NREAC Meeting Minutes

  

September 24, 2008

Conference Call

 

Joe Bard
Boyd Dressler
Michael Schulz
John Hill
Jimmy Cunningham
Rachel Vielleux
Claudette Morton
Ed Heard

     There has not been a lot of movement on the legislative side of things, as Congress has been on recess this month. They are scheduled to reconvene on September 8. They will have a relatively short work period, as both Senate Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi have announced that it is their intent to adjourn the 110th Congress on Friday, September 26. That’s 15 working days to complete their priority work.

Budget

  • None of the 12 appropriations bills have been signed into law.
  • The most likely chain of events for this fall will include a continuing resolution (CR) that takes us through the election, and then a 2nd continuing resolution that takes us into the new administration.
  • A CR would fund programs at their current dollar level. It will essentially feel like a cut, when you consider rising costs and inflation.

Forest Counties

  • The Senate passed the Tax Extender Bill (HR 6049). This bill contains a reauthorization for the Forest Counties program.
  • As of Thursday afternoon, the house was to have the opportunity to support the four-year reauthorization of the program. Technical issues kept it from the floor. We will update you as it moves.
  • Make sure your congress members know how your district is impacted by the Forest County funding.

FCC Comments

  • EBS: NREAC and AASA filed comments on proposed changes to the Educational Broadband Services program. The comments encourage the FCC to maintain the local, educational focus of the program.
  • E-Rate: AASA filed comments on proposed changes to E-Rate that discourage the FCC from expanding the list of eligible services and increasing demand on an already strapped funding level (where demand routinely doubles the supply).

Rural Afterschool Program Legislation

  • The Investment in After-School Programs Act of 2008: This legislation provides for resources specifically designed to help existing rural afterschool programs overcome barriers to service and assist those rural communities that still lack access to afterschool programs. NREAC and AASA submitted letters of support.
  • The legislation is sponsored by Sens. Lincoln and Collins
  • No bill number as of yet; I will forward it as soon as it is available.

Rural Trust Webinar

  • The Rural Trust is holding a webinar at 2 pm on October 22.
  • The conference call and slide presentation will focus on the latest information regarding school consolidation. Across the nation, states are considering arguments for and against school closures. The key questions to be addressed include where this is happening and why, and what does current research say regarding the impact on students and rural communities. Learn what is driving these efforts and how to respond when state policy makers decide for you that your school is too small.
  • RSIN Members can click here to RSVP for the webinar on October 22 at 2 pm EDT, or send an email to info@ruraledu.org with your name and contact info including email address by Friday, October 17. A day prior to the event, you will receive an email with dial-in instructions and a PDF of the presentation.

Misc.

  • Noelle will talk with Mary and Bruce about the Hero Award, which is typically voted on at the NREA conference.
  • The next NREAC conference call will be the face-to-face meeting at NREA. Meeting minutes will be provided, and we will set the November conference call at that time.
  • The RNEA Conference is quickly approaching!
  • The 100th Annual NREA Conference will be held October 27-29 in San Antonio, Texas
  • It will be held at the Omni at the Colonnade.
  • The NREAC meeting will be held on the last day.
  • Joe Bard is unable to attend the meeting, but Ray Patrick will handle the meeting in his absence.
  • Full registration and room reservation info is available at www.nrea.net.