The Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities was called to order by Chairman Raymond D. Rawson, at 12:20 p.m., on Friday, February 19, 1999, in Room 2135 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman

Senator Maurice Washington, Vice Chairman

Senator Mark Amodei

Senator Bernice Mathews

Senator Valerie Wiener

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Randolph J. Townsend (Excused)

Senator Michael Schneider (Excused)

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Cynthia Cook, Committee Secretary

OTHERS PRESENT:

Chairman Rawson opened the meeting by introducing Michael Kinnaird, Commission on Educational Technology. Mr. Kinnaird explained the background of the commission, as outlined in a report titled Nevada Department of Education Report to the Commission on Educational Technology For the 70^th Session of the Nevada Legislature (Exhibit C. Original is on file in the Research Library). Mr. Kinnaird stated Senate Bill (S.B.) 482 of the Sixty-ninth Session established the Commission on Educational Technology.

Mr. Kinnaird defined that under section 61.1 of the bill approximately $27.5 million was made available to schools by the end of FY98 for the purchase and installation of new equipment. Section 61.2 of the bill allocates $8.6 million to repair and maintain equipment and software.

Mr. Kinnaird pointed out that the major responsibility of the commission is to oversee the distribution of funds. Each school district was asked to describe how the district is integrating instruction and technology to improve student achievement. The commission distributed the funds to each district based on need. He stated the three following standards for implementing technology in schools were established: Level 1 establishes a minimum level of technology as one multimedia computer in each instructional area or the equivalent, connected to the Internet, with supporting resources, professional development and evaluation; Level 2 focuses on curriculum integration, and extends professional development and evaluation to become focused on student achievement; Level 3 defines a technology-rich environment that fully supports student learning using technology, and represents the full-integrated classroom. Mr. Kinnaird emphasized the objective in allocating the section 61 funding is to enable as many schools as possible to reach Level 1.

Mr. Kinnaird asserted the commission laid the foundation for the evaluation of each school district’s progress over the next 4 years in implementing an environment that supports students learning, including students with disabilities and those traditionally under-served. Assessment tools to successfully measure the progress each district will make toward meeting Level 1 objectives were developed. He stated some of the areas to be measured are professional competency of teachers and administrators; the learning environment and curriculum; capabilities of the infra-structure; accountability for transient, daily attendance, and dropout rates; and student achievement based on TerraNova test scores.

Anita Brooks, Technology Teacher, Carson City High School, showed the committee a video explaining a geographical information system (GIS). The GIS is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth.

Chairman Rawson inquired if the ethics training received by students includes issues on pirating software and viruses. Ms. Brooks assured the committee that those issues and others are stressed in the first 2 weeks of training, and throughout the training. Senator Rawson wanted to know when the students receive their keyboard training. Ms. Brooks explained that in the Carson City School District, keyboard training begins in kindergarten and continues through twelfth grade.

Ms. Brooks showed an overhead slide presentation developed by using power point program and prepared by the students at Carson City High School. Slides demonstrated Internet research, web page design, the new computer hi-tech center on the campus of Carson City High School, and graphics design.
She stressed direct training for students in work-skill acquisitions is emphasized. She directed attention to pictures of an interesting project the students took part in during the school year. Carson Tahoe Hospital is restoring the Adams House located in Carson City. Ms. Brooks noted that by using historical documents from archives dated 1907, and GIS technology, the students restored old maps. A demonstration of census statistics over the past 200 years and an estimate of future population growth was shown.

Chairman Rawson mentioned the committee would like to have an informal tour of the computer center when construction is completed.

Ms. Brooks estimated the useful life of equipment is 5 years or less; however the products currently being purchased are very upgradeable. The computer technical center will have the most up-to-date version of auto-cad, a program relating to 3D graphic design.

Five students from Carson City High School commented on the impact of computers to them personally. Shane Trotter testified the skills he has learned in classes will help him prepare for college and in his career. At the completion of his junior year he will have 13 transferable college credits. Justin Loncar said Carson City High School is one of the few high schools in Nevada to have its own site on the Internet; the page is updated weekly by the Internet class, and contains teacher assignments for students in all classes. Justin Reeves stated students who take advanced computer classes often are doing it on their own time because of their interest. Adriana Hernandez talked about the confidence she has gained over the 3 years she has taken computer classes. Mary Crawford told of losing interest in school after her freshman year. She started taking computer classes, and regained her interest. She is now attending Western Nevada Community College full time.

Senator Wiener stated her concern about the loss of books, and the written word. Senator Wiener and the committee were assured there are printed textbooks for all classes.

Jhone Ebert, Technology Coordinator, Clark County School District, read from a handout titled "Integration of Technology" (Exhibit D).

Sheila Rojas, Technology Coordinator, Clark County School District, defined the three areas that need continued work. They are the integrating of technology into the curriculum, teacher training, and a systematic replacement policy for outdated computers.

Dan Piel, Superintendent, Storey County School District, testified on the success the rural counties are having in the technology field, stating although the rural counties are not quite at Level 1 as yet, they are moving in that direction. Many small rural schools have made contact with sister schools throughout the world.

Chairman Rawson asked the committee for an introduction of BILL DRAFT REQUEST (BDR) S-879.

Pepper Sturm, Committee Policy Analyst, Research Division, Legislative Counsel Bureau, informed the committee there are three remaining BDRs available for the committee. The first request for a BDR to be drafted would prohibit out-of-state K-12 schools from participating in Nevada interscholastic athletic associations.

Mr. Sturm stressed the second request for a BDR to be drafted would revise the current course of study, which is chapter 389 of Nevada Revised Statutes, to reflect the newly adopted academic standards in public schools.

Mr. Sturm stated the third potential committee BDR provides an appropriation in support of the Nevada Commission for National and Community Service Plans in order to draw down potential federal matching dollars (Exhibit E).

Chairman Rawson adjourned the meeting at 2:05 p.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Cynthia Cook,

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman

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