2010-GA-GENERAL-ASSEMBLY

THE 2010 GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY : 

THE 2010 GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY A final (hopefully) look…..

BUDGET NOTES : 

BUDGET NOTES Both FY2010 Amended and FY2011 Budgets now complete and in the Governor’s hands (June 8 is 40-day deadline.) FY2011 Budget complicated by arguments over new taxes/fees No “furlough” days mentioned in FY2011 Budget, but dollars related to those furlough days are still cut!!

BUDGET NOTES (cont’d.) : 

BUDGET NOTES (cont’d.) Cuts are deep Austerity cuts for both years exceed $1 billion Equalization grants funded at approximately 65% of full earnings LFMS exceeds 20% limit prescribed in law ARRA funds almost depleted Transportation, school nurse program, others cut to “reflect reduced revenue estimates” Sparsity and migrant education grants survive, but “alternative sparsity” grant does not

BUDGET NOTES (cont’d.) : 

BUDGET NOTES (cont’d.) RESA funding restored Math mentor funds used ($1.78 million) Mission and function of ETC’s “folded” into RESA Some school improvement funds used Some testing eliminated 1st and 2nd grade CRCT’s 3rd and 5th grade writing tests PSAT and AP only for F/R lunch students

BUDGET NOTES (cont’d.) : 

BUDGET NOTES (cont’d.) Funding for NBCT supplements eliminated CIS cut by $250 thousand GYSTC survives at $200 thousand level Pupil transportation (already underfunded) cut by an additional $5 million School nurse program cut by $1.6 million Governor’s Honors Program reduced to a 4-week activity

BUDGET NOTES (cont’d.) : 

BUDGET NOTES (cont’d.) A few positives: Money for enrollment growth included Capital outlay programs funded at 100% level $50 million in bonds for bus purchase included ($25M in both FY10 & FY11) $10.5 million included to reimburse local governments under the Forest Land Protection Act

LEGISLATION : 

LEGISLATION

FLEXIBILITY/FUNDING : 

FLEXIBILITY/FUNDING HB908, the “flexibility bill,” provides for system averaging for class size, waiver of expenditure controls on a variety of funds, and authority for SBOE to issue additional class size waiver Does not mention shortened school year, but contemplates SBOE taking action on 190-day rule and local systems using four days of student time

FLEXIBILITY/FUNDING (cont’d.) : 

FLEXIBILITY/FUNDING (cont’d.) HB 907 – waives middle school requirements (plus anti-bullying bill, HB927) HB936 – use bus replacement funds to “refurbish” buses (plus method to access federal bond funds) SB 319 – OK to use textbook funds on digital content and equipment

FLEXIBILITY/FUNDING (cont’d) : 

FLEXIBILITY/FUNDING (cont’d) HB910 – eliminates annual gender equity report to General Assembly* HB651 – DOE send sex offender registry information to LEA’s electronically SB427 – creates Foundation for Public Education HB1200 – allows local boards of education to accept donations

“FOR THE TEACHERS” : 

“FOR THE TEACHERS” HB1307 – suspends recertification PLU requirements for five years HB1079 – credit/debit cards OK for payment of certification fees (plus HB1103, creating “clearance certificates” for educators) HB923 – extends deadline for persons to complete leadership degree (but, not start one!) and still be paid for it HB977 – no state $ to fund raises for administrators during years in which teachers are furloughed

GOVERNANCE ISSUES : 

GOVERNANCE ISSUES SB84 – school board governance bill (nepotism piece still an issue) SB392 – contract carriers must be properly insured before transporting students HB1013 – annual report of SPLOST expenditures (same as cities and counties) HB122 – budget/audit info on CVIG web site SB427 – referendum for “charter clusters”

STUDENT LEVEL LEGISLATION : 

STUDENT LEVEL LEGISLATION SB250 – alters penalty for disruption of school bus (plus anti-bullying legislation from parts of HB927) HB400 – BRIDGE bill SB518 – requires “study” of the pledge of allegiance to the US and Georgia flags

OTHER BILLS : 

OTHER BILLS HB905 – extends sunset dates on state’s capital outlay programs HB906 – extends until May 15 (for next three years) the contract notification date for certified employees

GOOD = ABSENCE OF BAD : 

GOOD = ABSENCE OF BAD SB361 – vouchers SB386 – merit pay HB1100/SB352 – A-F school grading system HB1121 – criminal penalties for test cheaters HB995/1097 – school start dates SB320 – Teacher’s Bill of Rights SB515 – “use your fund balance” HR1203 – SPLOST funds for M & O

A COUPLE OF REMINDERS : 

A COUPLE OF REMINDERS Placement of math/science teachers on salary schedule per HB280 is effective 7/1/2010 Use the waiver process to help in managing the budget crisis Be extremely careful in spending bond funds for bus replacement (part of FY2010 Amended and FY2011 Budgets)

Slide 17: 

QUESTIONS???