Notes from the Center of Oregon

FAN Funding

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:12:00 +0000

Despite a threatened veto, the President signed the War Supplemental Appropriations bill that included a moratorium on the Medicaid rule eliminating certain transportation and administration reimbursements to schools. The Senate's June 26th vote on the measure, which included the same language as the House passed June 20, was an overwhelming 92-6 so a veto could have been easily overridden.

Now that the bill has been signed, federal Medicaid reimbursements to schools for the administrative and transportation services that they provide to eligible students will continue until at least April 1, 2009. This means that FAN funding is secure for oh... another year. I think it is is pretty clear though that any future administrative rule changes are going to be watched very closely by congress so hopefully the wrist slapping will work for the near future.

Happy Fourth of July! Enjoy the freedom we have as Americans. We are pretty fortunate.

Sorry for the lack of updates

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:05:00 +0000

Folks, My apologies for the lack of updates. It has been a little busy around the Pillar Casa these past few weeks.

You probably heard that we got a moratorium passed on medicaid reimbursement rule changes. Way to go! More on the details later.

I did want to pass along a great article I am reading about Sen. McCain. It was written in 1973 by US News and World Reports. No matter what your political persuasion it is an interesting and chilling read.

Enjoy the 4th of July!

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/2008/01/28/john-mccain-prisoner-of-war-a-first-person-account.html?PageNr=1

Medicaid rules update

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:31:00 +0000

This just came in from Julie Lyche,

House Democrats and Republicans and the White House reportedly reached an agreement last night on the Iraq Supplemental Appropriations bill. The deal includes a moratorium on six of the seven Medicaid rules the Administration recently implemented. You will be happy to know that the rule impacting FAN is included. The moratorium will last until May of 2009. The House is expected to vote on the agreement today with Senate action soon to follow. This is a major breakthrough. The House, Senate, and White House have been deadlocked for weeks over what will be included in the supplemental. At this point it appears there will not be an issue with the bill being enacted before the end of the month but, as you know, Congress can be unpredictable.

House defeats county timber payments

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:53:00 +0000

Ok now this is getting frustrating. I don't know what oil and gas leases have to do with county payments except that timber and oil are both extraction industries. If it were up to me, I would let all the prisoners out first. That should be a lot of fun!

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/06/house_defeats_county_timber_pa.html

Busy week for education at the Federal Level

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:18:00 +0000

Ok folks, this is a busy week for the Feds. Here is what is coming up from my sources. Communicate as you see fit.

The House will be considering the following bills this week:

* FY2008 supplemental appropriations – H.R. 2642; - This one will hold the rural schools act as well as school based Medicaid funding.

* FY2009 budget resolution conference agreement -- S. Con. Res 70;

* “Secure Rural Schools” Act reauthorization -- H.R. 3058; - Make sure you read below to see the difference in HR 3058 and HR 2642

* School repairs and modernization – H.R. 3021.

Floor debate could begin as early as Tuesday, June 3; and, votes are currently scheduled to begin Wednesday, June 4, through the remainder of the week. Does anyone outside of Washington DC really watch CSPAN?

The following is the National School Boards Association summary of the bills above:

FY2008 supplemental appropriations – H.R. 2642
On May 22, the Senate voted 75-22 to include funding for domestic priorities in the FY2008 supplemental appropriations bill. Along with funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bill includes two provisions important to school districts: $400 million in additional funding for the “Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act” and an extension of the current moratorium allowing continued school-based Medicaid reimbursement. Both programs are set to expire this June if the Senate’s provisions are not enacted in a final bill. Hence, the fiscal impact on many school district budgets would be significant if the programs are not extended.

FY2009 budget resolution conference agreement -- S. Con. Res 70
The House and Senate are slated to resume consideration of a conference report for the Fiscal Year 2009 congressional budget resolution the week of June 2. The budget resolution conference agreement calls for an overall budget of approximately $3 trillion for FY2009, and proposes an allocation for education and training programs that is $8.4 billion more than the President's budget request of $79.5 billion for this program area. The measure also includes a number of “reserve funds” that would provide guidance (essentially a non-binding promise) for a number of issues important to schools, including infrastructure investments for school repairs and modernization, teacher quality, county payments legislation (the “Secure Rural Schools” Act), continued school-based Medicaid reimbursement and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“Secure Rural Schools” Act reauthorization -- H.R. 3058
The House is scheduled to vote on the Public Land Communities Transition Act of 2007, H.R. 3058. Introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the bill would reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act and extend payments to counties/school districts through FY 2012. The program currently provides $229 million to more than 600 rural counties and 4,400 school districts in 42 states as federal payments-in-lieu-of-taxes to jurisdictions with federal forest lands. (**Note: The supplemental appropriations bill listed above, H.R. 2642, would provide additional, short-term funding of $400 million for the program. However, it would not reauthorize the law through Fiscal Year 2012. Therefore, Congressional passage/enactment of both bills--H.R. 2642 and H.R. 3058—is needed.)

School repairs and modernization – H.R. 3021
“The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act” (HR 3021), as reported by the House Education and Labor Committee on April 30, is schedule for House floor consideration, beginning Wednesday, June 4. The bill would authorize $6.4 billion for school renovation and repair grants to states and local school districts. Funding allocations would be based on the Title I grants (Part A) funding formula, with the exception that it guarantees each district a minimum of $5,000.

Contact your Congressman/Congresswoman today about these important issues.

Quick Medicaid funding update

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:47:00 +0000

Medicaid Funding Update:

The Senate voted last week to pass the Iraq war supplemental appropriation bill (H.R. 2642) by a veto-proof, 75-22 margin. The bill included the moratorium on FAN cuts until April 1, 2009. Next step, the House vote is expected to take place the week of June 2nd.

~ Julie

Friday Post a little early

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:08:00 +0000

Yesterday was the community celebration for Mike Geisen, National Teacher of the Year from the Crook County School District. While it rained the whole time and the community members crammed into the city council chambers, the afternoon was great! This is a big deal for Oregon. Last year, Krista Parent from Cottage Grove was selected as the National Supt. of the Year and this year, we get a Mr. Geisen.

The following are some photos of the event. Special thanks to Rachel Wente-Chaney who provided the photos you can actually see (better camera)

Mike Geisen

10 years already? Thurston High School

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:57:00 +0000

I was checking out my mail clips this morning and came across the article below commemorating the 10th anniversary of the shootings at Thurston High. Time sure does fly.

I don't know if it was because Thurston High was so close to home (90 miles or so) or if it was because Springfield reminds me a lot of my hometown of St. Helens, Oregon, but the news of the shooting hit me particularly hard. It still does.

I found a letter that I had wrote to The Nugget when my family and I were coming back from the State Track Meet and had stopped by Thurston High School a couple of weeks after the shooting. The thing that will stick with me for life was the signs, flowers, stuffed animals all along a perimeter fence at the school. That is one of those mind pictures that will not go away.

May you remember those who are special to you this weekend.

Thurston: Pain dulls in decade gone

By Anne Williams

The Register-Guard

Published: May 22, 2008 12:00AM

Letter to the Editor the Nugget

To the Editor:

On a recent weekend trip to the valley I stopped by Thurston High School in Springfield.

What I saw there was more moving to me than the Vietnam memorial. I viewed a city block of flowers, signs, and messages from people around the world placed on a fence surrounding a play field. One poignant sign was a wish for peace made by some middle school students. Imagine middle school kids making sings out of poster paint for murdered and injured students!

All this two hours from Sisters.

Like many, I continue to struggle to understand the whole thing. A few days later, I read two stories in the papers. The first dealt with how the community of Springfield struggles to figure out this tragedy and what they as a community can do to prevent a future occurrence. The second told how the Sisters School District is (again) forced to eliminate teaching positions and raise activity fees while they watch one of the state's most talented (and least expensive) teachers move to Bend.

Now I don't like paying taxes, I don't like government waste and I believe strongly in the free enterprise system but come on people, wake up! These are our children we are talking about. I challenge anyone to disprove that keeping a kid active in school, either in the classroom, or through activities, reduces their tendency toward anti-social behavior. We, as a society, need to start putting our kids first, not third, seventh or last.

Support the children of Sisters and of Oregon!

Scott B. Pillar

Reception for Mike Geisen, National Teacher of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:26:00 +0000

Community Reception for

Mike Geisen

Crook County Middle School Science Teacher

Oregon Teacher of the Year 2007-2008

National Teacher of the Year 2008

Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Community Plaza (between City Hall and Crook County Annex)

Scheduled Events:

3:30 Community gathers, refreshments provided by the Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce

Background music provided by Crook County High School students

3:42 Presentation of Colors provided by CCHS NJROTC

3:45 Introduction of special guests by Superintendent Steve Swisher

Susan Castillo, State Superintendent of Education
Kevin McCann, Executive Director of Oregon School Boards Association
Vance Tong, Central Oregonian
Crook County Education Association Representative
Crook County School Board Representative
Remarks by others

4:05 Comments by Mike Geisen

4:15 Community Meet and Greet, enjoy refreshments and background music by CCHS students

4:30 Celebration Ends

Jared Henderson awarded two national honors

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:15:00 +0000

Not just one but two! This kid rocks! (well sometimes he is jazzy!)

Sisters High School musician Jared Henderson awarded two national honors -

Jared Henderson, a Junior at Sisters High School, was selected through national audition for the Berklee College of Music Five Week Summer Jazz Workshop, in Boston. Only eight students are accepted each year for this program, forming just one ensemble including: 3 horn players, 1 vocalist, 1 guitarist, 1 pianist, 1 drummer, and bassist Jared Henderson. Students invited to attend the Berklee Jazz Workshop receive full tuition and housing scholarships.

Jared was also chosen through a separate audition to be a member of the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony, at University of Pacific in Stockton. The Brubeck Colony is similar to the Berklee Workshop in that students accepted are granted a full scholarship to attend. The Brubeck Jazz Colony consists of nineteen students nationwide, each included in the program as a member of one of three performance ensembles, participating in an eight day intensive.

A special thank you to many great people who have encouraged Jared along the way!

PEAT meeting May 13th

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:34:00 +0000

On May 13^th, 2008 I chaired the State Superintendent of Public Education’s Professional Educator Advisory Team (PEAT) meeting held at the Salem Kaiser School District Building in Salem, OR.

Structurally, PEAT meetings are now held for 2.5-3 hours and cover either a single topic or two somewhat related topics. This month’s topics were the New Oregon Diploma assesments and the Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) schedule relating to the new Oregon Diploma.

Doug Kosty, Assistant Superintendent – Office of Assessment and Information Services, gave a very good overview of the assessments envisioned by the State Board for use in determining educational standards required by the new diploma. Concerns were brought up by a number of PEAT members related to what happens when students don’t meet those standards, the various types of assessments that qualify for use in the new model, the relative inflexibility of those assessment tools to work with different learning styles and the sheer number of data points required for assessment from an administrative standpoint.

Another very large issue for PEAT members centered around English Language Learners (ELL) and how they were going to be assessed.

Special Education students will have the opportunity to earn an alternative diploma and there was question about how ELL students may or may not fit into that.

There was also some discussion on using ESD’s as a regional alternative testing or “assessment clearing house” to make sure that the assessments held the proper accountability to state standards.

Time of course, is of the essence as next year’s Freshman will be the first class to graduate with the new diploma.

Cindy Hunt, Oregon Department of Education Legal Coordinator provided PEAT members with an overview of the schedule for the OAR’s related to the new Oregon Diploma. OARs that are generated by a specific agency such as ODE are sent to the Attorney General and then are posted and open to public comment. The comment period for some of the OARs relating to the new diploma requirements are still open.

Some of the more important OARs related to this topic are as follows:

The Oregon Diploma modification (public testimony concluded):

http://www.ode.state.or.us/stateboard/581-022-1134-modified-4-7-08.doc

The Oregon Diploma (public testimony concluded):

http://www.ode.state.or.us/stateboard/581-022-1130-draft-3-25-08-.doc

Assessments related to the Oregon Diploma (public testimony accepted until 5/28/08):

http://www.ode.state.or.us/stateboard/581-022-0615-draft-4-3-08-.doc

Individuals are encouraged to provide testimony either in written form through letters or emails or provide personal testimony. To find out when testimony in person is scheduled, contact the Department of Education.

After Cindy’s presentation, the PEAT Board had the opportunity to give on the ground feedback and advice to the State Superintendent. While many board members provided specific feedback on issues they had experience on, the general direction of the board was that this was a good step for the state of Oregon.

A diploma from anywhere in Oregon will mean the same no mater what school district you are a part of and you will, as a graduate, have expressed a mastery of core subjects that will serve you well in the future.

Will it be hard? Yes. Hard on School Board Members, Teachers, Administrators, Students and Parents for a variety of reasons including teacher recruitment, scheduling, assessment oversight, lack of funding, timing and communication issues among other things. The meeting was concluded by stating that the longest hardest of journeys begin with taking a single step. This is the right step for Oregon.

I appreciate your comments.

Friday's Post

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:40:00 +0000

Well it has been a busy week and the first one without snow since October. It's late Friday afternoon and I am writing this blog instead of starting my weekend off a little early.

Topic today is a little bit off of my normal fight for education funding banter. Today I want to chat about what it means to be human.

As those in the school board community probably know, Salem-Kaiser School Board Vice Chairman Krina Lemons got arrested for a DUI last Sunday night. As I read about this in the Salem Statesman Journal it just saddens me on a number of levels.

First off, I feel sorry for Ms. Lemons. In the interest of full disclosure, I serve with her as a Board Member on The Oregon School Boards Association and consider her a friend so part of this sadness probably stems from that friendship, however, part of that would be felt for any school board member who does good work, cares about kids, shows up when they are supposed to and is a positive force in education rather than a negative. Good people make mistakes. Sometimes big ones.

If you read the comments on the article above you will see a mix of opinions that range from "She has accepted her wrong, let her pay the price and sin no more" (my paraphrase) to "Someone get a rope and meet me by the tree in Bush Park" (also my paraphrase). Folks, the reality is that it is OK to hold school board members up to a higher standard of conduct but realize that they are human beings with faults and sins just like your neighbor, your mother, and the jerk that lives down the road from you.

The only reason you even know that Ms. Lemons got a DUI is because she is on the school board and helps in her community so much. Would you flog a buddy who got a DUI and demand that he resign from work or a volunteer gig at your church? I doubt it.

Finally, I would like to make a comment to everyone in our community who volunteer for great causes be they education related, arts, church or whatever your cause is: Take care of yourselves!

I saw Ms. Lemons late Friday night at the OSBA board meeting in Salem, OR the evening before her employer's (the Salem Kaiser Education Foundation) largest fund raiser the Awesome 3000. Frankly, she looked exhausted. In my opinion, she should have been resting, not squeezing in time at late night OSBA Board Meetings. Did this exhaustion spill over to the next day/early morning causing Ms. Lemons not think straight? Was personal stress a contributing factor to her drinking too much. Who knows?

All of our volunteer stuff is important, that is true but if you don't take care of yourself, you may not be around much to volunteer for things. Errors in judgment happen to all of us. Personally, I have made more than a few doozies in my time. Take care of yourself first. Watch your stress level, exhaustion, what you eat and what you drink. If you are out of balance... cut back. If you feel you have an addiction, seek some help. The last thing anyone needs is someone getting really hurt or killed because we volunteer to much.

Just my thoughts.

Breaking County Payment News

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:07:00 +0000

$400 million for county payments added to Iraq funding bill

Posted by By Charles Pope, The Oregonian May 08, 2008 12:30PM

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee has agreed to add $400 million for county payments to the must-pass Iraq war funding bill, giving rural communities in Oregon and beyond unexpected hope that federal aid could be delivered this year.

The decision by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. to include the funding in the $193 billion spending bill was a major achievement for Oregon lawmakers who have been scrambling to find a way to provide county payments before funding runs out in June.

``This funding could not come sooner for Oregon's rural schools and communities,'' Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said. ``I am deeply appreciative that my Senate colleagues continue to recognize the importance of keeping rural America afloat.''

Having the funding attached to the Iraq funding bill is significant because it is one of the few pieces of legislation - perhaps the only one - that is guaranteed to pass in the near future. Its main purpose is to provide money to support troops and operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the larger war on terror. It could pass as soon as next week.

Medicaid Bill Update (Senate)

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:03:00 +0000

CQ TODAY PRINT EDITION – HEALTH
May 6, 2008 – 7:21 p.m.

Democrats Attach Postponement of Medicaid Changes to War Spending Bill

By Alex Wayne, CQ Staff

Democrats have included legislation to postpone seven controversial new Medicaid regulations in the must-pass supplemental war spending bill.

The Medicaid bill (HR 5613), by Energy and Commerce Chairman John D. Dingell, D-Mich., would postpone the regulations until April 2009, when a new president will be in office. It represents an attempt by Democrats to work around a GOP filibuster in the Senate.

The regulations are part of a long struggle between states and the federal government over who should pay more for Medicaid, the health care entitlement for the poor. The regulations would eliminate or curtail federal reimbursement for a number of services the administration thinks Medicaid shouldn’t pay for, and they would change accounting procedures that the administration alleges states have used to draw more federal Medicaid dollars than they would otherwise be due.

Governors and hospitals have lobbied Congress to block the regulations. On April 23, the House passed Dingell’s bill, 349-62, with most Republicans joining every Democrat to support it.

Two of the regulations in particular have prompted heavy lobbying from hospitals, which contributed to the success of the overall bill. One would reduce Medicaid payments to public hospitals while the other would cut off federal reimbursement through Medicaid for medical interns and residents at hospitals.

Hospitals say the two regulations would cost them millions of dollars. Together, all seven would save about $17.8 billion over five years, the Congressional Budget Office estimates.

But the bill has become tied up in the Senate, where Republicans are filibustering it. While Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., could file a cloture petition to break the filibuster, that would take up floor time that Reid needs for other legislation.

By attaching the measure to the war spending bill, Democrats can avoid an extra set of cloture votes. Republicans could filibuster the war spending bill itself or offer an amendment to strip out the Medicaid provisions, or both, but would probably be unsuccessful. A spokesman for Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who has blocked debate on the Dingell bill, said Democrats were trying to postpone “common-sense reforms that would reduce Medicaid fraud.”

“To make matters worse, Democrat leaders seem intent on attaching an indefensible policy rider to a must-pass bill that will fund our troops, who are in harm’s way,” the spokesman said.

Source: CQ Today Print Edition
Round-the-clock coverage of news from Capitol Hill.
© 2008 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Medicaid Bill Hits Obsticle in Senate!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:22:00 +0000

Medicaid Bill Hits Obstacle in Senate; Other Vehicles Considered

After the House passed the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 (H.R. 5613) with a strong veto-proof vote of 349-62, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) invoked a procedural rule that permitted the bill to come directly to the Senate floor, bypassing the committee of jurisdiction, Senate Finance.

On April 29, Reid asked for unanimous consent on H.R. 5613, but Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) objected, thus placing a major roadblock to the legislation's forward movement. For the bill to proceed, Reid would now have to file a cloture petition and take up a significant amount of floor time, which is seemingly always hard to come by. As an alternative, Congressional leaders are considering moving the bill by attaching it to other pieces of legislation, such as the war supplemental bill the House may consider as early as this week.

H.R. 5613 would place a one-year moratorium on seven Medicaid regulations issued by the Bush Administration, including the rule on rehabilitative services and case management/targeted case management (TCM) CWLA is extremely concerned about. CWLA, working with other affected communities, managed to secure a moratorium on the rehab rule until June 30, but would like to see this moratorium extended and a moratorium placed on the TCM rule and the series of other questionable rules. The moratoria would give Congress time to determine whether the rules are in line with Congressional intent and whether they are the best policy decisions for Medicaid beneficiaries.

CWLA urges its members to call their legislators in both the House and Senate and urge them to support moratoriums on all seven Medicaid regulations, as passed by the House of Representatives in H.R. 5613. Letters supposedly are circulating in the Senate in opposition to the bill, instead suggesting delaying only two of the rules. When calling your Senators, therefore, additionally urge them to not sign such a letter.

To contact Sen. Smith click here
To contact Sen. Wyden click here

Michael Geisen Whitehouse video

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:05:00 +0000

As many of you know Michael Geisen of Prineville was selected as the National Teacher of the year! What a great thing! Congratulations Michael! The Oregon School Boards Association has a resolution for you if you ever get back in town!

I recently discovered a video of Michael's presentation from President Bush. If you would like to view it, click here.

Medicaid Bill now on fast track in the Senate

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:46:00 +0000

Folks, The Medicaid Bill that was passed by the House is now headed for the Senate. Please consider contacting Senator's Wyden and Smith below. Both have verbally expressed their support of this measure but you never know what someone will do when you are watching them!

Info below from AESE:

A week ago we asked ESAs (in Oregon known as ESD's) to contact their U.S. House members urging support of HR 5613, the bill to block administration regulations that would have cut the Medicaid school reimbursement program. Your work, along with that of other organizations opposed to the cuts, resulted in a bipartisan 349-62 victory, with 20 members not voting. The vote was 221 Democrats voting yea, none voting nay, and two not voting; 128 Republicans voting yea, 62 voting nay, and 8 not voting.

H.R. 5613, which will allow ESAs and LEAs to continue to receive reimbursement for the health-related transportation, administrative and outreach services provided for Medicaid-eligible students.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued regulations to end the program. Last year Congress passed a moratorium on implementing those regulations. That moratorium ends June 30. HR 5613 extends the moratorium to June 30, 2009.

We now urge you to immediately contact your two Senators and urge their support for the bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, has placed HR 5613 on a fast track for a floor vote perhaps as early as next week by invoking a Senate procedure that will bypass committee action.

President Bush has indicated he will veto the bill if it reaches his desk. The House vote is sufficient to override a veto. It is reported that Senate Republican leaders are working to lock down enough opposition to prevent a veto-proof vote, even if HR 5613 passes.

To contact the Oregon Senator's:

Sen. Smith

Sen Wyden

40 years of William Stafford [off topic]

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:24:00 +0000

Poet Laureate’s archive placed with Lewis & Clark College Library

April 28, 2008

(Portland, Ore.)—The family of poet William Stafford has generously given his papers to Lewis & Clark College, where they will be in the care of Special Collections at the Aubrey R. Watzek Library. Stafford, who passed away in 1993, was Oregon’s poet laureate from 1975 to 1990, and a professor at Lewis & Clark for more than 30 years. The William Stafford Archive is a collection of 40 years of daily journals and papers representing the poet’s methodical and disciplined writing process, as well as his world travels on behalf of writing and reconciliation (more)

Wow! Can you even fathom that? 40 years of daily journals! You have to figure that he started keeping a journal in 1953! That is pretty impressive if you ask me.

Any writer will tell you that "Writer's write".. well Mr. Stafford certainly did. If you are at all interested in reading some excellent poetry, Google William Stafford.

His kids are pretty neat people too ;)

Public Meetings for PROPOSED NCLB changes from the Dept of Ed.

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:52:00 +0000

This came out today:

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Announces Public Meetings to Discuss New Title I Regulations for No Child Left Behind

FOR RELEASE:
April 29, 2008

Contact: Elaine Quesinberry or Jo Ann Webb (202) 401-1576, or
Chad Colby (202) 401-4401

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced in the Federal Register a series of upcoming public meetings being held around the country to discuss the proposed changes to regulations for Title I under No Child Left Behind. On April 23, Secretary Spellings announced the proposed regulations in the Federal Register (73 FR 22020) www.ed.gov/news/fedregister. The meetings will seek comments from the public on the proposed regulations at the following dates, times and locations:

Thursday, May 22, 2008

W Hotel
1112 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Time: 9 a.m. - noon and 2 - 5 p.m. EDT
Meeting Room: Great Room 1

The purpose of these proposed regulations is to build on the advancements states have made in accountability and assessment systems under No Child Left Behind in the past six years, while incorporating key feedback from the field into a more clear vision of what it takes to educate each and every student. Issuing regulations that strengthen Title I implementation will help bring about higher-quality assessments and stronger accountability for results, as well as provide parents with the information they need to make informed decisions about public school choice and Supplemental Educational Services. A copy of the proposed regulations (NPRM) is available at http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/reg/proposal/index.html.

The Department is accepting public comments on the NPRM through June 23, 2008. Comments must be submitted in writing to the Department in accordance with the instructions in the NPRM. We look forward to receiving your comments on these proposed regulations to ensure that they accomplish our intended objectives.

Individuals who wish to present comments during a public meeting should register at Special.Events@ed.gov, at least one week before the public meeting. Any meeting time that remains after the Web site registrations are processed will be made available on the day of the meeting. Individuals who have not registered on the Web site and who wish to present comments should do so at the on-site registration desk on the day of the meeting. We will process Web-site and on-site registrations on a first-come, first-served basis.

End of press release

It is probably worth going to the Department of Education website and getting a copy of the Summary of Proposed Regulations for Title 1 (NCLB). It is interesting that this has come out now. My read is that the administration is trying to play a little catch up on their only significant non military public policy.

The link for the summary is here: http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/reg/proposal/summary.pdf

Medicaid Bill Passes House

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:40:00 +0000

I just received this email this morning from Valerie Henry, Sr. Policy Advisor to Congressman Greg Walden.

Good Afternoon,

Knowing of your interest in HR 5613, the Medicaid Safety Net Act, I thought you would be interested to know that the House passed the bill this afternoon, 349-62 (a veto proof margin) . Congressman Greg Walden voted for the bill this afternoon, as he during last week’s mark up of the bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

As you know, HR 5613 would place a moratorium on several Medicaid regulations pending at CMS, including Medicaid school-based administrative services, Medicaid Graduate Medical Education and Intergovernmental Transfers among others. The bill moves over to the Senate now for further consideration.

Thanks for all the input you provided to Congressman Walden (and me). It is always helpful to know how specific federal proposal will impact Oregonians. I’ll keep you posted as the bill advances through the legislative process.

Valerie

**************************************

Valerie Henry

Senior Policy Advisor

Rep. Greg Walden (OR-2)

1210 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

202-226-7343

Urgent Vote on FAN taken Tues or Weds

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:22:00 +0000

A House vote on H.R. 5613 to extend the Medicaid moratorium through April 2009 is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, April 22 or Wednesday, April 23. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued regulations to end the program. Last year Congress passed a moratorium on implementing those regulations. That moratorium ends June 30. HR 5613 extends the moratorium to June 30, 2009.

In Deschutes County, this money is used to pay for FAN Services. To quickly email Representative Walden, click here.

Congratulations to Mike Geisen

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:13:00 +0000

I just found out that Mike Geisen, Oregon's 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year is a finalist for the 2008 National Teacher of the Year! Geisen is a seventh grade science teacher at Crook County Middle School in Prineville! Way to go Mike!

According to my sources, Mike is the first finalist from Oregon in over 35 years. The last finalist from Oregon was John Arthur Ensworth from Bend who went to become the 1973 National Teacher of the Year.

Mike is one of just four finalist for the award which will be handed out in late April. Best of luck to him!

Medicade Reimbursement

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:09:00 +0000

Just thought you would like to know the following information from the National School Boards Association:

School-based Medicaid Reimbursement Bill Passes Subcommittee
The Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 5613, the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008, by voice vote on April 9, 2008. Introduced by Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), H.R. 5613 would extend the moratorium on the school-based rule as well as prevent six other Medicaid regulations from taking effect until April 2009. NSBA believes that this date will provide sufficient time for Congress and a new Administration to permanently address this issue. The full committee is expected to pass the legislation next week.

Additional information on this important issue, including NSBA’s comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services opposing CMS-2287, can be found on the Medicaid section of our website.

OSBA Regional Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:37:00 +0000

On April 7th, Kevin McCann and Trisha Yates of OSBA came down to the HDESD offices in Redmond to conduct a regional OSBA meeting. At the meeting we heard a Legislative update, and overview of OSBA Board and LPC elections, a presentation on ESD Governance and an brief discussion of High School Graduation requirements. The meeting was well attended even though it was the night of the NCAA Championship Game.

During the 2008 February session (abbreviated) there were only a few issues related to education that got addressed. The larges is probably the SB 1068 which was the all day kindergarten legislation.

For November of this year there will likely be a Ballot Measure on reforming the double majority requirement. Personally, I have always thought the double majority is just plain. I am never a believer of rewarding a persons viewpoint by encourageing them not to act (vote). The ballot measure will not through out the double majority but rather amend it.

OSBA reminds those interested in public education in Oregon to keep working even though it is the off season. The old adage, "make a friend before you need one" applies here. Since Oregon is facing a recesssion and there is believe that "Education got theirs" last biennium, public education advocates may have a rough row to hoe. Regardless time to just keep plugging.

Oregon Ethics Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Pillar) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:06:00 +0000

Recently the planning commission in Elgin, Oregon resigned rather than submit to a part of the new ethics regulations passed in SB 10. There is an article about it here. That particular part of the regulation required that elected officials file quarterly and annual statements of economic interest and apparently, those statements may or may not show up on the web.

There was some question as to if this requirement was also true for school boards and school officers. According the Oregon School Boards Association :

"Oregon's ethics laws require superintendents and financial officers of each school district, ESD and community college to file annual and quarterly statements of economic interest. Board members of school districts, ESDs and community colleges DO NOT have to file these statements of economic interest. ORS 244.050."

So, there you have it. School Board members do not have to to submit statements of economic interest which for me is a good thing as I am currently in need of something to report!

A publication that all public officials will find interesting is the new document entitled Oregon Government Ethics Law: A guide for Public Officials. The link to the document downloads a PDF from the Oregon School Boards Association Web site.