AzSIAA Bi-Weekly Newsletter
From the Executive Director
Greetings! This is the Fall pre-conference newsletter. For those of you not attending the NAFIS fall conference, please mark your calendar to call your Congressperson/Senators on September 26 in support of Impact Aid. September 26 is the date members of ASIAA and others will be meeting with their Congressional Representatives in Washington.
In the August 2017 newsletter, ASIAA requested member districts to pass a school board resolution in support of Impact Aid. This resolution would be part of the packet presented to Congressional Representatives in Washington, DC. The following was the request published in the August Enewsletter:
School Board Resolution - NAFIS - Back to School Pack 2017 - August Advocacy Month
Adopting a school board resolution in recognition of the importance of the Impact Aid program is another way to demonstrate to Federal policymakers that it should be a priority. Here’s an example board resolution from Impact Schools of South Dakota and another example school board resolution from San Diego Unified School District. Below is a template for your school district to consider.
Template School Board Resolution
A RESOLUTION, urging the US Congress to prevent spending reductions and increase funding for the Federal
Impact Aid program.
WHEREAS, President Harry S Truman signed Public Law 81-874 in 1950, which first authorized the Impact Aid
Program;
WHEREAS, Impact Aid, the oldest Federal K-12 education program, is designed to reimburse school districts for the loss of traditional revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt Federal property or activities;
WHEREAS, Impact Aid payments are allocated directly to school districts in lieu of lost local tax dollars to assist with the basic educational needs of students and schools;
WHEREAS, existing property owners in our community already bear a significant financial burden due to Federal acquisition of private lands; and
WHEREAS, Impact Aid funding is of critical importance in providing quality educational opportunities for the
(school district name) school district, without which our school district could not accomplish XX; and
WHEREAS, the Federal obligation upon which the Impact Aid program is based today is no different than it was when the program was established over 65 years ago:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
the (school district name) strongly supports the Federal investment in federally impacted school districts,
opposes sequestration as created by the Budget Control Act and its negative affect on the Impact Aid program;
advocates for increased funding for this Federal obligation to alleviate the local taxpayer burden caused by
Federal Property; and requests the US Congress recognize the importance of the Impact Aid program in ensuring that federally connected children receive a high-quality public education by fully funding the Impact Aid Program.
Please prepare a Governing Board resolution for the September NAFIS conference. Please forward the resolution to my email so that we can include those in the Arizona packet. Thank you.
Well, nice advocacy effort! As of September 17, I have not received one school board resolution from ASIAA districts and charters.
ASIAA had requested member districts to partner with the Arizona Rural Schools Association conference in support of Impact Aid. ASIAA sponsored the breakfast on Saturday, September 16. During the fall ARSA conference, ASIAA posted a general membership meeting. Attending the meeting was Dr. Robbie Koerperich, ASIAA President and Superintendent Holbrook Unified, Lynette Michalski, ASIAA President-elect and Superintendent Window Rock Unified, Mr. Chris Ostergaard, Superintendent Pinon Unified, Superintendent Kim Pearce, Red Mesa Unified, Ms. Melissa Sadorf, Superintendent, Stanfield Elementary District and Mr. Ronnie Mizner, Business Manager, Sanders Unified. Those in attendance did not constitute a quorum so a general discussion was held regarding ASIAA issues. Following is a summary of the discussion.
So, since there was no quorum, and based on direction from the Board of Directors I will continue to serve as Executive Director until the October meeting is held to deal with the issues. Thanks for your support
Larry E. Wallen, Executive Director
In the August 2017 newsletter, ASIAA requested member districts to pass a school board resolution in support of Impact Aid. This resolution would be part of the packet presented to Congressional Representatives in Washington, DC. The following was the request published in the August Enewsletter:
School Board Resolution - NAFIS - Back to School Pack 2017 - August Advocacy Month
Adopting a school board resolution in recognition of the importance of the Impact Aid program is another way to demonstrate to Federal policymakers that it should be a priority. Here’s an example board resolution from Impact Schools of South Dakota and another example school board resolution from San Diego Unified School District. Below is a template for your school district to consider.
Template School Board Resolution
A RESOLUTION, urging the US Congress to prevent spending reductions and increase funding for the Federal
Impact Aid program.
WHEREAS, President Harry S Truman signed Public Law 81-874 in 1950, which first authorized the Impact Aid
Program;
WHEREAS, Impact Aid, the oldest Federal K-12 education program, is designed to reimburse school districts for the loss of traditional revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt Federal property or activities;
WHEREAS, Impact Aid payments are allocated directly to school districts in lieu of lost local tax dollars to assist with the basic educational needs of students and schools;
WHEREAS, existing property owners in our community already bear a significant financial burden due to Federal acquisition of private lands; and
WHEREAS, Impact Aid funding is of critical importance in providing quality educational opportunities for the
(school district name) school district, without which our school district could not accomplish XX; and
WHEREAS, the Federal obligation upon which the Impact Aid program is based today is no different than it was when the program was established over 65 years ago:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
the (school district name) strongly supports the Federal investment in federally impacted school districts,
opposes sequestration as created by the Budget Control Act and its negative affect on the Impact Aid program;
advocates for increased funding for this Federal obligation to alleviate the local taxpayer burden caused by
Federal Property; and requests the US Congress recognize the importance of the Impact Aid program in ensuring that federally connected children receive a high-quality public education by fully funding the Impact Aid Program.
Please prepare a Governing Board resolution for the September NAFIS conference. Please forward the resolution to my email so that we can include those in the Arizona packet. Thank you.
Well, nice advocacy effort! As of September 17, I have not received one school board resolution from ASIAA districts and charters.
ASIAA had requested member districts to partner with the Arizona Rural Schools Association conference in support of Impact Aid. ASIAA sponsored the breakfast on Saturday, September 16. During the fall ARSA conference, ASIAA posted a general membership meeting. Attending the meeting was Dr. Robbie Koerperich, ASIAA President and Superintendent Holbrook Unified, Lynette Michalski, ASIAA President-elect and Superintendent Window Rock Unified, Mr. Chris Ostergaard, Superintendent Pinon Unified, Superintendent Kim Pearce, Red Mesa Unified, Ms. Melissa Sadorf, Superintendent, Stanfield Elementary District and Mr. Ronnie Mizner, Business Manager, Sanders Unified. Those in attendance did not constitute a quorum so a general discussion was held regarding ASIAA issues. Following is a summary of the discussion.
- IPP - General discussion about the implementation of the Indian Policies and Procedures and the new requirements. The policies and procedures have been expanded and revised. Window Rock Unified provided a sample of their policies and procedures. Link to Window Rock Unified School District’s IPP document. Mr. Ostergaard, Pinon Unified, talked about the outreach efforts they use to involve parents in providing input. He would be a good resource for obtaining parent input. I included in this newsletter a section and references to the policies and procedures. I have also posted to the website additional information regarding policies and procedures. Districts are requested to provide a copy of their policies and procedures as revised so that we can post those to the website for everyone to share.
- Director’s Report - Larry reporting on preparation for the congressional visits next week. Four congressional visits have been confirmed and others are in process. Confirmation is completed during the week of September 18. Congresswoman Sinema is an important visit as she may be a candidate for the Senate. Larry reported on his attendance at Congressman O’Halleran’s Townhall in Flagstaff. Stood behind Percy Deal, Hardrock, for my presentation. Requested the Congressman to support Impact Aid. He knew a lot about Impact Aid and affirmed his continued support. The CR has been signed by President Trump funding the budget until December 8, 2017. Impact Aid in the FY2017 Omnibus bill was increased by $23 million. FY2018 is level funding under the CR. He is expected to leverage DACA with the border wall. Senator Cotton (Sept 14) offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to eliminate sequestration for Defense spending. Cotton’s bill did not lift sequestration for nondefense mandatory programs. Last eNewsletter requested a Board resolution. Congress increased the debt limit by $18 billion to cover the Florida and Texas issues. The CR expires December 8 and will also be coupled with an increase in the debt ceiling again. Challenging!
- Executive Director’s Position. Larry responded about the criticism raised at the Spring Conference in Washington. I am incensed by the unprofessional behavior of some members of the Association. To attack Ms. Michalski as the new President-elect regarding advocacy, communication, and involvement when she is new and stepped up to help is very troubling. Those individuals were really attacking me when I was not there to respond. Cheap, very cheap! Quite frankly, this has caused me to closely evaluate my work over the past three years. I don’t need this job and certainly don’t need my professional reputation damaged by a few complainers who do just that complain. I do this because of my 20 years as a superintendent spent advocating for Impact Aid, fighting with NAFIS, fighting with NISSA, and fighting for Arizona federally connected students. If that is the respect and appreciation evident in the membership than I do not want to be a part of this association. I published over 20 eNewsletters this past year, moved the association to a 501c3 tax exempt status, and completed annual audits for the past five years. ASIAA is in good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission after the documents were cleaned up. I monitor the news from AASA, ASCD, NDD, and Sunday morning news programs to be current. I have assisted districts to navigate the Impact Aid process and cheered when they received their first voucher. ASIAA maintains a website for the association. www.azsiaa.org. Discussion by attendees on where to go. The association needs to determine where they want to go. The Board of Directors determines when I go to Washington. Given our limited budget, the decision is to ask membership to speak in Washington rather than incurring the expense of my attending. Dr. Koerperich spoke about his vision, his reliance on the Executive Director, and his advocacy for Impact Aid. He spoke about the need for an executive director. Larry is willing to move us forward. He does not need this job. He is willing to work with us to be strong. Ms. Michalsi shared her thoughts about the need for an Executive Director. Dr. Koerperich recommended that Larry continue on a month to month basis until we have time to find someone to take over. The consensus is to continue with month to month until a clear direction is established.
- Financial status - There are 71 school districts and charters that receive Impact Aid in Arizona representing 38,856 federally connected students. As of this date there are 12 districts that have paid SY2018 dues. Savings account as of August 31, 019 - $40,084.92. Checking account - $16,416.08. Unpaid membership dues $12,000.
So, since there was no quorum, and based on direction from the Board of Directors I will continue to serve as Executive Director until the October meeting is held to deal with the issues. Thanks for your support
Larry E. Wallen, Executive Director
NAFIS Fall Conference Materials for your Review
ASIAA Notice of Meeting and Agenda - September 25, 2017
ASIAA Hill Visits
ASIAA Congressional Letter - September 26, 2017
NAFIS Impact Aid Payment Cycle
NAFIS Impact Aid Infographic
NAFIS 2017 Impact Aid Construction Report
NAFIS 2016 Bluebook 7003
ASIAA Hill Visits
ASIAA Congressional Letter - September 26, 2017
NAFIS Impact Aid Payment Cycle
NAFIS Impact Aid Infographic
NAFIS 2017 Impact Aid Construction Report
NAFIS 2016 Bluebook 7003
Please post the following ASIAA Meetings to your Calendar
September 25, 2017 - NAFIS _ Washington - 4:45-5:30 - Arizona State Meeting - Columbia B
October 23-24, 2017 - Two Day SY2019 Application Workshop - ASBA - Phoenix, Az
October 24, 2017 - ASIAA General Meeting - 1:00 - 4:00 pm - ASBA Offices (After the FISEF workshop.)
December 12-15 - ASBA Annual Conference - Requesting information for a break out session. Forms will be out this month.
October 23-24, 2017 - Two Day SY2019 Application Workshop - ASBA - Phoenix, Az
October 24, 2017 - ASIAA General Meeting - 1:00 - 4:00 pm - ASBA Offices (After the FISEF workshop.)
December 12-15 - ASBA Annual Conference - Requesting information for a break out session. Forms will be out this month.
NAFIS Fall Conference - Sept 25th, Monday - Two Sets of Breakouts - NAFIS Information Alert
10:00AM - 11:00AM
Breakout Sessions, Part I
Indian Policy and Procedures (IPPs)
Every school district with Indian Lands children should attend this session to learn about recent regulation changes to the IPPs. Staff from the U.S. Department of Education’s Impact Aid Program Office will lead this session, to discuss the new regulations and answer your questions.
What You Need to Know About the New ESSA Title IV
Title IV-A of ESSA: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program consolidated dozens of programs into a single block grant. The program, authorized at $1.6 billion in FY18 is meant to support well rounded programs, safe and healthy schools, and the effective use of technology and be allocated to all districts via the Title I formula. However, in its first year of existence, the program only received $400 million presenting issues for states and districts as they seek to implement the law for the first time.
Ally Bernstein, Vice President of Bernstein Strategy Group, a full service government relations firm dedicated to advancing education policy will lead this session. As the key lead of the Title IV-A Coalition, she will provide a thorough explanation of how the new block grant program is intended to work as Congress authorized in ESSA, explore the impacts of significantly underfunding the program, and discuss how over 60 national organizations have banded together to advocate for the success of this important program.
Branding and Social Media for School District Communications and Advocacy
In this session, Dr. Jim Sarruda, NAFIS President and Superintendent of Northern Burlington County Regional School District (NJ) will discuss his school district’s new branding initiative and how he uses Facebook and Twitter to communicate with the community, teachers and students. If you are experienced using social media, please bring your ideas as to how we can harness these powerful tools in support of the NAFIS Family.
11:15AM - 12:15PM
Breakout Sessions, Part II
A New Option for Counting Students: Electronic Data Count
Get the latest information on the Department of Education’s application pilot program to allow school districts to count their federally connected students electronically. Staff from the U.S. Department of Education’s Impact Aid Program Office will discuss the requirements for participating in the pilot. Representatives from school districts currently in the pilot will share their experiences.
Impact Aid Application Workshop
New to the Impact Aid application? Need a quick primer to make sure you understand the procedures in counting students, using source checks and survey cards, transferring your information to your electronic application and submitting all required documentation? Staff from the U.S. Department of Education’s Impact Aid Program Office are here to step you through it.
Teacher Professional Development: Board Certification and Beyond
Learn to leverage Board Certification and the Accomplished Teaching Body of Knowledge to increase student outcomes and increase instructional capacity of staff. This session will include the latest research on the impact of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) on student achievement including K-3 literacy outcomes. Learn why hundreds of Bureau of Indian Education affiliated teachers are undertaking the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification process and how it is applicable to federally impacted schools on Indian Lands. Experience the ATLAS video case library and learn to address school wide problems of practice through individualized professional development using the NBPTS standards and Accomplished Teaching Body of Knowledge. The session will include advantages of Board Certification for districts working with military connected students due to the transient nature of their families. Michelle Accardi, NBCT, JD and Director, Policy and Partnerships at NBPTS will lead this session. Michelle has firsthand knowledge of Impact Aid having grown up in a military family and taught at an Indian Lands school in New Mexico.
Thanks to Bryan, NAFIS for the Information Alert!
Breakout Sessions, Part I
Indian Policy and Procedures (IPPs)
Every school district with Indian Lands children should attend this session to learn about recent regulation changes to the IPPs. Staff from the U.S. Department of Education’s Impact Aid Program Office will lead this session, to discuss the new regulations and answer your questions.
What You Need to Know About the New ESSA Title IV
Title IV-A of ESSA: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program consolidated dozens of programs into a single block grant. The program, authorized at $1.6 billion in FY18 is meant to support well rounded programs, safe and healthy schools, and the effective use of technology and be allocated to all districts via the Title I formula. However, in its first year of existence, the program only received $400 million presenting issues for states and districts as they seek to implement the law for the first time.
Ally Bernstein, Vice President of Bernstein Strategy Group, a full service government relations firm dedicated to advancing education policy will lead this session. As the key lead of the Title IV-A Coalition, she will provide a thorough explanation of how the new block grant program is intended to work as Congress authorized in ESSA, explore the impacts of significantly underfunding the program, and discuss how over 60 national organizations have banded together to advocate for the success of this important program.
Branding and Social Media for School District Communications and Advocacy
In this session, Dr. Jim Sarruda, NAFIS President and Superintendent of Northern Burlington County Regional School District (NJ) will discuss his school district’s new branding initiative and how he uses Facebook and Twitter to communicate with the community, teachers and students. If you are experienced using social media, please bring your ideas as to how we can harness these powerful tools in support of the NAFIS Family.
11:15AM - 12:15PM
Breakout Sessions, Part II
A New Option for Counting Students: Electronic Data Count
Get the latest information on the Department of Education’s application pilot program to allow school districts to count their federally connected students electronically. Staff from the U.S. Department of Education’s Impact Aid Program Office will discuss the requirements for participating in the pilot. Representatives from school districts currently in the pilot will share their experiences.
Impact Aid Application Workshop
New to the Impact Aid application? Need a quick primer to make sure you understand the procedures in counting students, using source checks and survey cards, transferring your information to your electronic application and submitting all required documentation? Staff from the U.S. Department of Education’s Impact Aid Program Office are here to step you through it.
Teacher Professional Development: Board Certification and Beyond
Learn to leverage Board Certification and the Accomplished Teaching Body of Knowledge to increase student outcomes and increase instructional capacity of staff. This session will include the latest research on the impact of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) on student achievement including K-3 literacy outcomes. Learn why hundreds of Bureau of Indian Education affiliated teachers are undertaking the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification process and how it is applicable to federally impacted schools on Indian Lands. Experience the ATLAS video case library and learn to address school wide problems of practice through individualized professional development using the NBPTS standards and Accomplished Teaching Body of Knowledge. The session will include advantages of Board Certification for districts working with military connected students due to the transient nature of their families. Michelle Accardi, NBCT, JD and Director, Policy and Partnerships at NBPTS will lead this session. Michelle has firsthand knowledge of Impact Aid having grown up in a military family and taught at an Indian Lands school in New Mexico.
Thanks to Bryan, NAFIS for the Information Alert!
Title 1 has a Tribal Consultation Policy
This is required as part of your Title I application. The LEA Tribal affirmation of consultation form is attached so you may print and upload under related documents in GME once the Title I application opens.
Appropriations and Congress's To-Do List - AASA Report
Congress returned from Recess last week with a long to-do list. Last week, Congress passed and President Trump signed an agreement to fund the government and raise the debt limit for three months in addition to aid for areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. This is just a "kick the can down the road" fix, leaving Congress with the same task to fund the government and raise the debt limit again in December.
President Trump, the House, and the Senate have all released proposals for education funding. You can find a side-by-side here. They have until December 8 to pass all 12 appropriations bills or to pass another Continuing Resolution, kicking the can further down the road and continuing the pattern of level funding. Find our advocacy tools around the appropriations process here.
President Trump, the House, and the Senate have all released proposals for education funding. You can find a side-by-side here. They have until December 8 to pass all 12 appropriations bills or to pass another Continuing Resolution, kicking the can further down the road and continuing the pattern of level funding. Find our advocacy tools around the appropriations process here.
House OKs Bill to Slash Education Budget as School Choice Push Loses Out
By Andrew Ujifusa on September 14, 2017 4:41 PM
The House of Representatives voted Thursday to approve an education funding bill that would cut about $2.3 billion from the U.S. Department of Education, a roughly 3.5 percent reduction from the agency's current budget of $68.4 billion.
The House bill funding the department for fiscal year 2018 would eliminate $2 billion in Title II funding for teacher training and class size reduction, and cut $100 million from current spending on after-school aid. (More on that last issue here.) The legislation, which was approved by a 211-198 vote, keeps Title I funding for disadvantaged students flat at about $15.4 billion, and also includes a $200 million increase for special education. It also rejects prominent elements of President Donald Trump's budget proposal, most specifically on school choice—more on that below.
The House spending bill, which provides $66.1 billion to the Education Department as part of a broader $1.2 trillion spending package for various government agencies, must be reconciled with the Senate legislation. Unlike House lawmakers, Senators in charge of the appropriations process have so far, in the subcommittee and committee that oversee K-12 spending respectively, voted to increase spending slightly at the Education Department. The Senate bill would boost department spending by a relatively small amount, $29 million, up to $68.4 billion. The Trump administration, by contrast, sought a cut of $9.2 billion to the department in its budget proposal from earlier this year.
Also unlike the House, the Senate voted to maintain current funding for two programs the House bill seeks to cut. Senators have voted to maintain that $2 billion for teacher training, the single-biggest funding cut for K-12 sought by House lawmakers. And the Senate so far has backed $1.2 billion in current spending on after-school programs.
However, both the bill approved by the House on Thursday and the Senate bill rejected the Trump administration's proposals to boost public and private school choice. The Trump administration singled out these omissions for criticism, saying that its $250 million private school choice plan "supports the expansion of innovative and proven approaches to improve America's education system, address persistent challenges in education, and build institutional knowledge of what is working."
The House of Representatives voted Thursday to approve an education funding bill that would cut about $2.3 billion from the U.S. Department of Education, a roughly 3.5 percent reduction from the agency's current budget of $68.4 billion.
The House bill funding the department for fiscal year 2018 would eliminate $2 billion in Title II funding for teacher training and class size reduction, and cut $100 million from current spending on after-school aid. (More on that last issue here.) The legislation, which was approved by a 211-198 vote, keeps Title I funding for disadvantaged students flat at about $15.4 billion, and also includes a $200 million increase for special education. It also rejects prominent elements of President Donald Trump's budget proposal, most specifically on school choice—more on that below.
The House spending bill, which provides $66.1 billion to the Education Department as part of a broader $1.2 trillion spending package for various government agencies, must be reconciled with the Senate legislation. Unlike House lawmakers, Senators in charge of the appropriations process have so far, in the subcommittee and committee that oversee K-12 spending respectively, voted to increase spending slightly at the Education Department. The Senate bill would boost department spending by a relatively small amount, $29 million, up to $68.4 billion. The Trump administration, by contrast, sought a cut of $9.2 billion to the department in its budget proposal from earlier this year.
Also unlike the House, the Senate voted to maintain current funding for two programs the House bill seeks to cut. Senators have voted to maintain that $2 billion for teacher training, the single-biggest funding cut for K-12 sought by House lawmakers. And the Senate so far has backed $1.2 billion in current spending on after-school programs.
However, both the bill approved by the House on Thursday and the Senate bill rejected the Trump administration's proposals to boost public and private school choice. The Trump administration singled out these omissions for criticism, saying that its $250 million private school choice plan "supports the expansion of innovative and proven approaches to improve America's education system, address persistent challenges in education, and build institutional knowledge of what is working."
Post to Your Calendar
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Arizona Rural School Conference - Flagstaff, AZ
NAFIS Fall Conference - Hyatt - Washington, DC ACSA - Business Summit - Phoenix, Az ASBA 41st Annual Law Conference - J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge ASA Fall Superintendents/Higher Ed Conference - Prescott Resort ASBA/ASA/AASBO Legislative Workshop - Sheraton Crescent ASBA-ASA 60th Annual Conference - Arizona Biltmore |
2017-09-24-26
2017-09- 24-26 2017-11-TBA 2017-09-6 thru 09-09 2017-11-22-24 2017-11-17 2017-12-13 thru 12-15 |