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S_ED_2016A 04/21/2016 01:38:23 PM Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date: 04/21/2016
ATTENDANCE
Time: 01:38 PM to 06:11 PM
Holbert
X
Johnston
*
Place: SCR 356
Kerr
X
Merrifield
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Neville T.
*
Senator Hill
Todd
X
Woods
X
This Report was prepared by
Marble
X
Rachel Kurtz-Phelan
Hill
*
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Conf 16-Charter School Institute Board, State

Conf 16-Private Occupational School Board

SB16-187

SB16-188
Favorably Refer to Full Senate

Favorably Refer to Full Senate - Consent

Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole





01:38 PM -- Confirmation of Charter School Institute Board, State



Senator Marble, chair, called the meeting to order. She invited Terry Croy Lewis, Executive Director of the Charter School Institute (CSI), to come to the table to introduce the reappointee to the board, Robert LaPalme. Copies of the Governor's appointment letter and the reappointee's application and resume were distributed to the committee (Attachment A). Ms. Lewis provided background information about CSI, and Mr. LaPalme told the committee about his personal, education, and professional background.



Attachment A can be viewed at Legislative Council.




































BILL: Conf 16-Charter School Institute Board, State
TIME: 01:42:52 PM
MOVED: Holbert
MOTION: Refer the reappointment of Robert LaPalme to the State Charter School Institute Board to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 7-1, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
No
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
Yes
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Excused
Final YES: 7 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



01:43 PM -- Confirmation of Private Occupational School Board



Lorna Candler, Director of the Division of Private Occupational Schools (division) in the Department of Higher Education, came to the table to introduce the appointee to the board, Timothy LeRoy Brooks. Copies of the Governor's appointment letter and the appointee's application and resume were distributed to the committee (Attachment B). Ms. Candler provided background information about the division. Mr. Brooks told the committee about his personal, educational, and professional background, and answered questions.



Attachment B can be viewed at Legislative Council.








































BILL: Conf 16-Private Occupational School Board
TIME: 01:49:10 PM
MOVED: Holbert
MOTION: Refer the appointment of Timothy LeRoy Brooks to the Private Occupational School Board to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 8-0, with one member excused.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
Yes
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Excused
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





01:51 PM -- SB16-187 and SB16-188



Senator Hill, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 16-187, which concerns measures affecting the operation of charter schools, and Senate Bill 16-188, which concerns increasing charter schools' access to resources. Senator Marble explained that witness testimony would be combined for both bills and would be limited to three minutes per witness. Senator Hill explained the provisions of the two bills, distributed amendments L.003 (Attachment C) and L.004 (Attachment D), and explained the amendments. He answered questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.



16SenateEd0421AttachC.pdf16SenateEd0421AttachC.pdf 16SenateEd0421AttachD.pdf16SenateEd0421AttachD.pdf



The following people testified on the bills:



02:02 PM --
Nora Flood, President of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, spoke in support of the bills.



02:07 PM --
Jen Walmer, Colorado Director for Democrats for Education Reform, spoke in support of the bills.



02:10 PM --
Scott Laband, President of Colorado Succeeds, spoke in support of the bills.





















02:13 PM



The preceding three witnesses responded to questions from the committee.



02:19 PM --
Linda Van Matre, representing the Pikes Peak Alliance and the Academy School District 20 Board of Education, spoke in opposition to the bills.



02:23 PM --
Ron Mitchell, representing the Jefferson County School Board, spoke in opposition to the bills.





02:28 PM



The preceding two witnesses answered questions from the committee. Senator Hill distributed a memorandum from Legislative Council Staff regarding the bill's fiscal note (Attachment E). Committee discussion ensued.



16SenateEd0421AttachE.pdf16SenateEd0421AttachE.pdf



02:45 PM --
James Cryan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountain Prep, spoke in support of the bills.



02:52 PM --
Daniella Gutierrez, representing herself as a parent, spoke in support of the bills.



02:56 PM --
Sarah Bagley, representing herself as a parent, spoke in support of the bills.



02:58 PM --
Bill Kurtz, representing Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) Public Schools, spoke in support of the bills. Mr. Kurtz answered questions from the committee.



03:05 PM --
Tina Marquis, representing the Boulder Valley School District Board of Education, spoke in opposition to the bills.



03:09 PM --
Carrie Warren-Gully, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, the Colorado Association of School Executives, the Colorado Education Association, and the Rural School Alliance, spoke in opposition to the bills.





03:14 PM



The preceding two witnesses answered questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.



03:28 PM --
Jennifer Douglas, Founder and Executive Director of the New Legacy Charter School, spoke in support of the bills.



















03:31 PM --
Kanise Hampton, representing herself as a student, spoke in support of the bills.



03:32 PM --
Chris Watney, President of the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in support of the bills.



03:34 PM --
Brett Ridgway, Chief Business Officer of School District 49, spoke in support of the bills.



03:38 PM --
Greg Piotraschke, member of the School District 27J Board of Education, spoke in opposition to the bills.



03:45 PM --
Sally Augden, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, spoke in opposition to the bills.



03:48 PM --
Walt Cooper, Superintendent of Cheyenne Mountain School District, spoke in opposition to the bills.





03:52 PM



The preceding three witnesses answered questions from the committee.





04:13 PM



The committee continued to discuss the merits of the bill.



04:23 PM --
Bruce Siegel, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke in support of the bills.



04:28 PM --
Liz Graham, representing herself, spoke in support of the bills.



04:31 PM --
Kimberlee Sia, representing KIPP Colorado Schools, spoke in support of the bills.



04:35 PM --
Megan Silverthorne, representing herself, spoke in support of the bills.





04:37 PM



The preceding witnesses responded to questions from the committee.



04:41 PM --
Mike Johnson, member of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, spoke in support of the bills.



04:46 PM --
Kelly Kovacic, Executive Director of Portfolio Management for Denver Public Schools, spoke in support of the bills.



04:49 PM --
Michael Hayes, Director of Crestone Charter School, spoke in support of the bills.





















04:52 PM



The preceding three witnesses answered questions from the committee.



04:52 PM --
Farrah Nicole Martin, Founder and Executive Director of Aman STEAM Academy, spoke in support of the bills.



04:58 PM --
Lori Deacon, representing herself as a founder of a charter school, spoke in support of the bills.





05:01 PM



The preceding two witnesses answered questions from the committee.



05:03 PM --
Laura Downey, representing herself as a charter school teacher, spoke in support of the bills.



05:06 PM --
Emily Buchop, representing herself as a charter school teacher, spoke in support of the bills.



05:08 PM --
Heather Palige, representing herself as a parent, spoke in support of the bills.



































































05:11 PM



There were no more witnesses and Senator Marble closed public testimony. Senator Hill gave closing comments to Senate Bill 16-187.

BILL: SB16-187
TIME: 05:14:04 PM
MOVED: Hill
MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 16-187 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
No
Merrifield
No
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
No
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

























































05:21 PM -- SB16-188



Senator Hill provided closing comments to Senate Bill 16-188. Senator Merrifield distributed amendments L.001, L.002, L.005, and L.006 (Attachments F-I). Senator Hill explained amendment L.003 (Attachment C). Committee discussion ensued.



16SenateEd0421AttachF.pdf16SenateEd0421AttachF.pdf 16SenateEd0421AttachG.pdf16SenateEd0421AttachG.pdf



16SenateEd0421AttachH.pdf16SenateEd0421AttachH.pdf 16SenateEd0421AttachI.pdf16SenateEd0421AttachI.pdf

BILL: SB16-188
TIME: 05:22:29 PM
MOVED: Hill
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment C). The motion passed on a vote of 6-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
No
Merrifield
No
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
No
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
YES: 6 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS













































05:23 PM



Senator Hill explained amendment L.004 (Attachment D). Committee discussion ensued.

BILL: SB16-188
TIME: 05:23:54 PM
MOVED: Hill
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment D). The motion passed on a vote of 8-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
No
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
Yes
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
YES: 8 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





05:24 PM



Senator Merrifield explained amendment L.001 (Attachment F). Committee discussion ensued.

BILL: SB16-188
TIME: 05:26:17 PM
MOVED: Merrifield
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The motion failed on a vote of 3-6.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
No
Johnston
No
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
No
Todd
Yes
Woods
No
Marble
No
Hill
No
YES: 3 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL













05:27 PM



Senator Merrifield explained amendment L.002 (Attachment G). Committee discussion ensued.

BILL: SB16-188
TIME: 05:41:49 PM
MOVED: Merrifield
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment G). The motion failed on a vote of 3-6.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
No
Johnston
No
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
No
Todd
Yes
Woods
No
Marble
No
Hill
No
YES: 3 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL





05:43 PM



Senator Merrifield explained amendment L.005 (Attachment H). Committee discussion ensued.

BILL: SB16-188
TIME: 05:51:27 PM
MOVED: Merrifield
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment H). The motion failed on a vote of 1-8.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
No
Johnston
No
Kerr
No
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
No
Todd
No
Woods
No
Marble
No
Hill
No
YES: 1 NO: 8 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL













05:51 PM



Senator Merrifield explained amendment L.006 (Attachment I). Committee discussion ensued.

BILL: SB16-188
TIME: 05:55:12 PM
MOVED: Merrifield
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment I). The motion failed on a vote of 3-6.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
No
Johnston
No
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
No
Todd
Yes
Woods
No
Marble
No
Hill
No
YES: 3 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL































































05:56 PM



The committee discussed the merits of the bill.

BILL: SB16-188
TIME: 06:09:26 PM
MOVED: Hill
MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 16-188, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
No
Merrifield
No
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
No
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





06:10 PM



The committee adjourned.


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