3, Lines 85 through 88
    a.Senate 3rd Reading Amendments
    b.1-31-2012 :
    

             85          (e) requiring a school district or charter school that receives a grant under this section
             86      to implement
  , in compliance with Chapter 13, Part 3, Utah Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act,       an online adaptive test system by the 2014-15 school year that:

             87          (i) meets the technology standards established under Subsection (4)(d); and
             88          (ii) is aligned with
{   the   } S. Utah's .S common core; and


Ms. Dalane England, Eagle Forum, commented on the bill.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Ms. Lisa Kirchenheiter, Utah School Boards Association
    Ms. Judy Park, Associate Superintendent, State Board of Education

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

MOTION:    Rep. Newbold moved to pass the bill out as amended with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously. Rep. Powell was absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Mathis moved to adjourn. Chair Gibson adjourned the meeting at 5:20 p.m




            ___________________________________
            Rep. Francis Gibson, Chair