MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      March 3, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Education was called to order by Chairman Wendell P. Williams at 3:34 p.m., on March 3, 1993, in Room 330 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda, Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Mr. Wendell P. Williams, Chairman

      Mr. Ken L. Haller, Vice Chairman

      Mrs. Vonne Chowning

      Mr. Tom Collins, Jr.

      Mrs. Marcia de Braga

      Mr. William D. Gregory

      Mr. James W. McGaughey

      Mr. Roy Neighbors

      Mr. Michael A. Schneider

      Mrs. Gene W. Segerblom

      Ms. Sandra Tiffany

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

      None.

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

      None.

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Donald Williams, Research Analyst

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      None.

 

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 17   -      Urges public schools to participate in Nevada School Improvement Project.

 

Donald Williams, Principal Research Analyst, LCB, read verbatim from prepared testimony (Exhibit C).  Mr. Williams remarked ACR 17 was the result of an interim study on elementary and secondary education.  Mr. Williams explained the process would involve the entire staff of a school to assess the school's needs, and using such information, to plan and implement school-wide improvement activities.  During the implementation phases, the schools would operate the program entirely as a volunteer effort with no outside funding to the school sites.

 

Mr. Williams mentioned the program had grown from 10 pilot schools in 1986 to 95 participating schools in 1992, and currently, there were 15 of the 17 school districts participating.

 

Mr. Williams concluded ACR 17 expressed the legislature's support for the Nevada School Improvement Project and urged all public schools to participate. 

 

Chairman Williams referred to line 4 emphasizing the project was voluntary and the schools who were participating were having great results.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN MCGAUGHEY MOVED TO ADOPT ACR 17.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN HALLER SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 18   -      Urges boards of trustees of county school districts to adopt daily class schedules for public elementary schools which include fixed period of uninterrupted teaching time during each school day.

 

Don Williams read verbatim from prepared testimony (Exhibit D) explaining ACR 18, which also emerged during the interim.  Mr. Williams maintained the average classroom teacher encountered numerous interruptions of instructional time during the school day.  Mr. Williams commented the disruptions could interfere with the learning process; therefore, decreasing classroom interruptions would allow for more academic instruction and an increase in actual teaching time. 

 

Mr. Williams concluded the interim committee maintained one of the best options for attaining the goal involved setting aside a period of uninterrupted teaching time during each school day.  The members of the committee believed each school district in Nevada should be encouraged to review ACR 18 for possible implementation.

 

Ms. Tiffany mentioned a constituent was concerned with the possibility of complex scheduling problems and she questioned if the resolution could conceivably make things worse.  Mr. Williams replied the resolution encouraged each school district to determine if a policy could be established. 

 

Chairman Williams commented testimony during the interim had indicated there were so many interruptions during class, the school districts were in agreement some type of policy might be beneficial to alleviate such interruptions.

 

Mr. Williams pointed out not interrupting the classrooms with announcements did not necessarily require extra scheduling by the administrative staff.

 

Mr. McGaughey emphasized the importance of quality time in order for the students to learn and focus on their activities.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN MCGAUGHEY MOVED TO ADOPT ACR 18.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN HALLER SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:38 p.m.

 

                                    RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

 

 

 

                                                                    

                                    Marilyn Cole, Committee Secretary  

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Assembly Committee on Education

Date:  March 3, 1993

Page: 1