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Minutes for HB2395 - Committee on K-12 Education Budget
Short Title
Amending the Kansas school equity and enhancement act and other statutes related to the education of elementary and secondary students, and making appropriations to the department of education.
Minutes Content for Mon, Mar 18, 2019
Chairwoman Williams began meeting at 3:33pm.
Chairwoman Williams discussed the agenda for the next few days.
Chairwoman Williams reopened opponent testimony.
Brandi Fisher, Mainstream Coalition - non-partisan education and advocacy organization; against Hope Scholarship Act; discussed other issues with HB2395; concerns with Gannon. (Attachment 1)
Questions were asked and comments were made by Representatives: Thomas, Huebert, Erickson, Tarwater, Ward, Landwehr, Lusk, Winn, and Williams.
Chairwoman Williams closed the opponent testimony.
Chairwoman Williams opened the proponent testimony.
Walt Chappell, Educational Management Consultants - discussed the different aspects he agreed with; entered some documents into the record; discussed documents; praised sections 4-8; encouraged the removal of the Hope Scholarship. (Attachment 2)
Chuck Knapp, Independent Citizen - encouraged committee members to do more for at-risk students; encouraged evidence-based solutions / programs; 25% of students are not proficient; meet students where they are; direction and accountability lend to better results. (Attachment 3)
Brian Baker, Cerner - focused on the IT / computer sciences aspect of HB2395; supports creation of IT Advisory Commission. (Attachment 4)
Kristi Brown, Kansas Chamber of Commerce - supported Brian Baker's statements; focused on making sure students are prepared for the IT side of life after graduating / leaving high school; wants the private industry in the community to be included in the curriculum process. (Attachment 5)
Questions were asked and comments were made by Representatives: Holscher, and Ward.
Chairwoman Williams closed the proponent testimony.
Chairwoman Williams opened the neutral testimony.
Denise Cyzman, Community Care Network of Kansas - asks the committee to include funding for school-based health clinics; explained what her organization does; discussed plan to fund school-based health clinics. (Attachment 6)
Mike O'Neal, KPI - cannot support the bill due to the level of funding; he believes the same goals can be achieved for less tax-payer money; encourages legislature to take control of allocating funds for school districts; supports provision for performance accountability. (Attachment 7)
Kyle Kessler, Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas - discussed the successes of the School Mental Health Pilot program; recommends the weighting be corrected in the bill to the amount of 0.015%. (Attachment 8)
Questions were asked and comments were made by Representatives: Lusk, Landwehr, Huebert, Dietrich, Holscher, and Williams.
Chairwoman Williams closed the neutral testimony and entire hearing for HB2395.
