MINUTES OF THE

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      June 7, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Education was called to order by Chairman Wendell P. Williams, at 3:45 p.m., on Monday, June 7, 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

      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:

 

      Mr. Ken L. Haller

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

      Assemblyman Chris Giunchigliani, District No. 9

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Marla McDade, Research Assistant

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      Eugene Paslov, Department of Education  

 

ASSEMBLY BILL 643 -     Requires superintendent of public instruction to establish pilot programs to develop internships which prepare pupils to serve as apprentices.

 

Assemblyman Chris Giunchigliani, District 9, presented testimony in support of the bill and submitted a proposed amendment (Exhibit C).   Ms. Giunchigliani emphasized too often the school curriculum was focused toward students who would not be attending college.  The proposed bill was an attempt at including the "world of work" with the movement toward occupation by allowing students to complete actual internship programs with business while earning credit at the same time.  Ms. Giunchigliani pointed out currently there was an apprenticeship council already in place, and the intent of the proposed amendment was to allow the state superintendent to work in cooperation with the school districts and the statewide apprenticeship council.

 

Ms. Giunchigliani referred to Section 2 of the proposed amendment which had been recommended by the Labor Commissioner to clarify, by definition, the students would not be acting as "employees" during the internship period.  The section of the amendment pertaining to workers' compensation costs would need to be researched by LCB staff since Ms. Giunchigliani was not sure if the students would require coverage.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN COLLINS MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS AB 643.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN MCGAUGHEY SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

Mrs. Chowning questioned what the cost of the program would be.  Ms. Giunchigliani responded her intent was no fiscal note.  Mrs. Chowning asked for examples of what kind of programs the students could enter.  Ms. Giunchigliani indicated two successful programs in Las Vegas were Vo-Tec and ATTC; however, the programs were not large enough to accommodate the majority of students.  According to Ms. Giunchigliani, AB 643 would allow students throughout the state, including the rural areas, to access businesses such as cosmetology, etc., to learn marketable skills.

 

Ms. Tiffany suggested amending the language to request a report be submitted after the first year, based on performance indicators, in order to track the effectiveness of the program.  Ms. Giunchigliani agreed, and suggested having the participating students write the report and submit it to the state board of education.

 

Dr. Eugene Paslov, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, spoke in support of the bill.  Dr. Paslov pointed out the legislative intent would require an annual report to interim finance or the legislature when in session, and he had no problem with such language being added to the bill.

 

      THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 9 -      Directs Department of Education to conduct study concerning tracking of academic histories of pupils in public schools.

 

Chairman Williams asked Ms. Giunchigliani if she would comment on the resolution.  Ms. Giunchigliani explained when she was president of the Nevada State Education Association, a comprehensive study had been completed on student academic tracking with the Nevada Association's of Schools Boards and Administrators.  In her opinion, Ms. Giunchigliani stated in the context of accountability through testing, the current curriculum was based on testing; therefore, students were being taught geared toward such tests.  Students were being placed into an academic track which was not relevant to what their lifeskills needed to be.

 

Ms. Giunchigliani commented she currently was waiting for a bill which would restructure the schools by lengthening the year, adding a student curriculum review panel, and various other suggestions which would help eliminate "clone education." 

 

Chairman Williams closed the hearing on ACR 9 and announced he would hold the resolution until Ms. Giunchigliani's bill was introduced.

 

Donald Williams, Research Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau, submitted written testimony providing background information on the resolution (Exhibit D).

 

Mary Peterson, State Department of Education, submitted written testimony in support of the resolution (Exhibit E).

 

Keith Rheault, State Department of Education, submitted written testimony in support of the resolution (Exhibit F).

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:57 p.m.

 

                             RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

                                                                         

                            Marilyn Cole, Committee Secretary

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Assembly Committee on Education

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