requirements and participate in learning experiences at home. He expressed a need for additional
funding to maintain and expand the opportunities afforded to students under this program.
Twenty basic courses have been developed through the State Office of Education at a cost of
$100,000.
c. Educational Technology and the ETI - Ms. Vicky Dahn, Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator, State Office of Education, reviewed the history of the state's public
education technology initiative over the past seven years. She said the Legislature's commitment
to funding technology in the public schools had placed Utah on the cutting edge of providing
state- of-the-art technology training for job preparation and advancement into postsecondary
education. She commented on the challenges associated with maintaining an on-going
commitment, specifically related to replacement of out-dated hardware and emphasized the need
for continuing inservice technology training for educators. She mentioned the need to review the
Educational Technology Initiative for any desired statutory modifications.
d. Higher Education Technology Initiative - Mike Peterson and Wayne Peay, Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, said the Education Technology Initiative (ETI) has
had a very clear effect on higher education. The initiative changed the way students learn and
teachers teach. Electronic technology has been an important resource to rural schools. Mr. Peay
is the manager for EDNET programming and said the initiative has brought about stronger
cooperation and collaboration among postsecondary institutions and between public education.
A notable example is the collaborative course work between the University of Utah and Weber
State University. He said the infrastructure focusing on curriculum development has grown and
a strong effort has been made in inservice and preservice instruction to teachers.
3. Committee Business -
a. Approval of Minutes - MOTION: Rep. Buffmire moved to approve the minutes of the November 20, 1996 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
b. Review of Committee Meetings for 1997 Interim Period - Mr. Lewis explained to the committee that interim meetings will be held in May, July, August, October and November,
with a joint meeting in June involving the State Board of Education and the State Board of
Regents. In September the entire Legislature will make site visits and hold town meetings in the
Uintah Basin.
Mr. Wilson reviewed the structure of the joint meetings scheduled for June. The Education Interim Committee will meet individually with one board at 8:00 a.m., both boards at
approximately 10:00 a.m., and the other board later in the afternoon. A joint luncheon will
follow the morning meetings, with the governor giving a keynote address. Typically the
meetings divide into breakout sessions. Rep. Buffmire felt the meetings were of sufficient
importance that all committee members should be in attendance, and recommended the meetings
be scheduled so they do not in conflict with other legislative meetings. A potential conflict was
noted with an Executive Appropriations meeting scheduled on Tuesday afternoon June 16.
Sen. Steele said committee chairs will be sensitive to this in the future. There will be an Applied
Technology Education conference in Logan, Monday, June 16, preceding the joint meetings.
The Education Interim Committee is invited to the conference and a dinner that evening hosted
by the Bridgerland Applied Technology Center. The Legislative Management Committee
authorized a one night stay for those who want to attend the banquet Monday evening.
c. Committee Responsibilities During the Interim - Mr. Wilson reported that during the interim period the committee will be receiving seven reports that are either required by law or
from other sources including Strategic Planning for Public and Higher Education and the Charter
Schools Task Force.
d. Digest of Education Bills Enacted During the 1997 General Session - Mr. Lewis said 61 education bills were introduced during the session and 40 were enacted. During the 1996
interim period, seven of those bills were endorsed by the interim committee as committee bills.
Four were enacted, one was incorporated into the School Finance bill and the remaining two
were not adopted in the 1997 General Session.
4. Information Items - Educational Task Force Groups Outside Interim Committee -
a. Strategic Planning for Public and Higher Education Task Force - Sen. Steele informed the committee that the Strategic Planning for Public and Higher Education Task Force
will meet during the interim to hear and resolve strategic planning issues for both levels of
education. Sen. Hillyard, Senate Cochair of the task force, said he would make both minutes
and agendas of the task force available to Education Interim Committee members. Sen. Steele
said the task force will report to the interim committee in its November meeting.
b. Centennial Charter Schools Task Force - Mr. Wilson said membership of the Centennial Charter Schools Task Force has not been determined and he and Mr. Lewis will provide staff services for the task force. The task force will meet during the interim and in the
November meeting report its final recommendations.
5. Adopt Study Items for the 1997 Interim Period - Sen. Steele said he met with Rep. Frandsen and staff to review items from H.J.R. 19 pertaining to public education. Input was
received from the Superintendent's Association, the PTA, and the State Office of Education. All
items were reviewed and categorized into five topics: 1) Educational Technology; 2) Teacher
Inservice and Preservice Issues; 3) Lifelong Learning; 4) Reform Scheduling, and 5) Educational
Funding Issues.
Sen. Steele said Teacher Inservice and Preservice Issues will be on the agenda in the
June meetings with the State Office of Education and the State Board of Regents. Technology,
as it relates to this issue will be part of the discussion. He asked committee members for
additional recommendations for study from the Master Study Resolution that may fit into the five
categories.
Sen. Hillyard asked that agendas and minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee and
the Centennial Charter Schools be sent to all committee members. Sen. Howell requested the new Public Education Technology Task Force report to the Education Interim Committee in
November. Rep. Evan Olsen proposed the State Office of Education report on Character
Education in an interim meeting.
Rep. Larson expressed concerned about comprehensive guidance counselors in
elementary educational and asked if this issue could be placed with Educational Funding Issues.
Sen. Steele said he would include it under item #2 "Strengthening Best Practices in Public
Education Instruction."
Rep. Allen was concerned with achievement testing under Lifelong Learning. She noted
that a national report had rated Utah in the 31st percentile in student achievement. She wanted to
know what the rating was based upon.
Sen. Hillyard asked Dr. Carlston to give his perspective of the status of education in
Utah. Dr. Carlston reported that the governor has a great interest in the middle schools.
Ms. Laurie Chivers said the State Board of Education is interested in having the
committee review three areas: 1) reading instruction; 2) middle schools; and 3) preschool.
Middle school concerns include large class sizes and appropriately defining the role of a middle
school. Sen. Hull said a problem in middle schools is that students do not think they need to be
serious about their grades until they are in ninth grade.
Rep. Frandsen requested the committee examine the issue of truancy. He also noted the
brain research currently underway and questioned when intervention can most effectively be
made through preschool education.
Sen. Nielson said he had discussed the election process for State Board of Education
members with the governor. He said there are areas of agreement which would streamline the
nomination process. He suggested having the nomination process take place earlier so the public
can learn who the candidates for the State School Board are before the ballots are printed. Sen.
Nielson told the governor if that does not work well at the next election, he would reintroduce his
bill in 1999.
6. Adjournment - Prior to adjournment, Sen. Steele encouraged committee members to take advantage of an array of material made available to him through his position as Vice-
Chairman of the Education Commission of the States. Committee members introduced
themselves and made comments concerning membership on the Education Interim Committee
MOTION: Sen. Hull moved to adjourn the meeting 11:35 a.m.