Education Committee - Senate

Art at the top of the agenda which would be for house bill sixteen seventy eight. If somebody here to run house bill sixteen seventy eight all right see and not there's not somebody here to run sixteen seventy eight. I'm sorry. Sorry Senator Sturch is there are. My apologies Senator Sturch you're sitting here waving at me and I did not see okay. All rights if you can state your name for the records and then your present health the sixteen seventy eight thank you madam chair thank you colleagues Senator James Sturch District nineteen this is said house bill sixteen seventy eight on behalf of representative Allen he had mentioned to me a couple weeks ago he was trying to work on something to wear a college professor to go ahead and get their teachers license by a county some of the experience in higher ed towards an educator's license in the state of Arkansas and so that's basically what the bill says in any language is just that the department of education to be able to promulgate the rules to allow that experience to also be counted towards a teaching license just like my experience teaching over three semesters was counted towards my licensure and that's essentially what the bill does if a have any questions beyond that I'll have to defer to doctor for from the Department okay are there any questions on this bill by members at center back on. Thank you Sir surcharge we we spoke briefly before this bill and my concern was just one of these president on record is if we are allowing university professors or assistant professors from outside of the state to come in and receive a teacher's license would you agree we need to address that rules. Yes Sir Sandviken I think you could address in rules like I said it probably be a rare case for someone from outside state would be coming in to get Arkansas teaching license unless they were relocating or moving and and actually going to to school instead of and hire a position yes I think you could and rules kind note down. Right thank you senator Chesterfield. I think we put something in place about a gazillion years ago about the process by which individuals who were out of state could get certified so I'm wondering if that would not apply to this because we'll get some licensee Akhter Dr Pfeiffer can come and. Answer your questions for you. The record yes and ivy Pfeffer department of education and so our license reciprocity process would apply for someone coming in from out of state typically that is it is if a person comes with the standard license then we work to an issue then that equivalent so you are correct in that the rules we would outline as far as and the college instructors under this would apply to those who are here in this state the reciprocity would remain the same. Perfect great thank you thank you are there any other questions from members of the committee C. nine is there anyone here to speak for against the bill moved to that all right motion do pass as their seconds second all those in favor say aye and oppose ayes have it the bill passes congratulations maybe next house bill twelve thirty seven representative Lowery. It just state your name for the record you're recognized that house bill twelve thirty seven. Representive Mark Lowery I'm here to present HB twelve thirty seven I was looking for Secretary ki of hope hopefully he's willing to join me at the table like he did over on the house side. Yeah he does seem to be saying now of. I'll just wait for him to introduce himself and then the presentation. John Martin vegetation okay. Members that you know there's a lot of things that especially when you get to be as old as I am that we look back and we talk about the good old days and since some of those good old days are not so good but I think one of the good old days things that I remember is that school did not start until after Labor Day did start after early September we've seen the calendar school calendar creeping further and further into the month of August and something that I've been looking at one that there's there's the extremely high cost for when you're holding school in the mid middle of August it's the hottest part of the summer urine to cool those buildings but it also has affected some things in terms of calendars of the other issue that to obviously that is also affected is Arkansas's number two industry is tourism and the further you move into the month of August the more it impacts of that and that is a has a residual impact on our state state sales tax collections I've been working with the Department an ideal was brought to me two years ago when I was first looking at this actually started looking at it four years ago the Richard Abernathy with a a a came to me and we've been trying to figure out if we wanted to start school two weeks later or one week later how would we rake backer claw back those days and about the only way that you could do it is if you pull days out of breaks will Richard Abernathy came to me with the idea of us transitioning to what the state of Missouri is now doing where they do not look at minimum classroom days but instead look at minimum classroom hours and that gives the flexibility and and I want to focus on the word flexibility because everything in this bill is permissive for the local school district in terms of adjusting their counter thank. Except for the fact that school would not start any sooner than the Monday two weeks before Labor Day and Where the department became involved in this is and I ask them two years ago when we look at this hour's thing there was concerned that it was going to affect school funding that if we did not affect every section of code that refers to days transitioning to ours it could affect the foundation funding the ATM all those kinds of things and so it's it at that point that the departments are looking at it and and as they've communicated to me they found a lot of things that are very favorable is in terms of counter and that's the point where I want to going go ahead transition to to secretary key and and let him speak to some of the the issues as it directly relates to education. Again Johnny key part of education and chair committee. We did have some reservations about this two years ago within regional our brought the idea but we did take up quite a bit of time during the interim to. Review and and explore what the options were and the one of the areas where we have concerns was how does this fit into the school in the finance how does it fit into teacher contracts and and that sort of thing so if you look on page three there is language There that Really it addresses all of that in that it's if they adopt an alternate calendar then there has to be a conversion for the total number of instructional hours to convert to school days this is on line thirty certain line thirty two for the purposes of the number of days required an employment contract number of days a toward the official reporting periods average daily membership that's where the funding piece was on certain force two years ago but we checked we can adopt adapter systems to make up for these these of transitions or or And it will not be a problem under any of our systems so we we feel good about this it also creates some flexibility for districts are few districts are using alternate calendars now that they have sought approval through their board and into department state board magazine being one thank you might have heard it referred to as a year round calendar but different breaks and that are on a different schedule than many the other district so this gives districts another opportunity to look to see what fits best for their for their communities. All right of center Chesterfield you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair you have you have the address Senate secretary Q. of the dress the issue of teacher salaries. A teacher okay what about the salaries of our support professionals how will they be impacted because we're having difficulty now keeping or getting and bus drivers so how is this going to affect them is going to reduce the amount of days that they will be able to drive and therefore the amount of money they will get. The it is possible I'm not to say that there's a one for one transition because of your a bus driver then you know the number of the length of time you're spending driving the bus is going to be limited the really depends on how those contracts are set up. Are they set up on an hourly basis so they're set up on on a number of days basis so really that's it was a little more difficult to make a blanket conversion from those situations and it was for teacher salaries since they are very specific under the law well with with a few hours of the transportation dollars to go to the district going to be a factor. It would it wouldn't on a per ATM basis because that's an aberration that goes right well there's the enhanced transportation is relatively new and That's a bill are has a formula we don't know what goes into that formula could there be some changes to the formula based on what school opts to do and they're finding that they receive very possibly but we don't know exactly how that would work with the bureau would have to make those determinations which I will be working with districts to hold those who make the least. Pharma's I would hope is that the and representative last Wallace I think what we're trying to do is add as much flexibility in into this bill in terms of how the school districts adjusted the classroom hours you know they could do that I think one estimate has been that a classroom day could be extended by fifteen minutes and that you could rake back that five days that that we're talking about that would impact the number of days that a bus driver is driving if you're if you're starting one week later but as secretary key said it I think the gross revenues that are given to the school district for transportation that doesn't get affected by switching to this alternate calendar that can be accepted it would be up to the to the individual districts and how they want to parcel out that money to their bus drivers if they wanted to make up that difference of having five list states that they're driving around it's not just the bus driver right in the cafeteria workers would. Maintenance probably would not would not be affected because they would just might be right I just want us to look at the totality of it in the impact I'm not against your bill but I also want to make sure that we're not just dealing with some education employees and not others I understand all right thank you thank you senator search you're recognized for a question thank you Mr president I just come on in ask and on the hours the one thousand sixty eight hours how did that get calculated as far as conversions or is it based on a six hour day or eight hour day or. Can you can tell me where that number come from well that would be based on what what the I think it's six and a half hours within six and a half hours times what our minimum classroom days are now the one seventy eight six six hour instruction six hours instructions typically six and a half because we'll watch carried that's a fact times a hundred seventy eight days that we currently have and then that's where you come up with that number and again the flexibility is there the district doesn't have to extend the date to be able to call back five days they could just go ahead and put back that we they could put it at the end however they they want to do it we've given local control and how they would actually adjust at and then secretary ki could I ask when you mention that there is a couple schools who already had that is that through waiver process that that their conversion chart is either conversion charter school or district of innovation it's it's one of those methods Thank you Sir is that. Magazine was the first one that came to us that waiver is not available to all of the schools I'm not even sure I think you can. Okay so year round and that's an option that's already okay I have your own calendar thank you thank you has been available for some time four day weeks are also so you live there is flexibility in there now in the statute this just takes it and instead of by Davies. Then it allows the hourly. Considerations thank. I'm sorry go ahead no go ahead I'm just gonna say we also feel of that by the adjustment of the one week later you might it might remember that there was a bill that came to committee earlier in the session that it just the testing schedule you one of the things that a lot of us always hear it from parents is that the you know the test takes place in our in early April gas but then there's really not. Significant instruction that takes place the next several weeks will a bill already came through adjusting that testing calendar so that we hopefully hopefully will have a little bit more preparation time for the students to take that that indeterminate ECT tester ACT is fire and that we should all hopefully we'll see some some positive upticks discourse I think it had a really great sponsor to yeah. Senator Elliot you're recognized for a question. I hope I didn't miss you mentioned the this I don't think I did but this does not change anything about spring break right now it stays the same no matter what schedule you have. It does not change any of the brakes okay all right well spring break would be the big one for everybody as long as that once okay right well specially since that is uniform I believe with the higher ed well yes yeah okay thank you. Hi other other questions from the members of the committee. All right C. N. nine we have some people that are here to speak for and against the bill and my apologies Dr charity Smith you are here to speak for house bill sixteen seventy eight and so I will I appreciate you being here and I apologize that I missed I missed that for Senator Sturch represent Allen's bill and for the bill Stacy Hurst. If you'll just identify yourself for the record the may proceed. Thank you madam chair Stacy Hurst secretary of the Arkansas department of parks heritage and tourism and I'm I can't speak to the merits of this bill from an education point of view but I would like to share with you all and the benefit potential benefit from the tourism point of the place as you all know tourism is the second largest sector of the Arkansas economy it generates before the pandemic around seven point five billion dollars employees almost seventy thousand people in Arkansas this activity generates hundreds of millions of dollars for the state but also for our local communities unfortunately tourism and hospitality has been the hardest hit sector during the code economy and as a result of the pandemic it is expected to be the slowest sector of the economy to recover. isn't impacts not just hotels and restaurants but it also impacts main street businesses most of which are small businesses and locally owned it impacts our state park system and communities large and small across Arkansas parks and tourism did a study of this issue two years ago regarding the impact of school starting early and here's what the study produced with an early start to school there is an approximately a loss of approximately one thousand seven hundred and fifty jobs annually there's a loss of a hundred and ninety six million and travel expenditures a loss of ten million dollars in state revenue and taxes and three point seven million dollar loss in local taxes so would you can see it truly has an impact to the tourism economy in the state of Arkansas so from the travel and tourism point of view I'd like to ask for your support and positive consideration of this bill if there's ever been a time to consider adjusting the schedule or giving schools the opportunity to be flexible now is the time because of the impact that COVID has had on our tourism economy thank you very much for your consideration and I'm happy to answer any questions madam chair thank you are there any questions from the stars. The question thank you very much. Okay to speak against David tolerance. David Tollett state representative of district twelve also served as the superintendent of the Barton school district and I have the several concerns about this bill representan Lowery knows my concerns but there is one concern especially that I didn't know until it actually passed the house was sixty four votes the first concern I have is if you actually look at the calendar and and look at how many days parks and tourism actually gains in the next five years it if you assume a start date of August nineteenth which is the typical start date for most schools then the Department of trick of tourism will pick up three total days in five years if assuming that date if you back it up to what the law actually allows Ford now which is the earliest start date of a public school which is August fourteenth you would pick up fifteen days in five years so around three days of additional time for people to go camp. my second concern is what this does for education we transitioning we will be transitioning from a hundred and seventy eight day calendar hundred seventy eight days the kids get fed a hundred seventy eight days that teachers work hundred seventy eight days to recoup the learning that is lost by covid thanks to the bill that pushes the testing date we now recoup a little bit more of that time and with an early start date to go with that bill it allows us to recoup all almost a year and a half of learning before state testing that that would take place which is been our greatest asset at the Barton school district I also have concerns with unbalanced semesters districts going to a four day week education we can taking it from a hundred seventy eight days two hundred and forty something days by just adding an hour on to the school day I don't know that you get necessarily a lot more educational benefit out of just adding an hour to the school day in making that school day learn longer as opposed to actually going additional days but you also run into our noncertified staff and they are they are required to only work forty hours a week anything over that they would be eligible for of course over time and that's going to create some issues if we extend out the school day and go over that forty hour requirement but. The the main reason I'm here and and I didn't catch this and till it actually left the house but it's on page two and it's line fourteen and fifteen and this prevents the division shall not grant the public school district a waiver to begin school on an earlier date in other words no at twelve forty waiver can be granted to a public school to start school early. As as a a person who oversees the Barton school district this is a problem because that early start date has been the key to our success at Barton we have one over thirteen we P. award six in two thousand nineteen for our growth in math and literacy far beyond anything any other school district will one during that time At Barton starting school at a different time than the other schools around us has a light old us our sheriff's department to work with us to follow bus routes to ensure safety is a priority getting school started and we get to start school right now a week before everybody else we would lose that are sheriff's department within have to be scattered across and and in two thousand fifteen when that was going on we were seeing accidents one to two accidents during that week since we went to the early start a waiver and the sheriff's department could focus solely on my school district we have not had a single accident in the last five years starting school early it means more time to teach before testing and that has been the key to our success success because we've been able to gain about three fourths of the year recoup it over over time for those kids which it means we have been able to achieve their educational goals for our low socio economic and minority students but the other thing is. We have a hundred percent faculty support a hundred percent PPC support ninety six percent our community support for our early start a waiver because it allows us to work with our local or local community college and seventy five to eighty percent of our low socio economic and minority students actually get approved to attend concurrent credit classes because we started a week early and we have that time before they actually start to get them approved I go before the state board of education on Thursday and that's why I'm here because you know politically it's bad form right to do what I'm doing and and I understand that and and represent and that and that's no disrespect to represent Lowery although I'm probably going to bump down its list a little bit. But a I don't know how much further I can go but probably a little bit further but but anyway we go before the state board of education we were going to get our early start a waiver prior to this bill coming through and if this bill goes through then we're gonna be did not it and we're going to lose all the momentum and the whole system that we've built at our school for the last you know five years and to me that's a big deal because it means that a lot of our kids are not going to get those concurrent credit options and in our teachers are going to lose that extra time before testing that we could have with early start a waiver because that plus the bill they got past would be a winner for everybody but anyway I wanted to bring that to your attention I'm I'm being the rest of it I I can live with but those two lines the the fourteen page two fourteen fifteen I mean I really would like to have our schools have the flexibility to start those days early for our kids because being a small school superintendent I have for the privilege of knowing all my family's and my parents and I have three that actually take advantage of the parks and tourism to want to know when we're going to be in school every day and pushing this the school your back will push us into June two in that school year well those two groups of parents actually take advantage of Memorial Day weekend and base dago Memorial Day weekend and stay the whole week which they won't get to do if this passes and then I have one that always wants to know when we start school because they want to get that last minute vacation but I wanted to bring that to your attention and I appreciate your your attention it and and thank you for listening to me I have a quick question on. Go to other members for a quick but I have a quick question date you talked about the concurrent courses in either one can answer this question is there is and maybe if the department or maybe it's my from higher at that is there a specific a specific date that are higher and concurrent classes begin. In Arkansas I don't know the answer that there's not you want to come forward do you mind I just yeah. I will say that we made adjustment in the bill to to work with concurrent enrollment representative told that had brought that to me very very early on that additionally we were looking at a two week later start all at you don't go far there might be somebody that question for you and also we made that adjustment after a meeting with community colleges talking with them and they felt like that the date and then I know. Dr Markham can elaborate on this but because we shifted to just one week later that puts it more in line with I think the vast majority of the community colleges. If you identify yourself remarking division of higher education so none of these proposed changes impact when higher education would start and we don't dictate their start dates we don't dictate their vacation times typically higher education trust sink their calendar with whatever the local public school district as so sometimes the start dates maybe a day or two or a week off and it's really up to the higher institution to make allowances for those differences but secondary career center traditional concurrent all holidays and start and end dates they don't necessarily coincide but it's usually something that just thank work out locally okay well the reason I ask questions and and on top if you wanna come back I mean the reason I ask the question was because of what he said about that week that they are using and I think I'm my question now goes to you thank you for that. And but the question them back to you was you I want you to elaborate you said that you you've you take that extra week to work with your students to try to get them enrolled into concurrent courses which they may or may not so exit can you elaborate a little bit on that because being the parents of a public high school kids are four of them that took concurrent coursework I do understand that dynamic and how difficult it might be I mean it was for me I can't imagine other you know folks so if you can just elaborate on that a little bit yes so When you're dealing with low socioeconomic students one of the barriers that you see in education is that they usually don't have family who is ever going to college and so they don't even know how to go about that process as a public school it's our job to help them find that but not every kid is qualified by the end of a certain year to to be able to take those concurrent credit classes the next year so what we do is we at the beginning the school we go ahead and roll them in regular classes however we give them the opportunity to go ahead and and our local community college works with us and it's not called compas testing but I I I don't know the name of it now I'm sorry I'm kinda old school Matt but whatever the the alternative testing that they can undergo to qualify for concurrent credit at our local community college we we allow them to go ahead and and do that well seventy five to eighty percent of our minority and low socioeconomic students actually take that or opportunity and they go test and they qualify and then they in a enroll because I've eliminated the barriers for that we I mean when I first came we had students who had to pay for their own tuition provide for their own transportation everything else I pay for their tuition I pay for their books I provide their transportation I've tried to eliminate every single barrier too low socio economic or any student really to taking these concurrent credits at the local community college so this gives them that opportunity and this year because covid COVID pushed back the start date. So I mean we only had three kids who got to take concurrent credit classes I mean seventy five eighty per I think we lost eighty to ninety percent of our kids who would have probably qualify this year because we didn't have that time before the community college started and so that. That is specific to my school district and it may not impact anybody any other school districts in the state and that's why on on that fourteen fifteen I would love to see the opportunity for school districts like mine who don't impact tourism you know enough to matter and and probably not at all that those opportunities for those kids will not be lost and those with considerations would be taken in by the state board of education Or could be taken by the state board of education and not just you can't do it all right senator Chesterfield you're recognized then Senator Sturch thank you. And. I guess I didn't read it is closed because I'm in favor of what you're proposing is start dates on the flexibility to do so by could you explain me why we just say it you can't have any waiver on this at all. Well. I guess I would just let me get your we grant waivers on any well and that's the point is that we do grant waivers on just just about anything and so it it almost renders moot the need for this bill if you can grant waivers of. You know to get around this later school start the the real issues and making sure that there's uniformity and it doesn't it doesn't help in in terms of coordination with with community colleges it certainly doesn't help in terms of assisting the the arts and tourism tourism and hospitality if you have these dates Dependent upon the school district wanting to receive a waiver of the so that that's the main reason why we we actually but the majority of things that we put in place people here to. And then there's the rock of the waiver is not something that's just rampant right and I guess that's my concern is having grown up esports jokester. In not having the opportunity that many Hey at right I'm concerned about taking away an opportunity for some kids who have no idea how to navigate that system because they've never seen anybody. Go to college before and that that's troubling to me in this particular bill it may not from anybody else what troubles me because. If it's granted because we have to sync it with the community college. Then this that to me is is is something that we want to have because it will enhance in essence to me later on the tourism industry by providing a better educated workforce they can afford to take my vacations we're talking about so that's why I'm concerned about that particular part of this bill ensures I believe and I know the do you know I'm a huge proponent of concurrent enrollment that I think it's great if a student by the time they graduate from high school that they almost have the equivalent of an associate degree that's going to one is going to save them a lot of money in the long run but it also is going to spill better success I mean it's usually that freshman year that really catches up a lot of these kids that they just you know they throw up their hands if we can get them past frankly there Gen ed courses and they can get into their main area of interest that's the thing that hooks them. We've been assured I've been assured by the committee colleges they were opposed to the bill at first we were talking about a two week later start date because they said that was not going to mesh very well with the community colleges two year colleges that were offering an even four years that were offering concurrent enrollment to a local school district working with them when we adjusted to the one week then the community colleges said that there neutral on this bill they're not opposed they feel that it covers the vast majority of the schools within the state they feel like the others they can make the adjustment. Rather than asking the public school district to make the adjustment they feel they have the flexibility there were there requirement is getting in sixteen weeks of instruction. Well we. Representative shall let have we visit have you visited with your community colleges to see about flexibility. I have I'm not sure that I mean they they actually service six different schools and so. I think that they will just continue to stay on their schedule because it works I mean we're a unique situation and that's why we get to try to get the time before they start most schools Sturch. Right as our community local community colleges it's it's going to start and visited with them at all I've talked to him I I don't think that there's much. We'll for them to change their start date and push their start date back I think that they'll just continue on with their schedule because it does create some issues for them. As well is there some abridge program available I have the incident were well we we've tried in several different things. This is the only thing that we have found that works and I really hate to do away with something that I know works for our kids. And go back to the the things that we've tried and thank you yeah thank you. Senator Sturch and Senator Elliot thank you manager that I'm I've got questions for both could send the the. All. When I say. The two ideas aren't meshing to me and for some reason I I don't know why but if we're now saying on one hand you know we don't want to start then unless it's two weeks right before Labor Day but then on the other hand we're gonna say we're going to compare it to ours and that you have flexibility then when to start when to stop and you know how long the day anything else how are those then ideas may see if it if the school did want to have earlier start dates or year round program or for a school day in jobs than a you know an afternoon is it is it that we've got these many hours and but you do still have to keep it to this amount of months or I mean that's not in the bill but is that what the you know consensus is as far as that goes is how those two ideas macys Vice quicker and first committee I want to thank you for allowing me to answer questions well we have expert testimony coming forward so thank you very much for that flexibility the only thing that really it's mandated yes thank you cannot start any earlier than the two weeks prior to Labor Day everything after that is flexible you can regain that would that week that we've pushed the schedule you can regain it by either having a longer school day but yet still capturing the same number of classroom hours that you would have if you have that we you could add that week on to the end of the school term if you didn't want to go with the longer school day in the flexibility on even the longer school days not limited to just gaining fifteen minutes it could be thirty minutes which would allow you to maybe even in the earlier it later in the in the year all of that is flexible the only thing that is locked in and I think really the best answer of why the way for issue is so critical representative told that actually is introduced a bill that would start school in August fifth but that's a that is a great example of how this thing keeps. Reaping further and further and it has dramatic effect not just on tourism and hospitality it also has effect on students who who earned during during the summer it cuts off their ability to be able to in in those cases it's not just them raising money so that they can buy a car sometimes it is to help their family so there's a lot of things that really affected dramatic and negatively so do the earlier we get in dog is they have the flexibility though to do the opposite to go longer are to have a long here they do have the flexibility to go longer if they so choose and I know representative Tollett had raised the issue on the house floor that what's the difference if you go into June as far as parks and tourism or tourism hospitality what's the difference and the truth is there's nothing that replaces a week in August August is there time of many businesses they rely on July in August to be able to make their income for the whole year and June itself we can generally doesn't impact as much as being able to regain that week in August. Ninety nine fast representative was placed. I will take on both the I don't like either one of you so. The job that I. I'm not finding them mission will then with your argument as far as the bring them in earlier and then helping them prep for concurrent that also had a great sponsored by the way this the the idea then is bringing in kids to do Act placer test or anything else what could you do that on the owner are you doing it in the school R. S. I mean during the school day as far as take them away from other classes and then having them do this or how are you making it work with your current schedule yes so the way the way it works right now is we get them enrolled to get them started into school we we do a little bit of afternoon kind of prep type stuff after school to kind of help them get ready and then we do take up half to a full day of school and take them down to the the college to do the testing so that they feel comfortable with us knowing where they're going what they're doing to to be able to get that would any that would end this then prevents you from doing that even before school started and as far as like when they're making their schedules on there is an account says that's not necessarily have to be done during the school you know when school is in session it could be done this law would prevent you from starting school a school that I'm saying is is anything preventing you from going ahead and doing it that way Tivity we've tried that it doesn't work because I mean get them there right okay. So then my question is you mentioned the PPC's you know as far as if the bill does give enough flexibility to schools to make their own decisions and your the school committee and school board and everything else didn't want to change anything is anything from preventing you from doing that because when I say your argument doesn't mesh well it in one on one hand one of you're saying let's only three days it's only going to gain so many a few days over the next five years and then the other arm you're saying well this is terrible because we don't have any sex but will they don't mesh well so what I'm asking is I guess if it's if it's the two weeks before Labor Day and instead of August nineteenth restoring on August the twenty third you know or whatever if if your PPC doesn't want to change the calendar as far as anything else goes and then kind of walk me through what the problem is as far as that goes right so we have had the ACT twelve forty early start a waiver where the first public school in the state of Arkansas to go back and we usually start somewhere around August seventh every year and so we bring our students and way before that fourteenth day which I mean doesn't require I mean schools can back it up to the fourteenth if it falls right or at least the nineteen fourteen to nothing we start on this around the seventh every year this gives us that extra time to work with our students it gives us extra time to get our our kids not only eligible for concurrent credit but also in football practice get them he he ready to Like I said the safety component of it I mean there's just a lot of advantages to starting that early but the benefit to it is that we get out usually around the third week of may and so where are our community loses that time in August we pick it up in may and June when it's cheaper for our community to go on vacation and our community and faculty and parents they they like that it is work extremely well for five years now and that's why we were seeking a waiver are seeking a waiver on Thursday to be able to continue that because for our community and it may not work for everybody the for at least our community that that's what they want and it's a big deal to them to have this is actor forty waiver the only way you could do it yes as a public school that would be the only allies and then this would prevent that because they're not a school of innovation United Russians however it that the actual forty waiver is the only Avenue and that's that's what I didn't catch in this bill on the house side that is vitally important and it wasn't so the Department pointed that out because they were they they have worked great with us getting and we were getting ready to get our act twelve forty waiver for early start date in the end this bill hit and they informed me well it this bill you know is probably going to pass if it passes we're going have to deny that waiver coming up so we will lose that flexibility coming up which is been the key to our success academically and for our low socioeconomic so those in the Arkansas Delta these kids don't have the same opportunities as other parts of the state and I worked in the western part of state I grew up in the list from our state I went to the Delta by choice and it is very difficult you have to create every opportunity. These kids have because they just don't have it at least for my school district this those two lines would be detrimental to us I guess my question though is if. If there's other options are there's other avenues why could you then be like a school of innovation and then ask for this only I mean you would have to do jump through hoops knew anything else but if you want really want to keep that intact there's got to be other ways that you could do it there is our board would not go for that we or a public school. Which school but there is a big process to go through to be school innovation is not just you want this one thing And so we're going to allow you to be a school of innovation it is a huge process to go through that and I don't even know that we would necessarily qualify as a school innovation just because we wanted to start school a few days on the same argument within apply for conversion charter public school and living clarify this bill does not go into effect until the twenty two twenty three school years so this doesn't impact the upcoming school year calendar the representative told that is talking about so there would be plenty of time and those options are available school school of innovation and open charter when I noticed it didn't have an emergency clause either so that's what's troubling me yours what's confusing me as to why he's saying then the department says that they can't do the waiver if it's not for the next six years then apply. Yes secretary you might certificated come up and answer these questions probably Senator Sturch. So specifically were discussion about the waivers and the ability to grant this waiver or not grant this waiver Senator Sturch you're recognized for a question right and how these two ideas may issue if we're keeping the scope you know at school from starting then two weeks before Labor Day over then allowing flexibility for it to be ours which you know I've I've heard about it for so long now that you know there are some schools out there who want to look at more of a year round type program or at least a longer school year but a shorter school day to allow kids to work or to allow kids taking current in the afternoon so I'm wanting to make sure that these two ideas either will mesh well together or that they won't and what the waivers would be as far as allowing schools to do that in the future or even if they need to wait yeah Senator what we don't see a conflict we could grab one more year of the waiver under Act twelve forty that's the only type of waiver that this legislation would prohibit only on the start date but. This has been mentioned district of innovation school of innovation legislation that Senator Elliot past a number of years ago it allows for of the same type of waivers that the charters get or schools can get under at twelve forty and the conversion charter we they're all public schools they're not. you know that this this isn't something that says well I'm I'm no longer a public school years here will always be a public school at the end this is actually an in my view a perfect type of scenario for a school of innovation because you're identifying a specific need and a solution that helps the students in your district and working with community partners those are the types of things we look for have worked with districts to to create those opportunities so so we we really don't see that there is a conflict with this law and this limitation because there are other ways let me give you some background of wine What we ran into a couple of years ago. Almost every district in the state got this waiver under at twelve forty. The reason was it was a quirk in the calendar the way the calendar hit in I believe it was twenty seventeen eighteen school year of there was like a day difference so you can start on the thirteenth. Or you have to wait to start on the fourteenth and and with the way that that that week fail school started asking is can we get away. And that so we we said yeah that's something that is available to you under Act twelve forty well what happened was so many districts for warning that waiver because L. wanted to be on the same day it could in I mean the representantes district wasn't even in this group because they already had a different waiver different start. But. Instead of having every school district in the state that wanted this waiver come individually to the to the State Board of we allow them to do it by coop so the cost basically bundle all those waiver requests for the districts in their in their area and presented those on Cooper basis so I'd say ninety plus percent of the districts in the state of Arkansas had that waiver. And it was because you can get in for five years it was a five year waiver well the Clerk at the calendar had ended by the and so what we were looking at was just a continuation of of this waiver for everybody making this law moot as Representative Lowery mentioned earlier so so we're we're fine with this because there are other ways that if a district wants to present a plan I don't think it's that owners of a process that to me we work to the number of districts on the school of innovation side the conversion charter is a little bit more on into link your process but school of innovation is isn't we've streamlined that considerably and to to create a program of study or construction or timing or supports that meet the needs of their students it would be a perfect fit for some so school of innovation you say is not as strange as the conversion chart I wish that are that's why I would I would make that assertion real problem with you know south side or Cave City or rates will not being called public schools and even numbered all use conversion charges so I appreciate that I think you meant to yes senator Chesterfield you're recognized. I'm sorry so sorry yes that's correct Senator Elliot. You might have been a motion I don't know probably so but okay all right well I want to just to start with the the notion of the school of innovation is exactly for. What we posted described here about this school district because I I can tell it is it is not remotely close to becoming a charter school what you have to do because I've looked at both in depth and I'm not to say it is the thing to do but it is certainly there in a way that if the community has certain things that are unique to them they want to think about that's what it's for and the first thing I in the very first line the third line in the bill says you know what what somebody mentioned earlier about this doesn't go into effect until twenty twenty two and I noticed there is no there is no emergency clause so nothing can happen and you have a whole year out here today to work things out when you say when you think about the school of innovation innovation being onerous here's a kind of onerous we're talking about if it's going to be a real school of innovation it is going to have to involve the community and that is the thing so many people have pushed back against but it seems like representative already has that covered because they have a really tight knit community and I'm doing things together and so that's something I just think it would be worth thinking about because I do appreciate what you're saying I certainly do think those kids need opportunity so that could could be done the other thing is I. I have never been for making this change and unnecessarily big because it's a it's a it's about the hospitality industry I've always thought is important but I couldn't get to a point I could ballot sees things to say yes to a bill like this this to me creates more of a balance and I when I look at there is still we we've got we're doing away with the waiver which I think we've gone crazy with waivers to start with but we're doing away with the waiver of but within the guidelines there is all kind of flexibility and that gives me some way to think about this in terms of balance which is the way I when there are things like might my left and right and they all make sense so I just look for balance and this seems to have it the other thing that. I think we could think a whole lot more about that can help create something with the hospitality industry. These are also kids who need to have the opportunity. For jobs. To learn about what it needs to create those habits of mind and so forth that could be a terrific thing that could happen with the school of innovation are with out it out because we hear people all the time talking about we have now taken away entry level jobs and our kids grow up not Lorton knowing an early age and a lot of those jobs hospitality jobs we ought to be more intentional about that and still not hurt them and their schooling and just lastly know to look at this economically especially coming out of covid We get a whole bunch of taxes from the hospitality industry and knowing that August that those last two weeks in August is a big deal that's a big deal what representative tolerance is a big deal but when you balance it. If you don't get the two weeks can't get that back. But you can figure out ways to use the time better so that everybody wins so to speak and so I just would like to hear your you know all about that I was going to ask you this approve that talent but I'll just leave it said that she wanted but I I do think representative Lowery there is a balance here that we could make this work I guess is a don't you agree and not her kids because that's not the point leave it at that but I just want to get my thoughts out there because people ask all the questions so. Thank you very very I would agree I think especially when you're talking about giving opportunity to students to work or to be able to transition into a career when. The idea was brought to me I think back in the two thousand fifteen session for the youth employment act I know there were concerns about us expanding we're changing child labor laws so that juveniles could work more hours than when I started talking to the students it wasn't just about them raising money to buy a car I mean it was to for them to help their family and I think we do that you know that the hospitality industry they do they do to lose revenue in terms of declining numbers in August but the main thing that they lose is that sometimes they have to shut those venues down because their summer work their students have to go back to school and they can't work they can't earn in the van you can't stay open one you would lose me a change in the month of may hours for juveniles to work but I do think this is something we can be much more intentional about it we're going to say it we need to need it and then that could become a partnership in some kind of way with the hospitality industry to make sure that we everybody is indeed planning thank you madam chair thank you one of the cool things about the Batesville school district that employs the community school model is they actually to plug their students into apprenticeship type situations that day to summer employment so I wanted to add that is another good innovation tool that can be utilized in that capacity in the basal superintendent if fully embraces this change in the schedule I know Stu Smith senator Smith asked me to specifically thank him for his support for this bill senator Chesterfield you're recognized. Thank you as usual Senator Elliot makes a lot of sense and. And I'm hearing her and I'm hearing. US representative Marilyn select re often not too often. Educational issues I need to know though what support this department of education is going to give to those quirky it's we have dependent on this in order to get what they need to be. And you don't need not vote one way or the other I'm sure but I need some I need some innovative ways that we're going to work to create schools of innovation so that they're not as of putting I will say to many school districts to reduce the that that's an imposition they don't understand it it sounds happen. You know I'm a country girl. school of innovation sounds really happen to me if I'm coming up here for that how do we make that something that people will embrace. The that is really good for their children so that he can set it as a as a relationship down here in Martin with this community Allen said what can the state department to go in there and help him so that those kids who have dependent on coming into school currently and getting an education that they obviously would not get of the line how do we do it. Let's Senator one way is is what we have done recently and that we found that some districts or schools that were seeking that were seeking it many times so they could get the designation and because it was maybe gave them a competitive advantage so they could say look we have been designated as a school of innovation so the process now is you don't immediately get the designation you you work you're working toward the designation you get the waivers you you put the things in place and then you show that it is work. And then later in the process you you do get that designation of school of innovation you use it how you want to don Tyson school of innovation uses it as the name of their school other schools that have the designation don't really use it as. They use it as a means to get what they need to meet the needs of those their students how we would help is we have a team that works they work alongside Stacy Smith and and Dr pride and they work with these districts that are looking at the school of innovation process they go in work with them along with Dr role as well she does a lot of work from you have a. And support meetings Ideas there's no funding attached to. Process but so so that part is already in place what else is coming online is are the things that we're putting in place as a result of the cares Act and ESR funds and those things that the federal government has said these are the areas of it that states can work in to support districts using status of the set aside funds so whether it's the mental health behavioral health the connection to CT any of the systems that have to be a place of a lot of supports that we're building to help districts like that who want to provide those types of unix experiences for their students I see a Barton situation being well fit for that type of support in I can see it because I during the during these kids and I know that representative John and his as well as do we all as the we all. I sometimes it is nice to sound I mean it may attract more students back public education. But I would ask that as we do this it is fear for this coming year not being met. He could not get his way for for this year. Thank you for bringing that up Senator we could we have no problem approving and I think the recommendation we talked about it this morning in our Moneymore leadership meeting is that it would be for one year pending the outcome of of this of this bill and depending on the outcome of the bill then making whatever adjustments or providing the support that they might need to seek another way to get this waiver but just to stress that we we want to be respectful of what this body does and we didn't want to give any false hope by saying we're going to recommend a five year approval If by sending the wrong information to represent all thank you school of innovation just to so thinking about how that five years works if they had one year under the act twelve forty waiver in between now and the next school year we wanted to pursue the school of innovation process that goes for four years okay so the the waivers there and then they can be renewed at the end of those four years so you have a trade off there to get the five years that he was thank you that's L. all right thank you are there any additional questions. Scene nine I think we've got everybody that spoke for and against the bill you're recognized to close for the bill. The members I just wanna thank you so much for your patience I think we really delved into a lot of very beneficial areas that I know we're tangential to this I think that this is a very important piece to go along with the the later testing schedule bill all these things I think you're going to be improvements in education but they're also going to a greatly aid an industry that I believe is going to can be if not already a great partner in working with their students and I appreciated do pass. Right what's the pleasure of the Committee. Motion to pass second all those in favor say aye. And oppose ayes have it congratulations you've passed your bill senator Chesterfield. Madam chair so yes it is sorry Terry Hurst is here yeah there's a I hope that you have heard what we're what our concerning use with your industry as well. And that you become a part of a school of innovation if you will to develop that relationship will allow those children in high needs areas of high priority areas as I like to call them such as Martin such as many schools in the delta so that we build a relationship that will allow them to gain a print issue in your area as well as perhaps encouraging industry to provide the scholarship money that he is doing so that children can take concurrent credit thank you madam chair. Thank you I'll add that with my own personal appointed privilege I hope that my community school bill will get passed in the house because it follows along the same tracks on the same lines so thank you very much for being here thank you senator Chesterfield and to represent a tall lad I'm not sure if he's here but yes what senator Chesterfield said thank you for what you're doing for your students on the concurrent credit tuition because not every school is doing that and so you should be very applauded for that thank you for what you're doing. All rights next bill. Is house bill seventeen fifty. And Dr charity Smith I know just laughed but her bill passed so. She does have mental telepathy that just you know what to think. So sorry about that you're recognized to present house bill seventeen fifty thank you manager committee and Richard Womack Arkansas state representative district eighteen this is a very simple bill honestly I'm not saying I'll be easy to implement but it's a pretty simple bill of basically at well I will just give you a little bit of backstory I'm I'm not I was late and we'll try and be very respectful everybody's time of this was the site it was born out of a. Experience in my district whether a couple schools are consolidated and. They just were not a good fit for lack of better terminology of. There's been a long process Last summer the state board of education meeting Senator Malek and I who also represent the school district of the time we're told there's just really nothing in law that allowed. Any opportunity for those school districts to perhaps separate and get a better union was somebody else and so that's what this is it does not mandate anything it just provides of kind of a road map of opportunity for those schools to pursue separating possibly and get in a in with the. School district that might be a better fit and I'll be happy to take any questions are there any questions from members of the committee Senator Eads. Thank you represent Womack I just wanna make sure this obviously this schools already had conversations probably with some other schools that the kind of go through the courting phase you might be other other opportunities for them is that is that the case they were had been looking down that road possibly they had looked looked at that in the past I don't know that that's all those same opportunities open today but but that discussion was had but like I said there was just no legal way form to do it is my understanding okay thank you ma'am yes any other questions. Senator Sturch. Thank you ma'am to represent my Capri stated that and I appreciate you explanation because I'm I misunderstood the intent of the bill so you're talking about when they are voluntary consolidation right they they are to you know chosen you know instead of going to value we're going to go to Hoxie or you know whatever and I don't know the schools that you're failing to sell you some in my area but anyway so then you're saying that it's not necessary they are closing the school campus or something you're wanting an ability for them to separate from the consolidation well now at this bill addresses when it gets to that point one US one one school district is going to close another one at that point there is a possibility okay with the years notice yeah so that that is kind of the preemptive then is when they are about to close the campus then they would have that it's not we don't like you anymore that after two years and then we're going to correct correct and when they're not close one campus over the other yes Sir that addresses and and I worked with the department of education on this so there's language here that's workable a man to the best of my understanding I'm not saying this is a perfect bill it's probably far from anytime you take on a new endeavor you know there's there's probably unforeseen problems so I'm not going to pretend that I have a perfect solution for every problem but it is at least provides hope and. Possible opportunity to make a situation better for youngsters ma'am to if a man and the only other thing then that bothered me and with a course we have it sometimes and other things is the retroactive because the whole twenty years ago up until now and so you know I didn't know how that would work or whose language that was or are in conversations you might have already had as far as schools schools in my area then who've already consolidated they might have already closed an elementary school campus and they've already moved on you know is that then opening up the possibility that people in the community might get together and say we want out or is that once it's closed it's closed you're just saying before it closes then this would be a possibility correct and so it has to be twenty years looking back period for that time yes our and that twenty years came from the department of education and I think it had to do with just the practical application of trying to separate assets and things you know there I think there had to be a line somewhere okay thank you that's where that came from thank you Sir yes are there any other questions members of the committee. All right we have a lot of people here to speak for the bill nobody to speak against the bill. Commissioner is going to speak against the bill okay sorry okay I didn't see that so do you have. We will come forward. Sorry I didn't see. From the. Johnny Kita part of education and This isn't a surprise to represent Womack in the I I yes he did ask for our assistance with this C. and file propose some language and we did give him something but I'm to a tellement the time we give you this but we're gonna have to be against of and because of the just the notion of a taking a voluntary consolidated or an axe District that happen under Act sixty of of two thousand four. And down the road trying to separate that is just. You know for lack of better word an administrative nightmare I mean you have a bonded indebtedness that is going to be a play in some of these districts where you have an area that was once an independent district and has now been brought in under a new district in separating that to go to a potential new district that's adjacent I mean we we did provide this in a way that would help him get Hey an Avenue but this Avenue is not without its extensive challenges and and I can even tell you how many districts could fall under this but the trigger is that if they're going to close a campus and that's what happened your goal that a district came to the State Board already grow fast four because in the statute of those districts have to come and get that approval from the state board of the state board I denied that and hoped that of harmony Grove in the Sparkman would be able to continue to work out something that would keep that district or keep that campus open and I know that you're gonna hear testimony of a number of challenges that the the functions apartment have encountered but I just wanna make sure yes we did assist represent hi Womack but we we do have to be against this the twenty years I heard that question there have been different periods of consolidation that have happened all the way back into the forties. So twenty years is simply a time that gets us back to host Lakeview and which was the the most recent. Considerable consolidation effort. And when someone said Hoxie Walnut Ridge I felt the earth move under my feet and I'm already getting blown up but the legislatures talking about consolidating Hoxie in Walnut Ridge and which is just not ever going to happen so anyway but I'll be happy to take any questions but I did want to all of the officially we are opposed Senator Sturch thank you ma'am to act as one ask the way I read the bill they would still have to come to the State Board set decision is that right so that would be the state wants to have power to say no to it again that is correct and in the in the The New the adjacent district that would be considering taking on this campus would have to demonstrate that turning that on would not create any type of financial burden or hardship on that district okay thank you thank you okay thank you any other yes senator Beckham so so currently the district received army growth can come to you would just call. Keep track easier just call it what it is army broken come to you and ask closed for yes. But performing can't come and say we want to separate back out there is just allows that to take place and allows them to absorb into another school district there is not a Sparkman entity I mean there is a campus but the heart of the harmony growth so what would have to happen is harmony Grove would have to basically alert surrounding districts paid we are planning to close the Sparkman campus and give those surrounding other surrounding districts opportunity to weigh in if they would rather take that that and at that point that's when the difficult. Of a portion of identifying. The land that sift associated the the the tax valuations what bonded indebtedness all those things would have to be done to make that separation happen it's One night I mean wasn't that done when they absorbed energy just moved everything over it would have been done but in some cases and I don't know specifically on Sparkman harmony Grove issue but in some cases you have areas that never adjusted their their property tax because the residents in the annexed areas would have to vote and sometimes it would be to increase the property tax or decrease of property tax so the millage is are different so author number of considerations have to be looked at one concern that I have is organized students going forty five miles to to get to Camden Fairview for Sparkman. But his heart of ministry to flee. That's. So would you agree that I do understand that travel time is in significant issue in many of our rural districts certainly. For any other questions Senator Chesterfield. I guess we create new school districts everyday McCollum charters. In a take away funding. From what I call a regular public schools every day so why is this such a big. Well this goes more this is more than just students moving this is landmass moving in this is an area that encompasses a surrounding area that's moving with with charters you're you're not creating you know I've Milledge is you don't have bonded debt their number things that are at play with with students moving from traditional schools charter schools. Even though the traditional school loses all the money that goes to the charter school bill but it is a big deal at the school district it used to exist is being screwed over by a school district with a and to which they were annex NASA problem. It's a problem it because of the issue bonded debt you don't have charter schools do not have bonded debt that is secured by local millage. If right now they do not yeah I don't expect that that I haven't figured out a way that they could work that out. no I have not. And but but the. I will probably take some ice Martin figure that out. Senator Elliot you're recognized for a question yes. Senator senator I'm sorry Richard Womack so you've got Sparkman and the other schools that are I'm just thinking out down the road that are close to close of course harmony Grove our Arkadelphia maybe centerpoint and garden are all pretty close so I did and they maybe Camden Fairview I'm honestly not sure I I don't know exactly but but is at least at least three okay I don't date are they as far away as harmony Grove or any closer than how many go from just about the same they're about the same at least two of those okay so um a. Secretary key is. During this process when a school district notify somebody this been annexed or consolidated I guess that they might be closing this campus for example is there any opportunity and they're in the process for Sparkman in this case to make a presentation to the board about something they think would be viable to do rather than close the building. The it's not expressly mentioned in the statute but I think as part of the due process then they were certainly be because that I mean that the a year ago the patrons of the Sparkman area I did just that which was what compelled of the state board to to do not approve the closure that campus okay all right thank you. Any other questions Senator back on. Question it in this specific example this will work we're dealing with today is there significant funding tied to support one school that will transfer over to Camden. For transportation. I I don't know the answer to that Senator. We do have somebody to speak for the bill from the Department school you can answer ask questions Senator Beckham when they come up. Any other questions for yes Senate here we've got everybody that's going to be speaking for the would be appropriate that we limit the amount of time for debate thank you for. Since the router before so. Do you have a motion. I move that we limit the amount of time for those speaking for against for everybody force I don't I don't want to limit their opportunity to speak if they came here but I mean okay so just we have one two three four we have four people. Ten minute that what you want. You're recognized for your total. Madam chair if I may yes of a couple of these people at least spoken house Education Committee and I would imagine the other remarks down around two minutes that's. Okay so I'm hearing a motion that would be two minutes per person which is eight minutes per side okay that the motion all those in favor say aye and oppose ayes have it okay thank you we have for Brady Harmon Spartan school she is Brady here. As they may be in the holding room there in the holding room will need somebody get them from the holding room. Yes please. I'm actually have all of them come in if you don't mind so we can. They can come into this room. Everybody else can come on in to. M. as are you Mr Harmon okay if you'll just come ahead and sit at the table will get everybody else in here to. Thank you if you will just push that button and then when it lights up red to state your name for the record and who you're with and you can speak we have two minutes because we were timing. Go ahead my name is Brady Harmon and I'm speaking on behalf of a well as a concerned parent it's Sparkman. is it a representative Womack who is our our representative I stated we were taken to the board of education they did did not close year for the first time on Monday ever they saw our value they saw that it wasn't going to be what was best for our children to close our campus and basically what what has happened is when we were consolidated. we wore out our welcome I guess fairly quickly and what we've received since then is numerous instances of pettiness of really if you if you want to use educational terms that were used to everyday bullying is is basically what is happening I you know I was listening to us secretary key and you know I have the utmost respect for him and the the state and the job that they have to do but we're here for what's best for our kids and our kids education and one of the issues that we have is in a rule poverty stricken community is the importance of education is something hard sometimes to to For lack of a better word convince a child there care education is important one is not important home imagine trying to do that when they feel as though they're district cares nothing for them does nothing to benefit them whatsoever in merely takes away what we've experienced since the since the state board is basically army grows intent to go around the state and close us by making decisions that are detrimental to our survival they've already taken away sports they took away athletics that caused a number of our enrollment to drop they combined classes which is another huge blow then they under combined classes because it was horrible for our students now they're wanting to combine classes again. I feel like I stated myself will you understand where we're coming from and I thank you for the opportunity very much thank you thank you for being here Mr Harmon appreciate that okay next we have Williams miss Williams rule community alliance. Okay okay you're here to discuss Jordan suite thank you your here to support it from a car. And then we have Robert land year. The other state your name for the record and who you're with and you're recognized to speak for the house bill seventeen fifty. I'm Renee Carr from socks that Stone County and our school is real special school so we're now seventeen years past acts sixty and yet the damages is still with us with over one hundred ten schools elementary and high schools being closed so we're grateful that I think six years ago that many of you here past acts sixty that a an access the waiver that has helped several schools stayed alive you know that would have been closed because of it but there are some few of us very few because it's getting whittled down that the act sixty schools have been closed but there are some of us left. Still with the K. twelve campus. But. With another district that took us one ACT sixty went into place. So. What what we experienced you probably heard it I didn't hear all of them Mr Harman's testimony but it's a very difficult situation there is a persistent Just just knowing that the threat is there of your school being closed is something that you deal with this just a periodic. We make closure campus now maybe years of peace so that happens but things like if we don't pass this millage we'll have to close your campus. First and foremost we want to keep our school campus open we want our students educated in their community so we want to have an option where if there is a better choice for our campus to be with a different district then we want to have that option to exercise that they may do that in our current situation we are half the distance away to a different school district at certainly than we are with our current school district in Mountain View so we would just appreciate a good vote on this bill so that we can have options in the future And I appreciate your time thank you are there any questions I have one question he won the one A. state championship girls basketball state championship room special lady rep thank you yeah thanks. All right any other questions all right Mr land near. You'll come and state your name for the record you're recognized to speak for seventeen fifty. Afternoon my name is Robert Lanier I'm from Fairfield Bay by the way Senator Irvin I coach Cisco to west side who lost a vial of which is your district to but I know that we will not we we lost a box also were very strong in basketball. Tired of hearing that Billy just a you know our our our school district surely you know we're hover around at three twenty five right now and in my role the best because I moved here about seven years ago in the Arkansas from Louisiana love it here but we we chose to live in a small town like to small town atmosphere we got all these different schools talk to coaches administrators teachers of maybe some people school board and they worry this in the small schools about their schools close in decline enrollment and I think any tool we can get to help save the schools it is it is a positive thing and I think this is a H. B. seventy fifty just another tool in in small schools of toolbox to keep keep your school open. And so assault again thanks for your time and appreciated thank you for being here there any questions thank you you do have a great golf team now thank you goals yes. Senator Sturch did you have a question I'm sorry okay all right thank you I represent Womack you're recognized to close for your bill. Thank you madam chair I'll be exceptionally brief up I do want to know that there's for the committee if they open those doors there's probably another thirty to forty people outside in support of this bill that we're trying to be super sensitive of your time and didn't want to let you would kind of the same same thoughts over and over I think in the real world this is not going to happen that often there's there's several bars have to be met it's a. It's a pretty rare occasion where we would ever get into this I think of thank you heard from the Department education about the amount of work and how hard it was going to be an uncharted waters I think all that is true but I think there's a lot of brilliant people and that's what we do here is we do hard things and they can figure that out of I think it's kind of similar to a divorce there's assets and and things that are twenty years plus and they figure out a way to separate and so I think you can be done for the betterment of our educational system our rural Arkansas matters as you heard a couple these people talk about not just not just the schools with the communities there are. In really with that I just would appreciate a good vote I don't know a lot of kind of poster to few of you with this on the process and I appreciate you are listening to me thank you kannst thank you for your consideration and I would sincerely appreciate a good vote. Thank you at center back in you're recognized motion and second by Senator Chesterfield all those in favor say aye. And oppose ayes have it congratulations you pastor bill images say this it hasn't been that long ago that we get separate school Pulaski County center field we pressure Mike so we get you on record Jacksonville school district was just separated from the Pulaski County special school district so this is not something that is not doable if we are intentional about it it can be done so. Thank you thank you for your comments thank you madam senator media appreciate it thank you all right last bill senator Clark how Senate bill five seventy six. Welcome Sir. You want the fiscal impact was zero. There is a fiscal impact so. The court of appeal to stay here and state your name you're recognized. Thank you sure thank you members of the committee you're just one because the vote from Guntur. And I'll close. Thank you just need to pass that's probably one of the best closing internal intro. Go ahead. Of this bill was brought to me. Are you with the. All those in favor say aye. And oppose ayes have it congratulations you thank you