North Dakota Commission on Education Improvement
Commission Meeting Minutes
February 1, 2006
Roughrider Room - State Capitol
The first meeting of the Commission on Education Improvement was called to order at 10 a.m. by the commission's chair, Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple. Commission members in attendance included Jack Dalrymple, Warren Larson, Paul Stremick, Martin Schock, Mark Lemer, Jon Martinson, Doug Johnson, Joe Westby, Sen. Tim Flakoll, Sen. David O'Connell, Rep. David Monson and Wayne Sanstead. Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch was not in attendance; Rep. Rick Berg attended as her designee.
Introductions were made and then Gov. John Hoeven welcomed the commission members, thanked them for their service and outlined the mission and objectives for the commission. He provided a brief background of the education funding plan and the agreement to stay litigation and focused on how the commission has brought together all stakeholders to improve education funding for our young people.
Lt. Gov. Dalrymple reviewed the Governor's Executive Order 2006-01, which created the Commission on Education Improvement. Specific tasks and responsibilities assigned to commission members were discussed and the timeline for proposed ideas was outlined. Commission members are charged with reaching a consensus regarding education funding adequacy and equity, and all proposed changes to the current funding programs must have the full weight and support of the group.
By fall 2006, the commission will present recommendations to the interim education committee and the Governor for consideration by the 2007 Legislative Assembly and propose a resolution that would adopt the commission as a vehicle for proposing improvements to the funding system. For the 2009 Legislative Session, the commission will make further comprehensive recommendations on how to improve the state's current system for delivering and financing public elementary and secondary education.
Lt. Gov. Dalrymple also reviewed the agreement to stay litigation, as agreed upon by the state and the plaintiff school districts. If the commission is unable to produce satisfactory legislation by 2009, the plaintiffs may elect to continue with their lawsuit. Once the requirements outlined in the agreement have been met, the commission may be dissolved or continued by mutual consent.
Sen. O'Connell asked about more specifics regarding the background of the agreement to stay litigation and because discussions were protected by state law, minutes of those negotiations were not available. Warren Larson added that he viewed the commission as a positive way to approach the situation rather than through the courts and was anxious to build upon the expertise of all the players represented on the commission.
Joe Morrissette, budget analyst with the state Office of Management and Budget, reviewed the general fund appropriation chart to provide a funding baseline to determine whether the proposed $60 million in additional state funds for public primary and secondary education has been provided. Further discussion on the question was postponed until the commission has fully considered how to handle tuition apportionment.
Rep. Rick Berg commented that in addition to meeting the requirements of the lawsuit, the commission needs to look at the big picture and focus on addressing the adequacy and equity formula and fixing the funding disparities permanently.
Joe Morrissette made a presentation outlining K-12 education funding programs in the state. Jerry Coleman, assistant director of School Finance and Organization for the state Department of Public Instruction, discussed school finance equity indicators for the state and focused on variations in per pupil current revenue, special education funding and curriculum opportunities for high school students. Several large disparities were highlighted.
Greg Gallagher, director of Standards and Achievement with the state Department of Public Instruction, presented an overview of any relationship that might exist between education expenditures and student achievement levels. His findings show a weak link between expenditures and achievement, concluding that money does not seem to impact academic achievement.
At 12 noon, the commission broke for lunch. The meeting reconvened at 1:30.
Commission members discussed how they wanted to proceed for the remainder of the year - through September - and discussed agenda items and areas of focus for the group. Joe Westby raised a question about the possibility of hiring a consultant to help rewrite the funding formula. Commission members agreed that the responsibility of writing a new formula would rest with the commission and that specific resources could be employed to assist as the process moves forward.
Discussion ensued about the current funding formula and to what degree it should be revised. Warren Larson and Paul Stremick commented on behalf of all schools that no one likes the current formula, and they would like to see it completely rewritten. Jon Martinson advised the group to be bold and work on a new formula rather than tweaking the existing one. The group concurred that real change is needed and the commission should look ahead as far as possible to really make a difference.
Rep. Rick Berg discussed suggestions submitted by Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch in her absence to define a clear starting point for the process. Reps. Berg and Kelsch would like the plaintiff schools to provide suggestions for changing the current funding formula. From that, the group can attempt to construct an ideal formula and then discuss actual funding. Warren Larson, Paul Stremick, Mark Lemer and Martin Schock said they would do that and would get input from other schools across the state so the suggestions are inclusive and representative of North Dakota's 202 schools.
Lt. Gov. Dalrymple brought up the challenge of defining adequacy and equity, and the group discussed improved ways of doing so. Warren Larson commented that every North Dakota student deserved a good, quality education and that adequate funding needed to be available for each pupil. Paul Stremick defined equity as similar funding for similar districts and adequacy as enough funding to meet the needs of the students. The commission decided to better define equity and adequacy as the process moves along and the formula is addressed.
The commission discussed meeting the first Wednesday of every month with the next meeting scheduled for March 1. It was suggested by Rep. Berg that the group hear from the administrators at the next meeting regarding their suggestions for changes to the current funding formula. Lt. Gov. Dalrymple also suggested adding the supplemental payment plan, joint powers agreements and equity through structural improvements to the agenda for next month's meeting.
The group talked about holding regional meetings to allow for public input from around the state. Rep. Berg and Warren Larson recommended holding the next meeting again in Bismarck and begin holding meetings across the state when the commission is better prepared to provide specifics and more defined suggestions. The group concurred.
Other business included questions about expenses and how they would be covered. Lt. Gov. Dalrymple said if members are not able to find a source for payment, they should let him know.
Warren Larson concluded the meeting by stressing that commission members were there for the kids. He added that it is not about the lawsuit; it's about doing what is best for our kids.
The meeting was adjourned by Lt. Gov. Dalrymple at 2:45 p.m.
