Infignos Media - Bentley proposes Charter Schools, bond issue in State of State

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Bentley proposes Charter Schools, bond issue in State of State

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is asking the Legislature to create a limited number of charter schools. The schools would be publicly funded, but would operate outside the rules and regulations of regular public schools.

The governor unveiled the plan in his "State-of-the-State" address Tuesday night, promising to cut the size of government and to reduce spending. The governor previously said he would propose changes to the state's immigration law in the speech, but he did not mention immigration.

Charter schools were among several reforms the governor announced for education. He proposed giving teachers a tax credit for money they spend out of their own pockets on classroom supplies.

The governor's speech was delivered in the historic old House Chambers at the Alabama Capitol on the first day of the 2012 regular session.

State schools superintendent Tommy Bice said he first saw a copy of the charter school legislation Tuesday.

"I want to make sure whatever comes out of it supports the public school system we have in place," Bice said.

With the governor's talk of maintaining or increasing levels of education funding — all while the Education Trust Fund faces an expected $150 million spending cut — Bice said he looks forward to seeing Bentley's education budget Wednesday morning.

"(The governor's) obviously got something I'm not aware of yet," Bice said

Bentley also announced plans to create a "teacher's cabinet" made up of teachers, administrators, school board members and parents to advise him on education issues.

"I want to hear directly from Muscle Shoals and Monroeville, Fort Payne and Fairhope, Decatur and Dothan and all places in between, without the filter and spin of Montgomery lobbyists," the governor said.

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, was pleased to see the governor's plan to create a teacher cabinet to provide unfiltered feedback on school needs.

"I will be helpful for him to hear from ground zero in education," said Orr, a former teacher in the Peace Corps in Nepal.

Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, D-Pelham, said Bentley proposed an ambitious agenda, particularly on job creation, roads and education, and they will be well received by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

"Some of the things I don't know how we will fund, but there is definitely a need for all the things he said," she said.

Rep. John Robinson, D-Scottsboro, said the governor made it sound like everything will be OK in state government despite the budget shortages, something that's typical for governors to do.

"I have heard a lot of these speeches before, and I have heard the wind blow before," he said.

Robinson said it's clear state government needs more money.

"Until the people of this state get ready to pay for more services, we are going to remain where we are," said Robinson, who opposes creating charter schools. "I don't know where the money for charter schools will come from when we don't have enough for regular schools."

The state faces deficits in both the education and General Fund budgets for the coming fiscal year. Lawmakers will face particularly difficult challenges in balancing the General Fund, which finances most non-education state services, like state troopers and prisons. It faces a $400 million deficit, but the governor said he is recommending a budget that will not cut "one penny" from the Department of Corrections.

"Not one single prisoner will be set free due to a lack of funds," Bentley said.

Bentley promised to save money by consolidating a number of state agencies.

"We will modernize outdated systems within state government by taking advantage of the latest technology to save $100 million over 10 years," Bentley said.

The governor promises to continue several state education programs, including a popular effort to insure that children are reading at grade level.

Children can't learn if they are not in school and promised to protect funds that provide transportation for students, he said.

In addition to charter schools, which are free of many of the regulations of regular schools, Bentley said he was proposing a law that would give local school systems more freedom in developing strategies, "free from federal bureaucracy."

He also said he wants to see the Legislature allow parents to decide where their children attend schools.

"We must also allow parents a choice in how and where their child receives an education," Bentley said.

The governor did not mention immigration in his speech, but the state's immigration law was definitely on the minds of about 30 candle carrying protestors who sang outside the Capitol as lawmakers filed out following the speech. They asked lawmakers to repeal the law that has been called the toughest in the country.

Protestors outside the Capitol carried lit candles and letters that spelled out, "Love They Neighbor." Protestors said they were trying to send a simple message about Alabama's immigration law.

"It separates people and it creates an economic crisis and a moral crisis," said Salvador Cervantes of Montgomery, director of organizing for the Alabama Coalition for Immigration Justice.

Senate Majority Leader Jabo Waggoner said he was surprised by what the governor didn't mention in his speech.

"There were some things in there I thought he left out that he shouldn't have," Waggoner said. "He didn't mention the immigration law, and there weren't a lot of details on the charter schools."

One theme throughout the speech was how the state came together after last April's tornadoes devastated areas across the state. He said he hopes people will come together in a similar fashion to solve today's problems.

"Last year the people of Alabama showed all of us how it should be done. They came together, worked hard, were unselfish and it didn't matter who got credit," Bentley said.

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Keywords: Bentley,Charter Schools,Bond Issue,State

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