Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 2 (Jan. 16, 2001)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia
No. 2, Jan. 16, 2001
K-12 Funding Continues to Drive Governor's Budget Goals:
FY '02 Budget Address Makes Clear the Governor's Priorities
Gov. Roy E. Barnes' FY 2002 Budget Address, delivered last Thursday (Jan. 11) to a standing-room-only crowd, was full of funding to drive implementation of his massive education reform legislation. In all, the Governor recommended nearly $1 billion for construction of education facilities throughout the state, including K-12 public schools, technical colleges and colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia.
The Governor's emphasis on improving performance within the K-12 schools resounded throughout his budget recommendations, which included, among other key initiatives, $68.5 million to hire 6,000 new para-professionals one for every Georgia kindergarten class. He also proposed $18.9 million to expand the Early Intervention Program for students who are performing behind grade level, to place them in classrooms with an 11:1 student/teacher ratio.
The Governor also recommended $7 million to increase the number of school improvement teams in Georgia, and $1 million to begin the development of a master-teacher system in the state.
In addition, the Governor has proposed $500,000 apiece in funding for teacher-training programs to be administered by the Professional Standards Commission, and an alternative certification program to cultivate "second career" teachers.
As for teacher salaries, Gov. Barnes proposed a 4.5 percent salary increase for both K-12 teachers and University System of Georgia faculty and staff. He said he would "continue to adjust teachers salaries each and every year in order to be a leader in this region and at par with the nation."
Tom Daniel, interim senior vice chancellor for External Affairs and Facilities, said "the Board of Regents had asked the Governor to make a recommendation which would keep the System competitive in recruiting and retaining the best faculty and staff." The 4.5 percent recommendation "is a significant boost over last year's 3 percent increase," Daniel stated, "so this is a very positive development."
Chancellor Stephen R. Portch's FY '02 Budget Address is slated for tomorrow (Jan. 17), when he will outline for the Joint Appropriations Committees the Governor's remaining recommendations for the Board of Regents' budget. (A full report will follow in next week's Legislative Update on Jan. 22.) Among the key initiatives the chancellor will discuss is the need for an enhanced funding formula for the University System's instructional and administrative costs that would accommodate (among other changes of the past decade) rapidly increasing costs for instructional technology and distance-learning courses.
Meanwhile, nine University System of Georgia construction projects from the "minors" list are winding their way through the legislative process, after being recommended for $33.3 million in funding in the Governor's FY '01 Supplemental Budget. These include:
z $3 million to upgrade and expand the electrical distribution system at Armstrong Atlantic State University; z $1 million to fund campus road and entry-way improvements at Atlanta Metropolitan College; z $4.2 million to construct a central chiller plant at Georgia College and State University; z $4.5 million to modernize and renovate the Marvin Pittman Elementary School for Fine Arts program at Georgia
Southern University; z $3.7 million to remediate the exterior of Georgia State University's Library; z $3 million to modernize and expand the O'Neal Veterinary Assistant Building at Fort Valley State University; z $4.9 million to construct a new auditorium, classrooms and office space at the University of Georgia's Rural
Development Center in Tifton; z $4 million to modernize the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building and pool at South Georgia College;
and z $5 million to construct a facility near the Savannah airport for the Yamacraw and Georgia Tech Regional Engineering
programs.

Members Named in Key House and Senate Committees
The House and Senate each have named the membership of committees that will be responsible for the legislative activity pertaining to post-secondary education in the state, including the affairs of the University System of Georgia. Both committees resumed their work with the leadership of their chairmen from last year. Members of the respective committees are:

Senate Higher Education Committee Jack Hill (D-Reidsville), Chairman Tim Golden (D-Valdosta), Vice Chairman Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton), Secretary Don Balfour (R-Lilburn) Susan Cable (R-Macon) Casey Cagle (R-Gainesville) Doug Haines (D-Athens) Seth Harp (R-Columbus) Georgia Hooks (D-Americus), Ex Officio Richard Marable (D-Rome), Ex Officio Harold Ragan (D-Cairo), Ex Officio David Scott (D-Atlanta) Tommie Williams (R-Lyons)

House Higher Education Committee DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), Chairman Louise McBee (D-Athens), Vice Chairman Barbara Mobley (D) - Secretary - Decatur Pat Bell (D-Jefferson) Ron Borders (D-Valdosta) Ben Bridges (R-Cleveland) Tom Buck (D-Columbus) Ginger Collins (I-Smyrna) Jack Connell (D-Augusta) Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) Winifred Dukes (D-Albany) Allen Hammontree (R-Cohutta) Bill Hembree (R-Douglasville) Dorothy Pelote (D-Savannah) Garland Pinholster (R-Ballground) Danae Roberts (R-Columbus) Austin Scott (R-Tifton) Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus) Q Tracy Stallings (D-Carrollton) John Wiles (R-Marietta)

Next Up:
z Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 1:30 p.m., Capitol - Room 341 Chancellor Portch's FY '02 Budget Address
z Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m., House Chamber Gov. Barnes' "State of the State" Address
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Last Updated: January 17, 2001 | Leave a Comment 2001 University System of Georgia Board of Regents