SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5839
BYSenator Wojahn
Adopting the education consolidation act of 1987.
Senate Committee on Education
Senate Hearing Date(s):March 5, 1987
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5839 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bender, Patterson, Smitherman, Warnke.
Senate Staff:Don Bennett (786-7424)
March 9, 1987
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 5, 1987
BACKGROUND:
The Community College Act of 1967 created the community college system in Washington. That act established that community colleges are "an independent, unique, and vital section of our state's higher education system, separate from both the common school system and other institutions of higher learning, and never to be considered for conversion into four-year liberal arts colleges." The community college system is governed by the State Board for Community College Education (SBCCE) which is comprised of eight members, one from each congressional district, appointed by the governor. The director of SBCCE is appointed by the board and serves at the pleasure of the board.
Each of the 23 community college districts is operated by a five-member board of trustees appointed by the Governor. The boards of trustees are responsible for the educational programs and the administration of the community colleges.
The common school system, kindergarten through grade twelve, is under the supervision of the Superintendent of Public Instruction who is elected in a statewide general election. Local school districts are governed by boards of directors elected by the voters of the school district. Five school districts in the state operate vocational-technical institutes which provide both secondary and postsecondary vocational education programs. Several more districts operate skills centers individually or cooperatively with other districts.
The Commission for Vocational Education was established in 1975 to provide comprehensive planning and decision-making for vocational education. The Commission automatically goes out of existence on June 30, 1987 under the sunset laws unless reauthorized or its functions transferred to another agency.
Throughout the public education system, several problem areas have been identified due to duplication of programs and agency efforts, the lack of effective comprehensive state planning, and the absence of central coordination of programs offered.
SUMMARY:
The Education Consolidation Act of 1987 provides for the Superintendent of Public Instruction to become the director of the State Board for Community College Education and the Commission for Vocational Education. The current directors serve the remainder of their contracts as consultants to the superintendent.
A temporary 14-member special commission is created to report to the 1988 Legislature with recommendations to provide for the popular election of local community college board trustees; authority for community colleges to raise revenue through local elections; indirect election of the State Board for Community College Education by the trustees of local districts; division of authority between the state board and local boards of trustees to maximize autonomy of local boards; transfer of employees of SBCCE and CVE to the common school system; and necessary changes in the structure and authority of the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board for Community College Education, and the Commission for Vocational Education.
The temporary commission is comprised of: the Superintendent of Public Instruction; five Senators selected by the President of the Senate, no more than three from one political party; five Representatives selected by the Speaker of the House, subject to the same limitation; and one representative each from organized labor, management and agriculture appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Members of the commission are reimbursed for travel as provided by law.
All exempt employees of SBCCE and CVE, except the directors, are given full rights as nonprobationary employees under state employees merit system until July 1, 1989.
Fiscal Note: requested
Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Appointments by Legislature Required: Five Senators selected by the President of the Senate, no more than three from one political party. Five Representatives selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, no more than three from one political party.
EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:
Proposed Substitute Background: In addition to the above background information, the controversy surrounding vocational education is due in part to the fact that the Commission for Vocational Education has no means of implementing vocational education policy. Aside from the planning process, CVE has little authority as policy is translated to programs in the field by the two public delivery systems -- the common schools and the community colleges. The lack of coordination within the public vocational system and with the private vocational schools has also contributed to problems within the vocational education community.
Proposed Substitute Summary: In lieu of the above summary information, a task force on vocational education is established to provide a transition period following the termination of CVE.
The task force on vocational education is appointed jointly by the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Director of the State Board for Community College Education and is comprised of an equal number of representatives from agriculture, business, labor, and community-based organizations; one representative of private vocational schools; one person involved in secondary vocational education; and one person involved in public postsecondary vocational education.
The task force meets at least once a month between July 1 and December 31, 1987. In January 1988 the task force recommends proposed legislation to establish a state board of vocational education to the Legislature. The proposal is to address: the composition and appointment of the State Board of Vocational Education; the powers and duties of such a board; the relationship between the State Board of Vocational Education, the State Board of Education, and the State Board for Community College Education; and the process for developing a comprehensive plan for coordinated vocational education programs throughout the state educational system. Task force members are reimbursed for travel expenses as provided by law. Staff support for the task force is provided by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and other state agencies as required.
All functions, property, and employees, except the director and deputy director, are transferred to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The transfer is intended as a temporary measure until the State Board of Vocational Education is established. The transfer is effective only until June 30, 1988. Duties transferred to SPI shall be carried out by interagency agreement with the State Board for Community College Education and other appropriate state agencies.
SPI also acts as the state liaison with the federal government to ensure compliance with the requirements and activities mandated by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Act of 1984. SPI is designated as the sole state agency for the receipt and allocation of federal funds.
The substitute bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 1987. No appointments by the Legislature are required.
Senate Committee - Testified: Sam Hunt, Office of the Governor; Dr. John Terrey, State Board for Community College Education; Merritt D. Long, Commission for Vocational Education; Dr. Frank Brouillet, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Senator Lorraine Wojahn; Dr. Ken Minnaert, South Puget Sound Community College; Bill Mohler, L.H. Bates Vocational Technical Institute; Dr. Don Fowler, Lake Washington Vocational Technical Institute