s_ed_2016a_2016-04-21t13:38:23z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/21/2016

01:51 PM -- SB16-187 and SB16-188



Senator Hill, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 16-187, which concerns measures affecting the operation of charter schools, and Senate Bill 16-188, which concerns increasing charter schools' access to resources. Senator Marble explained that witness testimony would be combined for both bills and would be limited to three minutes per witness. Senator Hill explained the provisions of the two bills, distributed amendments L.003 (Attachment C) and L.004 (Attachment D), and explained the amendments. He answered questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.



16SenateEd0421AttachC.pdf 16SenateEd0421AttachD.pdf



The following people testified on the bills:



02:02 PM -- Nora Flood, President of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, spoke in support of the bills.



02:07 PM -- Jen Walmer, Colorado Director for Democrats for Education Reform, spoke in support of the bills.



02:10 PM -- Scott Laband, President of Colorado Succeeds, spoke in support of the bills.





02:13 PM



The preceding three witnesses responded to questions from the committee.



02:19 PM -- Linda Van Matre, representing the Pikes Peak Alliance and the Academy School District 20 Board of Education, spoke in opposition to the bills.



02:23 PM -- Ron Mitchell, representing the Jefferson County School Board, spoke in opposition to the bills.





02:28 PM



The preceding two witnesses answered questions from the committee. Senator Hill distributed a memorandum from Legislative Council Staff regarding the bill's fiscal note (Attachment E). Committee discussion ensued.



16SenateEd0421AttachE.pdf



02:45 PM -- James Cryan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountain Prep, spoke in support of the bills.



02:52 PM -- Daniella Gutierrez, representing herself as a parent, spoke in support of the bills.



02:56 PM -- Sarah Bagley, representing herself as a parent, spoke in support of the bills.



02:58 PM -- Bill Kurtz, representing Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) Public Schools, spoke in support of the bills. Mr. Kurtz answered questions from the committee.



03:05 PM -- Tina Marquis, representing the Boulder Valley School District Board of Education, spoke in opposition to the bills.



03:09 PM -- Carrie Warren-Gully, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, the Colorado Association of School Executives, the Colorado Education Association, and the Rural School Alliance, spoke in opposition to the bills.





03:14 PM



The preceding two witnesses answered questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.



03:28 PM -- Jennifer Douglas, Founder and Executive Director of the New Legacy Charter School, spoke in support of the bills.



03:31 PM -- Kanise Hampton, representing herself as a student, spoke in support of the bills.



03:32 PM -- Chris Watney, President of the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in support of the bills.



03:34 PM -- Brett Ridgway, Chief Business Officer of School District 49, spoke in support of the bills.



03:38 PM -- Greg Piotraschke, member of the School District 27J Board of Education, spoke in opposition to the bills.



03:45 PM -- Sally Augden, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, spoke in opposition to the bills.



03:48 PM -- Walt Cooper, Superintendent of Cheyenne Mountain School District, spoke in opposition to the bills.





03:52 PM



The preceding three witnesses answered questions from the committee.





04:13 PM



The committee continued to discuss the merits of the bill.



04:23 PM -- Bruce Siegel, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke in support of the bills.



04:28 PM -- Liz Graham, representing herself, spoke in support of the bills.



04:31 PM -- Kimberlee Sia, representing KIPP Colorado Schools, spoke in support of the bills.



04:35 PM -- Megan Silverthorne, representing herself, spoke in support of the bills.





04:37 PM



The preceding witnesses responded to questions from the committee.



04:41 PM -- Mike Johnson, member of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, spoke in support of the bills.



04:46 PM -- Kelly Kovacic, Executive Director of Portfolio Management for Denver Public Schools, spoke in support of the bills.



04:49 PM -- Michael Hayes, Director of Crestone Charter School, spoke in support of the bills.





04:52 PM



The preceding three witnesses answered questions from the committee.



04:52 PM -- Farrah Nicole Martin, Founder and Executive Director of Aman STEAM Academy, spoke in support of the bills.



04:58 PM -- Lori Deacon, representing herself as a founder of a charter school, spoke in support of the bills.





05:01 PM



The preceding two witnesses answered questions from the committee.



05:03 PM -- Laura Downey, representing herself as a charter school teacher, spoke in support of the bills.



05:06 PM -- Emily Buchop, representing herself as a charter school teacher, spoke in support of the bills.



05:08 PM -- Heather Palige, representing herself as a parent, spoke in support of the bills.





05:11 PM



There were no more witnesses and Senator Marble closed public testimony. Senator Hill gave closing comments to Senate Bill 16-187.