Senate Education Committee
January 27, 2025
Senator Jane English [00:00:01] Good morning. I call the Senate Education Committee to order. And welcome, everybody. Glad to see you all here today. And let's see, under our first order of business, we have Senator Caldwell, who's not here yet. Senator Dismang, are you here in the room? I don't believe so. Senator Scott. Okay. So we only have two bills. And I guess one is-- will you chair and I'm going to do Senator Caldwell's.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:01:17] Senator, you're recognized to present your bill.
Senator Jane English [00:01:19] Thank you very much. Okay. I'm presenting this morning Senate Bill 46, and it's an act concerning a name change for East Arkansas Community College. And I will ask Melissa Rust.
Melissa Rust [00:01:39] Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. And Senator Caldwell, as well as Senator Murdock, are both stuck in traffic this morning. And so they asked if another member could present the bill for them. And Senator English graciously agreed to do so. There has been a lot of work over the last year or so between East Arkansas Community College and the University of Arkansas system for East Arkansas Community College to become a campus of the UA system.
And back in November of last year, the Higher Learning Commission voted to accept and approve a change of ownership application by East Arkansas Community College. And so East Arkansas' new name is University of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College. We want to make sure we got Arkansas in there twice. And now that the formalities of this process have concluded, it will require a number of changes to the statutes that are already in existence for East Arkansas. And you can see those identified in Senate Bill 46.
In addition to the name change, you guys may remember that a few years ago, Senator Caldwell sponsored a piece of legislation that merged Crowley's Ridge into East Arkansas. And so there are a couple of statutes that are no longer necessary or relevant because of that merger. And so this bill essentially cleans up that language, changes East Arkansas' name. And we would appreciate your support of this bill.
And I was so remiss in failing, number one, to introduce the chancellor of East Arkansas Community College. To my left is Dr. Kathy Cline. And I don't know if it would be appropriate. If she wanted to make a few comments, I'd certainly have her do so.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:03:28] Yes, you're recognized.
Kathy Cline [00:03:30] I would just appreciate your support on this bill. After merging with CRTI, I think is the next step to really raise the profile of our institution and do everything we possibly can for the citizens of Arkansas, particularly the students, the communities that we serve.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:03:46] Great. Thank you very much. And we're glad you're here. Appreciate you being here.
Senator Jane English [00:03:52] Closed for the bill.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:03:54] Members. Any questions? Seeing no questions. Senator, you have a question. Senator Flowers.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:04:09] Does this in any way change the funding for that University of Arkansas at East Arkansas?
Melissa Rust [00:04:17] No, ma'am, it does not. Funding remains the same. You may notice in the bill there's a section having to do with funding, and all it does is simply change the name. It doesn't change any amounts.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:04:29] Okay. And the other part is stricken is just to get rid of what's not needed anymore.
Melissa Rust [00:04:36] Yes, ma'am, that's correct.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:04:39] Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:04:43] And members, we have no public comment on this. Seeing no further questions, Senator, do you have a motion?
Senator Jane English [00:04:50] I move to approve.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:04:52] Seconded. Second. All in favor of the motion say aye. Opposed same sign. Congratulations, Senator, your bill is passed.
Melissa Rust [00:05:01] Thank you.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:06:20] Members, the senator is going to be running House Bill 1133. Senator, you may present your bill.
Senator Jane English [00:06:28] Thank you very much. This is Representative Unger's bill from the House. Basically what it does is it allows the Northwest Technical Institute to appoint a president who has a background in industry instead of education.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:06:54] Members, any questions? Senator, you're recognized. Senator Bryant.
Senator Joshua Bryant [00:07:01] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just looking at the existing code and we're adding this section to the existing code. Do you know why they couldn't have this to do anyway?
Senator Jane English [00:07:15] Have it what?
Senator Joshua Bryant [00:07:16] We're adding this to code rather than amending code. Could they not have done this?
Senator Jane English [00:07:21] I don't know.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:07:26] Members, any other questions? Senator Flowers, you're recognized.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:07:40] Senator English, I know this isn't your bill, but you might be familiar with-- I'm not familiar with Northwest Technical Institute. And what types of curriculum do they have and offer?
Senator Jane English [00:07:54] I think the law says that it has to have almost like we had, the commissioner of education for the state of Arkansas had to have an education background. That's what this says, is that somebody who is in charge of that school has to have an education background. I think what the people in Northwest Arkansas are looking at doing is making this technical institute a real technical institute with business and industry involved and feel like that they would be better served by somebody coming out of industry or being part of the industry in that area.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:08:34] Right. But my question is what is in the curriculum? What types of industrial subjects are covered at Northwest Technical?
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:08:46] Well, right now, they've got all kinds of things, but I think they would have an opportunity to add additional things. They have an ammonia refrigeration that some of our other schools, two year colleges and four year colleges don't have, a different kind.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:09:01] I'd just like to know, I mean, I'm sure it's more than that. What else is there to appoint a president out of industry?
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:09:13] I think the courses and the curriculum will be decided by the industry in that area of the state.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:09:21] Are they on the board, school board or the school? How does the industry get to decide who gets to be the president or what industry the president would come from? Is anybody here to help you from Northwest?
Senator Jane English [00:09:38] I believe actually, Dr. Ken Warden is here and he might be able to explain this a little better.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:09:55] Mr. Warden, if you would introduce yourself and your position, then you may continue.
Ken Warden [00:10:01] Ken Warden. Commissioner, Division of Higher Ed. How are you, Senator Flowers?
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:10:05] Good morning.
Ken Warden [00:10:09] To your question, Northwestern Technical Institute is the last of the vo-techs that were established in the state between the late mid-fifties, mid-sixties, the 70s. All of those institutions have merged, typically with other institutions, like East Arkansas Community College merged with Crowley's Ridge and is now part of UA system.
This school, for whatever reason, has never done that. They maintain a group of offerings that are consistent with what you would think of technical programs. So automotive diesel mechanics. They currently have some nursing classes and a cadre of classes. Have a very unique asset and an ammonia refrigeration facility that's been struggling to get online, that should be online shortly, hopefully within the next six months to do some ammonia refrigeration training.
The parameters of hiring at an institution fall on, I guess, the most qualified applicant. My opinion, there's nothing that would keep us from hiring someone with those qualifications. Now, we typically do look to the best applicants. I think this is just showing that the institution and its industry partners are willing to ensure that those qualifications do count and that they are considered. I think that done right, they always should have been considering industry input in any technical program you have on any of our campuses.
If they aren't consulting with their industry partners, they're not right. They need to be doing that regularly. And I think this may not be ultimately a 'have to' to get this done necessary. But it does reinforce the thought that qualified industry experts are needed to lead and help lead these academic ventures. Does that make sense, Senator English?
Senator Jane English [00:11:55] Yes. Thank you.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:11:58] And so with local industry giving input for who's chosen to lead this institute, there is a board.
Ken Warden [00:12:13] Yes, ma'am. There's a gubernatorial appointed board.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:12:15] Okay.
Ken Warden [00:12:16] For this institution.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:12:18] So they have staggering terms?
Ken Warden [00:12:21] Yes, ma'am. They have all the rights and reservations that go along with boards and commissions for the state of Arkansas.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:12:28] So the governor appoints the board members and then they consult-- does the statute give authority to those board members or mandate those board members to consult the industry?
Ken Warden [00:12:46] Well, I would say it gives them the authority to do that. And I think that the way it works is they look at candidates and select set minimum and preferred qualifications for candidates. Those are sent to by law our board or division who vets those and back to the governor and then back to the board for ultimate hiring of that individual.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:13:10] So your department will have to create some rules?
Ken Warden [00:13:14] No, ma'am. I mean, if this is passed, I don't know what rules we'd have to create. I'd have to get with our legal team to see if there's anything else that we would need to do.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:13:27] Thank you. Thank you.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:13:32] Just so that I understand, so there is a local board that determines that they are qualified to move forward in the process. A president who has a background, and that board will make the determination that they are qualified based on their background to fulfill those requirements of the job.
Ken Warden [00:13:58] Yes.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:13:59] Okay. Members, anyone else have any questions? Senator, anything else?
Senator Jane English [00:14:06] I'm closed.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:14:09] Second/ All in favor, say aye. Are any opposed? Congratulations, Senator, your bill has passed.
Senator Jane English [00:14:42] Senator Scott, you are recognized.
Senator Jamie Scott [00:15:11] Good morning. So, colleagues, I'm here before you today. This is an issue that Senator Chesterfield was working on before she left and she asked me to continue to look into it. So she wanted me to propose a resolution, and this resolution seeks to address the critical issues affecting our hardworking educational support professionals. These are individuals who keep our schools running. They are bus drivers. They're our custodians. They're our cafeteria staff. And there's so much more. They're essential to our children's education.
Yet they face many hardships during the summer months due to the reasonable assurance clause in the Federal Unemployment Act. And so just to give you a few little notes that I jotted down. Our educational support professionals are among the lowest paid workers in our schools. And providing unemployment benefits to them during the summer offers so much financial security for these families and these employees. Providing unemployment benefits ensures that these workers can continue contributing to our local economies during the summer months and benefiting small businesses and communities across our state.
And I want to add that it is my understanding that our hourly school employees who work for private companies are eligible for unemployment benefits. But these individuals who are on these nine month contracts are not. And so it's critical that we support our staff. They are a huge part of our school success. And without them, our schools cannot function. The reasonable assurance clause assumes that employees can find an ends to meet their ends meet within the summers without the income. And if you look at the statistics for hunger, there are a lot of issues and concerns that families are struggling in the summer. The status and the statistics show that in the state of Arkansas.
So it was my understanding that Senator Chesterfield just wanted to have Senator Bozeman look at what are the ways that maybe these nine month employees could probably pay in more unemployment benefits during a school year so that they're eligible for unemployment. And so that's the root cause of this resolution today that she wanted me to put before the body.
And so quickly, let me see if I wrote anything else down that I want to look at. I think this is something that we can all get behind and demonstrate that we value and respect those who serve our students. I'm not indicating that you don't if you're not in support of this. I urge you to support this measure to waive the reasonable assurance clause for our nine month educational employees. Let's lead in a way that's ensuring that these essential employees receive the support that they deserve in Arkansas.
Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who contribute so much to the success of our schools. And so this is just a resolution to have our congressional delegation look into the matter.
Senator Jane English [00:18:17] Senator Sullivan.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:18:19] Thank you. A fiscal impact isn't necessarily required for what we've done here. Have you considered looking at that, the impact it would have on the Arkansas taxpayer?
Senator Jamie Scott [00:18:31] I'm open to looking at that.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:18:33] I'm sorry.
Senator Jamie Scott [00:18:33] I haven't requested one, but I'm open to looking at it.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:18:36] Okay. And, you know, normally, generally or quite often, teachers-- and I was one-- worked and had a nine month contract and worked those other three months. Any idea how many of our teachers currently have jobs and are employed during the summer months?
Senator Jamie Scott [00:18:53] I'm pretty sure that's something I can probably have BLR to request for me I think. I don't know offhand.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:19:00] Okay. You would anticipate that if this resolution passes, that we would have more or fewer teachers finding summer employment?
Senator Jamie Scott [00:19:16] I think the focus wasn't necessarily towards the teachers. When I talked to Senator Chesterfield about it, it was more so for the individuals who are considered educational support staff in the schools.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:19:33] You would anticipate more of those that whatever the population is defined as, you would anticipate more of that population leaving the workforce because now they have benefits if they don't work.
Senator Jamie Scott [00:19:47] No, I think she was just trying to figure out a way for us to bridge the gap. I think some of them struggle with finding unemployment in the summer, be it a bus driver or-- the teacher might have more means of finding a job in the summer because they can work at summer programs, they can work at summer school, they can work in summer camps, whether it's teaching or tutoring. Those educational support staff, like the cafeteria workers and the bus drivers, they just might not have just a lot of options.
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:20:16] So I get that. I'm just wondering if you would, when we write legislation, we do it in anticipation of a certain outcome. And I would anticipate that the population that you're describing, this would be an incentive not to join the workforce.
Senator Jamie Scott [00:20:35] You mean during the three months?
Senator Dan Sullivan [00:20:36] During those three months, if we're going to incentivize them to get unemployment, then we're going to have people, whatever that population is, leaving the workforce rather than joining the workforce. I mean, you may not have an opinion or an idea on that, which is what I would anticipate occurring. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Senator Jane English [00:21:00] Excuse me. Are there any other questions? What is the will of the committee? Do I hear a second? Not hearing a second, thank you.
Senator Jamie Scott [00:21:20] Thank you, committee.
Senator Jane English [00:21:22] Okay. So I think that is-- we don't have Senator Dismang here. I think we're about finished. Seeing no further business, this meeting is adjourned.
