Education Committee - Senate

I might not working can you hear me now. Thanks Greg. Let's see is that not working is it working now. I'll speak up. That help. Will that help little bit of it okay what a wonderful crowd we have here today I'm so excited. So this is our Senate Education Committee we at the is it really important Committee as noted by all of the folks who are here who are interested in education we have a number of new members to our our Senate Education Committee this you this time around what I'd like to do is to first introduce each one of them and if you would start in just give us identify yourself. Hello you've been doing this Linda Chesterfield. Thank you madam chair hi my name is Linda Chesterfield representing now Senate district twelve I came in and Senate district thirty six in the House Senate district thirty four and now I'm Senate district twelve I was an educator for thirty years and the Arkansas public schools of the majority which was in the Pulaski County special school district I've been a part of this committee for the majority of my ten year having work is just interesting I life comes back around we had to deal in my first term with Lake View the Huckabee. Because the governor that the law that's what and my first governor was a committee and so now here we are coming full circle. I am bringing Davis I represent help County Conway County and city of Dardanelle and this is my first time to serve on the Education Committee I've been in the Senate since two thousand eighteen and before that from two thousand nine to two thousand eighteen I served on the rest of the school district I've got at Russell school board sorry and I've got four kids three or in public schools and ones in daycare and so I'm excited to be on this committee. Hi. Greg Leding state senator for Fay Advil facility to the legislature in two thousand eleven which feels kind of impossible was looking at to serve one term on house education came to the Senate in twenty nineteen this is my second session on Senate education I look forward to the work ahead. Kamari Senator Kim Hammer represent district eighteen which encompasses the majority of slowing county and then it takes in which place you County my first time sure run Education Committee meetings but I've been doing my due diligence and attending the education committee meetings as I've gone on during the interim my claim to fame as far as education is my wife who talk thirty nine years and public school system is retired now enjoying the benefits of the teacher retirement system she went from one side to the other and that now she is a school board member of the band the school board and I am glad that she's able to take your experience there we have seven grand kids all of our kids are graduated from public school system including my grandkids are all in public school system with the exception of one who is doing it at home and so got a variety of experience from all directives and look forward to working on this committee and just want to work to make Arkansas better is what I'm after thank you. Warning Joshua brand size server district thirty two which is eastern in county northeastern Watson count including the towns of Rogers and Springdale. I A. served four years in a court for being County for going over the house last session before moving to the Senate this session and my connection to education for my my mother was an educator for for her career and she still holds a strong passion for it so glad to be here. Matt stone Senate district to. Survive served only came to city council and I think I have forty eight hours under my belt as a noose elected state senator I'm proud to build Education Committee a product of the public education system here K. through twelve and also my college so I'm just proud to be here will make a difference. Senator jim Dotson from district nine thirty four. Use my old house district number in my mental mentally still represent north central Benton County which is Bellavista Bentonville Centerton the north central part of the the the bin County area there this will be my first time on Senate education but I'm been legislature came from the house for the last ten years and served on Education Committee there at least one term. Thank you and I'd like to introduce our staff Emily Morales off and Kathy let. Right here right here these two lovely ladies in there we're going to keep us all on on course and then Taylor Lloyd is our attorney staff attorney first but she's broke both of her feet so she's at home working from home but normally she will not be attending these things but she is our staff attorney and put prepares all of our legislation or anybody's legislation on education so one of the things that back on the back of their I know we've got a lot of folks in the room here but on the back is a sheet and so if you would sign into that she'd just so we know who showed up today we would appreciate it very much so if you just sign in there and one of the things that we just have a couple things we need to do is adopt the House rules. And what I hear a motion to. Thank you is there a second. All in favor. All opposed. And then I just need to remind folks a little bit that we have we always before we do a bill anybody does bill there's of this guy has to have a fiscal impact statement done on that that that bill so be prepared that's a three day process usually could be longer depending on how busy we all gather or everybody gets so that's just something to keep in your mind so and what I'd like to do today because we do have this is a really important committee and we have an awful lot of folks who really are interested in in education and from my standpoint education is kindergarten through career so we have a lot to be believed here that represent K. through twelve that higher ed but also other other organizations as well and we are fortunate today to have the new secretary for education of the Secretary all above here with us and and I would like to introduce them and have them come up and and introduce himself to you all and talk a little bit about his background and what he's thinking. I guess you could just come to the end of the table down there there's a microphone down there. Yeah it just come to the end of the table. Now this is just the beginning. See can you hear me yes we can good morning thank you chairing wish for allowing me the opportunity to be you and you said this is in a park committee and and in my world this is the most important committee and and the work that you do and in this committee and and in the legislature as a delegate a body really set the foundation for expectation of what we want to Senator school so so as I say thank you for being a serving and representing your communities and in being horrible that that takes a lot of courage and just know that I I truly appreciate that you're out there listening to constituents and providing feedback I think part of my role is to make sure that I build relationships with you to see how your feedback or your ideas become applicables or put in the process so just a little bit about me I I heard forty eight hours in committee I still have a place to live yet so I'm I'm not invited I'm working on trying to become Arkansas's newest resident and eventually I'll be able to get settled in here I've I'm married to my wife Rebecca we have two children once in a University freshman university ones an eighth grader that'll be looking to come join one of the high schools here in the great state of Arkansas here over over the next summer I spent my whole life working in education I'm a product of the public school system in Miami Dade County and I went to school to become a teacher right my master's degrees in elementary education and an exceptional children I spend time in the classroom working with primarily special needs students in kindergarten to third grade ladder level teaching students how to read teaching how to be successful in the general education environment and got talked into becoming a school administrator had an opportunity to be an elementary school principal for a little bit and then got to go to high school we have principal at a high school shortly after being elementary principal image of the school district superintendent spent about four and a half years running a school district that had about thirteen thousand students in it which is pretty similar to some of the sites districts here in Arkansas I spent the last five and a half years working in senior level positions at the Florida department of education so I come to Arkansas with the with the the lands of I'm a father of children that attend public schools I'm a practitioner that spent over twenty years working in supporting public education I'm also state official that understands the the department of education's role in ensuring compliance and oversight of Florida statutes the state board of education roles but also how to support school districts and have conversations with superintendents with principles with teachers to make sure that we're doing everything we can to set up. It is to be successful in life so I haven't had opportunity yesterday to meet with all the district school superintendents here in this state and I'm start senate spent some time working at the department of education and and I can tell you that from my perspective there are some great leaders in this this state the team at the department education is fully committed to the work and I'm really excited to be somebody that was I think confirmed about a few hours ago to the V. into it to be in this for all into really prioritize and implement the work of the state board of education and strategic plan but also the vision that governor Huckabee Sanders has stated and if you saw an inauguration the passion and commitment towards improving learning in the State of Arkansas that was very clear to being her number one priority and have an opportunity to work with her to work with the team at the department the state board to work with the legislative delegation to make sure that students are literate that there have access to early learning environments that we can get ninety to a hundred percent of our third graders reading at or above grade level to make sure that families have choices that students have choices that there's multiple paths to being successful in education and in life to make sure that we're holding people accountable to look at even improving networking opportunities in making sure that students have access to high quality education and and even make sure that current career technical education is is a pathway available to students whose parents and and and children would benefit from that in keeping our school safe and I can tell you and almost twenty five years of work in this space the number one impact on and on reaching those goals and improving learning is going to be investing in our teachers and making sure that we recruit retain and right. Nice the best to make sure they have the training that they need to serve and to make sure that they have the tools to be successful and supporting our school leaders to making that happen so I know you just want to kind of a little bit of a high level overview in the House probably a lot to take in but I'll I'll pause there to see if there is any questions. You all have any questions here thank you committee. Senator Hammer. Could you tell me how many years did you spend in the classroom before you transition to the administrative level to chair is it is Dr response or you would have thank you so I I taught for just over five years in the in the classroom level It was interesting because I was it as a school teacher actually was a was a co chair of as a teacher and I'm Angelo and I coach the bowling team at the high school so don't judge me but if anybody has falling eight I would like to get caught up to speed on the following scene here in Arkansas it's like a separate agenda but it what I was asked by my principle to consider and superintendent if I ever thought about going into school leadership because they we are a growing district and I had never really even thought about it and in fact they did to my student teaching I did that and at the elementary school that and of getting hired to be a teacher at and I went from being an internet college does that school's principal in six and a half years okay thank you. Just as well thank you. A good centre Chesterfield. Good morning and welcome I have not had an opportunity to visit with you but I look forward to it I am a former classroom teacher I don't think you can ever before but I will do that. Have you studied lately V. Huckabee. And. In studying it your commitment stand to provide an adequate and equitable education to all of our children and I say because we work so hard to improve facilities which are now in many areas in disarray so we don't have the adequacy nor the equity I think that we need but what you share your opinion of it having looked at the Alamo school district ruling and the lake view the Huckabee ruling would you share with us your thoughts. Chair is it okay to respond okay so thank you so I the study is a great word because I'm familiar with what the law suits in the impacts of lawsuits and the adequacy specially when it comes to funding and some of the parameters that that's put in the role that you play and the legislature in allocating funds in the role of the state board in this state plays and and making sure they're getting appropriated and in a manner that meets the spirit of the law on the tension. Some of the nuances I wouldn't say aye aye aye I'm at a deep level of understanding but I use the term I use one word to you you kind of reference in there that I think speaks to the spirit of it is really about opportunity into making sure that every student regardless of their zip code has the opportunity and those families have choices that are available to them that every student should be afforded to to be successful so I I I I I I hear from you that there's work to be done in that space so I welcome the opportunity to learn from an expert specially if the said about thirty nine years in the cost or those of the significant amount of time and hear about those ideas and see how we can collaborate to make sure that every child regardless of their zip code is the opportunity to achieve their goals. For calling and thank you for that one of the things that we had chamber all in the room in the room at that time he was cheering up out the facilities committee of the Education Committee one of the things that I keep saying is we can't get to adequacy until we see what an addict looks like. And children can't learn in lousy facilities and we have some great facilities and we have some lousy facilities and I would like your thoughts are your commitment to some extent to visit some of those school districts that don't necessarily get the attention that we have got to give them that we're talking about choice we need to make every school school of choice and if it's running down it is not warm safe and dry that cannot happen and I think I'm preaching to the choir here as it is educators buy one get thoughts on that thank you so much. To you have my commitment to visiting campuses and schools I I believe. That it's being president makes a difference it tells people that you care about them it provides an opportunity to give feedback and it helps frame our lands are reference to know what the real challenges are you can read about what people are going through you can hear about it but into you walk facilities into you've live life in their shoes and you can actually say aye and five heard and seen firsthand some of the challenges that the schools and classrooms are facing you a thousand percent have my commitment that I will be visible and I'll be present and I will have my boots on the ground in my eyes and ears open and I'm gonna come back and report with what I see and sometimes are going to like what I have to say sometimes or not. Thank you our state thank you thank you. Any other further questions. We look forward to working with you it's going to be an exciting time and we're here we're all all after the same thing And so we we look forward to working with you and your staff and I think most of us already know what a great staff you have over there we've worked together quite a bit and hope to continue with that thank you very much it's my pleasure and and thank you again for the opportunity maybe next time I come eleven he's screwed a little closer or actually. Made any progress we have a smaller room but less space here it's mark it's cozier thank you so much I really thank you and I look forward to working with you. So what any other things that we do have done a lot of times is is it's interesting for us to see the walls in the room who cares a lot a lot a little bit about education and we've got some groups of folks in here so what I'd like to do is maybe start over here and ask you to introduce yourself and what organization you're with. Yes and and it just a little bit it doesn't have to be a twenty minute deal. What one person. Arkansas medical sciences the. there's a and why is education important UAMS what is that that's our our future healthcare. Sturch all of this is. Or the garden might. Sharks are in the. Hi feature. Thanks. Arkansas learns. I believe that every every student. Student focus rewards choice transparency. Education and everything springs from a well as. The water with mission was. Here in Little Rock office. I started off as yeah. Four people were. And I've worked as a volunteer with Republican and democratic legislators. Do you like. I can't hear. So. It. I started crying. Back in the back there in the back row wheels that there. If you think you get a high back then Bragg. Nope. Is the money man. Okay. All orders. Wonderful ladies. Hi. Five. Okay. Thanks to Luko. Could you speak up just a little bit. Okay. Okay great. Super okay so then back behind. We were. The Director of the Arkansas. Fortner services industry yes. Martin. Higher education. Products. First. Arkansas. Right. House. The Arkansas State University systems training. Thank you senator alter. Right of ownership. Your local beers more or passionate about making sure his education. Arkansas Association I also serve on the Arkansas state foundation board and us we. Focus on what restraining welding. High school students. Turning out. So behind Scott Smith there's a little group of people back there you didn't identify yourselves you may be onlookers are participant but tell us who you are. I want to. For. US. Or these. Our. For the. Number in here. Relationships are. All. More years. Now what we are all of the teachers a dollar fifty. Thousand. Now most. All. All of that. It. All. Your. Program reside here. Senate. Who is that. We'll. We got everybody. So I guess what we what we have to say in the years how important this is. Education is out throughout everything we do every organization every industry at it is so important in and I am always so pleased that all of you are willing to be a part of the conversation to help move our state forward to be able to get where we want to get to be for all of our students and all of our population so I appreciate all of you being here today we at we had a little sheet out there it really would be helpful kind of the if you might fill out the sheet and just so we have make sure we have your contact information but we will our plan will be to meet on Wednesdays and Fridays at ten o'clock in room two zero seven which is upstairs which is what we normally would be except they're working on the windows right now so that's why we have this spare room it's a cozy room but yes. Manager would you clarify did you say Wednesday and Friday yes so we will be on Fridays well you know typically we don't at an upcoming on Fridays for a lot of time so until get things get busy will probably just be done Wednesday okay okay and will rock will rock long as we know how that goes we against. We mow the lawn is anybody in the audience have any questions that they'd like to ask our comments and like to make. Certainly open to that it's not the usual but yes. Use that use your microphone. Identify yourself I think it's a hello this morning my name Senator Tyler dis I don't serve on this committee but one day I hope to be like Senator English that's why I'm here okay I'm just taking notes no I I am honored to be here I I am a product of two parents of public school educators and coaches and so honored to be fighting for conservative values that we are offline for for to help our children in their education journey so thanks for let me be here today. And we invite any legislator to come and sit in to our meetings you don't get the vote but you get to sit in and and be part of the conversation Thank god is there anything else we need. All right well then you all have anybody here have anything else they want to bring up. Okay well then until right now we don't have any bills so it probably will meet this next Wednesday but you never know what will happen but it will be on the calendar and we will always make sure that everybody knows about it if you have some thoughts and ideas please do not hesitate to contact us we're always open for discussions so thank you very much. Thank you.