Pending Legislation

Check out SENATE BILL No. 27: This bill allows for public entities to use their resources to support referendums.   http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/IN/IN0027.1.html        
This could really help some small districts in their funding needs and helping to organize their community in support of their needs. 

Senate Bill 384 does the exact opposite.  It limits a school district to one operating referendum at once.  It also does not allow anyone under contract with a school district or anyone having a relationship with the district promote the referendum at anytime.   It basically kills a schools ability to organize an operating referendum or capital project.  This is a further attempt to provide a death nail to school's abilities to fund their needs.   This bill is apparently being introduced by Senator Ed Charbonneau who represents Starke and portions of Porter, LaPorte, Marshall, Jasper, Pulaski and St. Joseph counties.

http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2011&session=1&request=getBill&doctype=SB&docno=0384


While not a a funding issue, it is interesting that there is a bill proposing a Statewide Drop Out analysis committee.
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/IN/IN0085.1.html

Senate Bill 4 is interesting in that it requires 3 days of professional development per year for teachers and paraprofessionals.  It also really wants some suicide prevention training for school staff. 
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/SB/SB0004.1.html

Senate Bill 287 allows for independent contractors to provide adult education for school corporations.   Allows schools to work with this independent contractor to provide education for dangerous students who are 16 or above. 
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/IN/IN0287.1.html

Senate Bill 323 removes the obstacle of requiring a local county fiscal body certify a referendum vote.  The school board could do this. 
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/IN/IN0323.1.html

Senate Bill 410 allows more transfers from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund.  The Bill allows for up to a 50% transfer.   With limited increases to the capital projects fund and property tax caps, the "well" of cpf. funding is running dry.   Districts will have no ability to fund technology, equipment, or maintain facilities if this keeps up.
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/IN/IN0410.1.html

Competition for the Virtual Charter ADM

The last blog entry focused on reflective ideas for current legislative agenda put forward by Dr. Bennett.  This week focuses on the second year of the Virtual Charter started by the 2009 Budget Law.  The DOE wants to see competition between school districts, how about competition for the virtual students?   The current law is focused serving the student populations who may be challenged to attend school.   I ask why not expand the virtual options?   The current funding formula for virtual students funds an ADM at 80% regular tuition support.  However this option is only available to Charter Schools.  

What do you think?  Should public schools be allowed to create virtual programs to compete for those possible virtual students?  For the State it is a win-win in that they are able to pay less for each student in a virtual program than a bricks and mortar school.