2012 09 17 cyp update september october 12 impact newsletter
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
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National Association of Federally
Impacted Schools
444 N. Capitol Street, NW
Suite 419
Washington, DC 20001
P: 202.624.5455
F: 202.624.5468
W: www.nafisdc.org
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The NAFIS Fall Conference, September 23-25, with the theme “Countdown to Sequestration,” will focus on the impact of the upcoming federal elections, the lame duck session and the potential e! ects sequestration could have on federally impacted schools nationwide.
“Our conference workbook has a photo of an oversized hour glass on it with the grains of sand slowly runnig out - a perfect analogy for what’s ahead for our member districts if something isn’t done in Congress to stop sequestration from happening on January 2, 2013,” said NAFIS Executive Director John B. Forkenbrock.
" e FISEF Level 1 School Business O# cials Workshop that occurs the day before the NAFIS Fall Conference is currently more than full.
“We usually cap the workshop at 20 participants, but we’re now at 28,” said NAFIS Communica-tions Director Bryan Jernigan. “" e number is huge and shows that school business o# cials are panicked about the threat of not having enough money to get through the 2012-13 school year.”
" e NAFIS Fall Conference kicks o! on September 23 and the highlight will be at the $ rst general session with Washington insider Reid Wilson who will give his predications about the impending Congressional elections as well as the race for the White House. Forkenbrock will line out our “mes-sage” for Capitol Hill meetings later in the week and NAFIS Director of Government A! airs Jocelyn Bissonnette will give attendees an appropriations update. " e Welcome Reception will end the $ rst evening.
Monday, conference-goers will hear messages from both the Obama and Romney camps. NAFIS has secured DC Public Charter School Board Executive Director Scott Pearson who will speak on behalf of President Obama’s view for education and we are still waiting to hear from representatives from the Romney campaign. Later in the day, regular attendees may remember the Congressional Research Service’s Judy Schneider, who spoke last fall about how things really get done on Capitol Hill. " e Department of Education’s Impact Aid O# ce Program Director Alfred Lott will speak on the status of payments to districts and we’re bringing back the popular “A% ernoon Matinee,” where we will screen, “Consuming Kids,” a documentary on how marketers are
making a mint on kids and their parents.
Tuesday will feature an Impact Aid application workshop, but the balance of the day is reserved for pre-arranged Hill meet-ings. NAFIS would like to make a special e! ort at this meeting to set up a Hill debrie$ ng scheduled for the early evening on Tuesday, before our closing re-ception. " e idea will be that members will use the time to share with
Politics: NAFIS Fall Conference
Continued on page 5...
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Fork’s Focus
Someone, Anyone, Cut the Wire!
The clock is ticking. As I write this column, my mind turns to watching one of those action movies where a bomb is set to go o! in less than 10 minutes and our hero begins to
deactivate the bomb with less than 2 minutes before – BOOM. If he or she (heroes come in both genders) fails, both the hero and hundreds – maybe even thousands – of innocent people will be blown-up. As the movie continues and the clock begins to tick, our hero cuts the blue wire (not the red, black, brown, green or yellow wire) and the bomb is deactivated and everybody lives. How he/she knew to cut the blue wire is never clear. " e movie ends and our hero gets the girl/guy, I get up from my seat, and head for my car.
So too is the sequester bomb [the Big Bomb (BB) as I call it] ticking – tick-tick-tick. To make matters worse, a second, although less powerful bomb, the Little Bomb (LB) will, it appears, also be activated – the Continuing Resolution (CR). " e BB has far greater consequences than does the LB, but together, the damage they will produce will reverberate throughout the Impact Aid community. Some parts of the community will feel the impact of the explosion more than others depending on how close they are to ground zero, but even those parts of the Impact Aid neighborhood just on the periphery will also feel the impact.
Today is August 20th, so counting down from today, let’s quickly take a look at each of the explosive devices and determine exactly when the clock will strike zero setting o! the explosion:
" e BB is set to detonate in 135 days (January 2, 2013). " e LB has yet to be activated, but the assumption is that the clock will be set sometime before October 1. Using the October 1 date, it means in just 41 days the LB will detonate.
So, let’s measure the impact of both devices – not just one. For example, the community has dealt with the CR (LB) device before – almost every year – but we have never in recent years had to prepare for both devices going o! within a 60-day period - LB on October 1 and the BB on January 2. " e simple calculation below describes the impact this double detonation will have on Impact Aid – a current year-funded program. Certain parts of the Impact Aid community will be a! ected more than others, especially those that request (need) an early “initial” payment before January 1.
" e plan for a CR calls for it to cover a six-month period (Octo-ber 1, 2012 – March 31, 2013) and fund programs at their current level. Applying that to the Impact Aid funding stream, we know that last year, the Department paid out by April 1, 2012 initial FY 2012 payments at 85% LOT. " is required a total Section 8003 ex-penditure of $812,339,682. Using the same dollar level payout but factoring in the impact of the BB only using a high water mark of $50,000,000 in explosives (half of its total $ re power) – the dollar availability would drop to $762,339,682.
Now let’s add the LB. " e Section 8003 dollar availability drops to half of the FY 2012 level of $1,153,539,682 or $576,769, 841; less $50,000,000 to account for the BB. Our new dollar $ gure a% er the detonation of both devices equals $526,769,841.
If both devices are detonated the program loses another $235,569,841 meaning that the Department of Education will be-tween October 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013 have $526,769,841 to allocate in 8003(b)(1) and 8003(b)(2) payments as compared to the $812,339,682 that was available even before March 31, 2012.
NAFIS estimates the Impact Aid Program O# ce, to play it safe,
could only make initial b1 and b2 payments at a LOT percent-age using the combined blast of the BB and LB at 45-percent, a 40-percent reduction from the initial LOT percentage payout last year. A 45-percent initial LOT payment to some districts will mean in a worst-case scenario closing the doors unless a line of credit can be worked out on or about January 1, 2013. In other districts, it will mean sta! reductions in mid-year or eliminating various program o! erings, extra-curricular programs, supplies, forgoing some building maintenance and or much needed school bus replacement. In response to a combined survey conducted by NAFIS and the American Association of School Administra-tors (AASA), more than 300 federally connected school districts responded describing the impact the impending cuts will have on their school districts. " e detonation of both devices will also mean over 50-percent of funds available for Section 8002 pay-ments will be o! the table between October 1 and March 31 im-pacting the ability of the Department to make foundation pay-ments to districts needing funding in the $ rst half of the school year.
Can a hero come in just before the explosion and cut the wire? Looking at the LB device $ rst: probably not before the 113th Congress convenes. Knowing it takes at least 60 days before a new Congress gets organized, the passage of a full-year appropriations probably won’t occur before mid-March. As for the BB the se-quester device, there are opportunities for the wire to be cut. It could happen between September 10 and the end of the year. It’s a matter of whether or not a superhero (heroine) will come forward and deactivate the BB. At the moment, there are a number of po-tential superheroes and heroines as they talk about the damage the BB will cause, but none are prepared to throw on their super-hero/heroine uniform to + y in to cut the wire to the BB. Perhaps, like in the movies, they will wait until January 2.
Is anybody doing anything to minimize the damage? Yes – NAFIS. We met with o# cials from the Impact Aid Program Of-$ ce (IAP) and the Department’s budget o# ce and the O# ce of Management and Budget (OMB) coordinated by IAP at our re-quest. IAP con$ rmed that 45-percent is a good estimate on what an initial payout will be based on half of the sequestration fac-tored into a six-month continuing resolution, i.e. a combined BB/SB explosion. We asked that OMB grant the Department author-ity to spend out at what historically they would spend out by the $ rst of April under a full-year appropriation. We estimate with se-quester still hanging in the wings if they could get OMB clearance to make payments using additional dollars, they could increase the initial payout to 65-percent. " e Department’s budget o# ce is “working on it. We are meeting with House/Senate Appropria-tions sta! later this month to share with them our discussion with Education/OMB in hopes language can be included in the CR granting Impact Aid additional funding above what otherwise would be made available under the six-month CR.
NAFIS is trying to $ nd ways to increase the initial payment amount above 45-percent and the Department is exploring op-tions. Some districts have no idea what they are going to do if their initial payment is at a 45-percent payout. Although NAFIS doesn’t have the ability to defuse either the BB or LB, we are trying everything possible to minimize the damage. I’m going to need a “Big Gulp” and two large buttered popcorns before this movie is over.
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Payment Update
DEPARTMENT WATCH
Membership Corner
If you have not yet made your NAFIS Fall Conference registration online, please do so now. Our hotel registrations do not match with our conference registrations and that means some of you will show up at the conference and be assessed an additional $100 “onsite” registration fee...and that’s $100 PER PERSON in your group, so please double check so you are not surprised.
Also, please remember that if you are not registered, you will not receive the electronic version of the conference workbook scheduled to be emailed to all registrants one week before the conference. To make sure you receive it ahead of time, you need to be sure you are registered.
Lastly, we continue to receive NAFIS membership dues renewals. However, to avoid services inter-ruptions, please make sure your school district has renewed its membership. If you $ nd your district hasn’t renewed, please do so right away. If you notice you are no longer receiving newsletters, emails and other communications from us, it may mean you have dropped o! our membership list. Send all membership renewals to NAFIS, ATTN: LYNN WATKINS, 444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 419, Washington, DC 20001.
Initial Payment Rate for FY 2013 –
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � " # � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � $ ! � � � �� � � � � � � � � � % � � & � � � � � � & � � ' � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � ( � � � & � ) � � � � � � � � % * � � � �& � � � � � � � � � � � � " + � � � � � � & � � � � ' � *� � ' � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � *! � � � � � & � � � � � � � & � � ' � � � � � � � � � � � � � $� ' � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � , � � & � " ( � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � *� � � � � $ � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ' � � � � � ! � � � � � + � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � *& � � � - � � � ! � � � . "Adjusted Final Section 8003 Pay-ments for FYs 2007-2009 – / � ' � � � �� � � � � ! � 0 & � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 � � � � � �� � � � � � � � � & � � � � � � " ) � � � � � � � �� � � � � & � � � � 2 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ' � �� � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � & � � � � $ � � � � � 3 & � �� � � � � � � � � � � � ' � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � *� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � 3 � & � � � � � " � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � ' � � � ! � � � � � � � � � 1 $ � � *� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � �4 � � � � � � � & � � � " � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � 5 ) � � 6 � $ � � � � � � � � � *2 � � � � 3 � & � � � � & � � � � � � � � � � " � � � � �� � � 4 $ � � � � � � � � � � � " � � � � � ! � � & � $ � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 � � � � 3 � � � � � � � � � � & � � ! � � " � � � � � 0 � � � � �� � ' � � � � � � � � ! � � & � � � � � � � � 2 � � � �� � � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � & � � ! � � "7 � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ' � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � � "FY 2012 Payments –
) � � � ) � � � � 1 $� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � $ � � 8 + � & *� � � 4 � � � � � � � & � � � $ � � � � � " 4 � � � � � �� 4 � + � & � � � 4 � � � � � � � & � � � " � � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � + � & � � � 4 � � � � �4 � � � � � � � � � � � � # 7 � � � � � � � � 0 � � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � " � � � � � � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � & � � � � � � � � �� � � � "Impact Aid Webinars –
� � � � � *� � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � *� � � � � � & � � � ' � � � � ! � � � � � + � � � � � ! � �8 $ 1 $ � � $ � � � � " � � � � � � � � � � � � � $ � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ' � � � � � ! � * � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ( � � � & � ) � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � " � � � � � � � � � � �� & � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � $ � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � " � � ! � % " & � � $& � & � 9 � � � � � � # � � � � : � � � � � � � � $ � � � 9 � � ' � + � � � � � � : � � � � � � � � � $ � � � � � � � � 9 ; � & � � � � : � � ! "Discretionary Construction Grants –
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � ' � � � � � � � � & � � � � �
� � � � � � � � � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � ! � � � & � � � � ! � *� � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � � � � � � & � � � � & � � � � � � � � � " # � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 " � � � * � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � $ � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �& � � � � � � � � � "FY 2013 Amendments –
� � � � � � � � � *� � � � � � � � � � � & & � � � � � � � � � � � & � *� � � � � � � � � � � � � < � � � � ' � � $ � & � � � � � � *� � � & � � � � � � � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� � � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � � " = � " � � ' � � + � � � � � ! � � � � $ � � � � " ( � � � � � � � � ' � � � � � *3 & � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � $ � � � � �& � � � � = � � � � � � � � � � * 4 4 4 * � � 8 * 4 0 � � "Central Contractor Registration Migrated to New SAM System – # � � � � # � � � � & � � � / � � � � � � � � � � - # # / . � � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � � � & � � ' � � � � *� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � " � � � � � � � *� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � = � � � � + � � ' � & � � ) � � � � � � � � � � � > � � � + � � � � � � � �) � � � � , � � � � � � � - + ) , . " 7 � � � � �� � � � � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � $ � � � � � � � � � � � + ) , � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � # # / " ? � � � � � � � " � � � " � � ' � � � � � � � � � � � *� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � � & � � ' � "Keep In Touch –
5 � � � � � � � � � � � *� � � � � � � � � � � � � � ( � � � & � ) � � � � � � & � � � � � � � = � ' � � � ' � � � " & � � � * � � � � � � � � � ' "� � & � � ! � & � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � "� � " � � ' @ � ! � � @ � � � � & � � @ � � � @ � � � � @ � � � � & � � � �! � & � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� � � ! � % � ! � � � 9 + ! � & � � ! � A � � " : � � & � � � � � � � � � � � B � � � � � � � � ( � � � & � " ) � � C� � " � � ' � � & � � � � � � � ( � � � & � ) � � � ! � �� � - � � � . � 8 � � 4 � 4 "
Lynn Watkins
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Fall Conference, continued......from page 1.
Fall Conference AgendaSaturday, September 22, 20129:00 AM - 5:00 PM - FISEF Level 2 Workshop (SEPARATE REGISTRATION REQUIRED - see NAFIS website)
Sunday, September 23, 20128:30 AM - 5:30 PM - Internet Café
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM – Registration
Working SessionsThese sessions are designed to address issues relative to individual subgroups and task groups.
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM - Conference Orientation/The Basics of Impact Aid/Advocacy
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM - Sub-Group Meetings: Low to Mid-LOT and Section 8002
10:30 AM - 11:30 PM - School Board Members Meeting
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM - School Business Officials Meeting
10:30 AM - 11:30AM - Superintendents Meeting
11:30 AM - 12:45PM - Various Sub Group Executive Board Meetings
- MISA
- NIISA
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM - Lunch (on your own)
12:45 PM – 3:45 PM - First General Session
Invocation - Opening Remarks:
School District Presentation: SandersUnified School District
Election Forecast: Outlook for Education - Keynote Speaker Reid Wilson
Appropriations Update with Jocelyn Bissonnette
Where Are We? with John B. Forkenbrock
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM - State Meetings (as requested)
CA – AZ – NJ - MT – WA – TX-
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Meet and Greet Reception
Monday, September 24, 2012
NAFIS Sub-Group Sessions7:45 AM - 9:45 AM - Sub-Group Meetings
- Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA) – breakfast:
School districts impacted 20 percent or more by military installations.
- NIISA – School districts affected by Indian lands. - continental breakfast.
- Section 8002 - School districts affected by federal annexation of land
7:45 AM - 11:00 AM – Registration
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM - Internet Café
10:00 AM – 12:00PM – Second General Session
School District Presentation: Timber Lake School District
Education Priorities: A Dual Perspective
- Obama Camp - Romney Camp
Federal, State, and Local Perspectives on the Sequester
Panelists: Joel Packer, Executive Director, Committee for Education Funding
Adam Ezring, Senior Advocacy Associate, Council of Chief State School Officers
Noelle Ellerson, Assistant Director, Policy Analysis & Advocacy, American Association of
School Administrators
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM - NAFIS Luncheon (Member of Congress, invited)
1:15PM - 2:15PM - Second General Session
1:15PM - 1:35PM - Sequestration Testimonials
1:35 PM - 2:15PM - Department of Education Payment Updates - Marilyn Hall & Alfred Lott
2:15 PM - Break
2:15 PM - 4:00PM - Department One-on-One Session
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM - Insider’s Guide to Capitol Hill with Judy Schneider
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM - Education Movie and Discussion: “Consuming Kids”
5:00 PM - Enjoy Your Evening On Your Own
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
8:00 AM - 1:30 PM - Tuesday State Events (as reported by state official)
Arizona California Washington Texas
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Application Workshop
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Capitol Hill and Agency Visits (Capitol Hill)
4:00PM - 5:00PM - Hill Debriefing
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM - “We Need a Hero!” Ending Reception
5
NAFIS is very fortunate to have such dedicated Members of Congress who are continually supportive of our e! orts on behalf of federally impacted schools throughout this
country. As is necessary, NAFIS likes to recognize those Members who go above and beyond the call of duty and this Fall Conference, we will award three such individuals:
Reitring U.S. Congressman Norman Dicks (D-WA) will receive the Harry S Truman Award because he exempli$ es the character of the named President and has provided outstanding support of our impact aid issue.
the larger group just how successful their Hill meetings went and if there should be any follow-up on behalf of NAFIS. As mentioned, the NAFIS Fall Conference will end with a closing reception with the theme of “We Need a Hero!,” before attendees head back home.
“We have met our room block at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill,” said NAFIS Information Systems Director Lynn Watkins, “but our conference registrations are still lagging a bit behind. I would sug-gest everyone check to make sure they have registered for both the hotel and the conference itself to avoid an onsite per-person sur-charge of $100.”
Other conference highlights of note will include our ever-pop-ular Internet Cafe that is positioned at registration. It includes a bank of internet-active computers so attend-ees can check in with their school districts back home and have access to email. Other computers without in-ternet access will be available with printers in case you have documents you need to print.
NAFIS also tries to recognize both members and non-members who have gone above and beyond on behalf of Impact Aid and NAFIS. " is year is no dif-ferent. NAFIS will recognize U.S. Congressman Norm Dicks from Washington, U.S. Congressmen Denny Rehberg from Montana and U.S. Senator Kent Conrad from North Dakota for their dedication to the Impact Aid Program. NAFIS will also recognize both Terry Ta= inger (Frontier Schools in Oklahoma) and Ron Seaver (Central Union Elementary School District in California) for their NAFIS Board of Directors service. Last, but not least, Sam McGowan (Mascoutah Com-munity Unit School District in Illinois) will receive the Friend of NAFIS Award. For more details, please see
Six Awards to be Given at Conference
the sidebar article below.“" ere has never been a more important time to be in Washing-
ton, DC than this year,” said Forkenbrock. “While it is an election year and it may be di# cult to $ nd Members of Congress in their o# ces, it may prove to be one of the more outstanding years for policy accomplishment because the sta! who write the laws and make the policy decisions are likely to be on the Hill and at the Department of Education - and they are the ones who o% entimes have the pull we are looking for.”
We hope you’re already making your plans to be in Washington. We’ll see you soon!
Fall Conference, continued...
U.S. Congressman Dennis Rehberg (R-MT) will receive our Friend of NAFIS Award who has provided continued support and service to education through Impact Aid.
Finally, retiring Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), who has received a Friend of NAFIS Award,will get special recognition for his con-tinued work on behalf of federally impacted schools nationwide.
Also, NAFIS will present three awards to outstanding NAFIS members:
Retiring Frontier Schools (OK) Superintendent Terry Ta= inger and retiring Central Union Elementary School District Superinten-
dent Ron Seaver will receive Board of Director Recogni-tion awards for the long-term service to NAFIS.
Additionally, retiring Mas-coutah Community Unit School District Superinten-dent Sam McGowan will re-ceive the Friend of NAFIS Award for his service to edu-cation through Impact Aid.
...from page 4.
6
Impact Aid Improvement Act of 2012 - A Status Report
With the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act going nowhere yet again, the Impact Aid amendments included in the Senate FY 2013 Depart-
ment of Defense Reauthorization Bill remain in play. " e inclusion of the Impact Aid amendments dubbed the “Impact Aid Improve-ment Act of 2012” are intended to improve the e# ciency of Section 8002 (the Federal Property Program), the Housing Privatization provision in Section 8003, and includes language intended to im-prove the timeliness of Section 8002 and 8003 payments to school districts. " e language is the product of bi-partisan discussions between the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), NAFIS, and Senator’s Johnson (D-SD); Murray (D-WA), Schumer (D-NY) and " une (R-SD). With the support of Senator’s Gillibrand (D-NY), Inhofe (R-OK) and Armed Ser-vices Committee Chairman Levin (D-Michigan) the amendment was successfully included in the DoD authorization bill earlier this summer. " e bill awaits + oor action.
Following the inclusion of the amendment in the DoD authori-zation bill the U.S. Department of Education Impact Aid Program O# ce (IAP) was asked for comment. " e bottom line question they were asked was: can you implement the changes? Keep in mind that the intent of the amendment is to improve the e# ciency of Section 8002, the housing privatization provision and to expe-dite the overall Impact Aid payment process. “Without the IAP buying into the provisions included in the amendment meaning can they implement the language as intended, the intent of the lan-guage and our goal of easing the administrative burden become a waste of time; in fact the language might cause more problems than what they are intended to solve,” stated John Forkenbrock, NAFIS executive director. Forkenbrock continued “we welcome IAP’s in-put and want to work with them to make sure the provisions can be implemented beginning immediately. If we need to make some changes (re$ nements) to insure our goals are achieved we will do that.”
A% er reviewing the language, IAP contacted both hill sta! and
NAFIS identifying three areas that need to be addressed if imple-mentation can begin sooner rather than later. “" e issues they raised are all valid as they relate to administrative matters that quite frankly we didn’t think of at the time we were cra% ing the language,” said Forkenbrock. For example the amendment cites that new districts will base their foundation payment on the new dollar per acre formula rather than highest and best. In addition, before making foundation payments IAP will have to determine the new payment calculation for all districts in order to measure the foundation payment against a district’s maximum payment. In both cases new data will have to gathered, notwithstanding the fact that OMB may require that new regulations be promulgated before the language can be implemented. All three of these issues will require time meaning that the purpose of the legislation, i.e. to ex-pedite the payment process for Section 8002 may well take a year or more to implement. As for the housing privatization language, IAP is concerned that it may require a follow-up audit on all districts to verify the beginning of each on-going housing project. NAFIS has requested suggested language from IAP to ease the Table 9/11 process while maintaining the intent of the provision.
NAFIS has engaged in conversations with the Department to ad-dress each of their concerns. “Our plan is to meet with both the Senate sta! and the Department (IAP) before the DoD bill goes to the + oor to re$ ne the current language so that the objective of the amendments can be realized. All the parties involved, the Impact Aid community, the Senate and the Department all have the same goal in mind; to make the 8002 and 8003 program work better and to ease the administrative load for both school districts and the IAP o# ce.
NAFIS will keep the community updated as future discussions with the IAP and Senate sta! take place. As for the House side they have been kept up-to-date on the amendment and NAFIS will brief them on the progress of talks with IAP. 8002 districts and districts submitting Table 9/11 housing should feel free to contact NAFIS with any questions.
7
Sequestration Update
The word “sequestration” has become part of our lexicon. Be-cause Congress is on recess until September 10th, this is a good opportunity to review what that word means and its
implications for our advocacy work for the rest of the year. What is sequestration? Sequestration is a term that means across-
the board spending cuts. Where did sequestration come from? Sequestration was written
into the Budget Control Act of 2011. It is the consequence of the “Supercommittee’s” (Joint Select Committee on De$ cit Reduction) failure to reach a $1.2 trillion de$ cit-reduction compromise.
Who is a! ected by sequestration? Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, Veteran’s pen-sions, Pell Grants, and a few other programs are exempt from the cuts, but all discretionary programs will be a! ected by sequestra-tion. " e $1.2 trillion in cuts will be spread equally between “de-fense” and “non-nondefense” discretionary spending. “Defense spending” includes the Defense Department, nuclear weapons, FBI etc. Non-defense discretionary (or NDD) spending is everything else. Which means that the sequester will cut funding from:
• Education and job training• Medical and scienti$ c research • Infrastructure• Public safety and law enforcement • Public health• Housing and social services • International relations• Natural and cultural resources• Weather monitoring and environmental protection Departments and agencies will not be able to control how the
sequester impacts individual programs. So for example, the De-partment of Education couldn’t put Race to the Top money into the Federal Properties program or move Section 8007 construction funds to Basic Support.
What is the cut to Impact Aid and what is NAFIS doing about it? While estimates vary, cuts will range from 7.8% (as estimated by the Congressional Budget O# ce) to 9.1% (as estimated by the Cen-ter for Budget and Policy Priorities). " ese cuts would eliminate funding for Department of Education programs by over $4 billion - the largest cut ever to education programs – and NAFIS estimates that the cut to Impact Aid would be $100 million.
At the end of July, the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education held a hear-ing titled “" e Impact of Sequestration on Education.” Secretary Duncan and NAFIS member Billy Walker (Randolph Field ISD,
TX) testi$ ed. Duncan referenced Impact Aid several times includ-ing in his opening statement, where he highlighted Impact Aid as being subject to an immediate cut for the 2012-2013 school year, and later referenced the program, saying: “Impact Aid- to think that we would walk away from funding for the children of service members who are risking their lives every single day overseas- to somehow say we would give less funding to those children’s schools is inconceivable to me.” Secretary Duncan opposes sequestration, and told the Senate panel that if they do not act, his Department will be forced to cut severely and indiscriminately. Walker spoke eloquently about how falling LOT payments and the sequester have impacted Randolph Field.
A% er the hearing, NAFIS issued a press release detailing Walker’s testimony and the speci$ c impact of sequestration on Impact Aid. " e hearing was covered and Walker quoted in major publications including Education Week, the Hu# ngton Post, and the Washing-ton Post.
NAFIS joined with almost 3,000 organizations (including over 80 NAFIS school districts and state Impact Aid groups) in the non-defense discretionary (NDD) community to urge Congress and the President to avert sequestration. " e letter can be seen here: http://www.na$ sdc.org/
NAFIS is conducting a survey of NAFIS members and American Association of School Administrators (AASA) impact aid recipi-ents. " e results will be shared with Congress and the public. See preliminary results on page 8. Impact Aid was also highlighted by Reuters, the Hu# ngton Post and Federal News Radio.
NAFIS is ensuring a central part of our advocacy e! orts are fo-cused on sequestration. " e sequester cuts were a main talking point during the Federal Relations Outreach meeting in April and for the August Recess Packet, and will be the main them of the NAFIS Fall Conference.
NAFIS is meeting with Congressional sta! and the Department of Education to discuss options for minimizing the impact of se-questration on federally impacted schools.
Can the sequester be avoided? Yes, but it would require a change in the law – a di# cult proposition at a time rampant with political gridlock where lawmakers’ focus is on the November elections. In addition to sequestration and FY 2013 funding, Congress has a full plate: FY 2013 Defense Authorization Act, Farm Bill, the expira-tion of the Bush tax cuts, estate tax rates, and unemployment insur-ance, to name a few. Only time will tell whether or not Congress can compromise on a grand budget deal that the President will sign by December 31. Until then, we will continue to highlight Impact Aid and the impact that the cuts will continue have on federally impacted schools.
NAFIS Mourns Former President
NAFIS lost one of its own when former NAFIS board mem-ber and NAFIS President Lowell Dra! en passed away on July 24th. Lowell served as NAFIS President 1997-1999
and played a leadership role in the association throughout his time on the NAFIS board. Lowell was Superintendent of the Mad River School District, Ohio (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) from 1980 until his retirement in 1998. “Lowell was on the NAFIS board when I was hired in September of 1988, “said NAFIS executive di-rector John Forkenbrock. “Lowell never backed away from a chal-lenge and served in a variety of leadership roles while on the board.
My relationship with Lowell was more than just professional; he was also a true friend. He was a mentor and many times provided me with counsel when NAFIS faced di# cult challenges and always followed his suggestions with a smile.” Upon retirement Lowell was sought by other districts to provide part-time leadership that evolved into taking on a full-time superintendent’s role until the challenges faced by the district were solved. Lowell will be remem-bered as someone who cared about children; valued his family; enjoyed a round of golf; and never backed away from a challenge.
8
Sequestration Survey Results
We are learning that a web presence also goes a long way in getting favorable views from potential supporters.
" e FISEF website is an evolving work in progress, but we welcome suggestions for improving it. If you have advice for us, please email Bryan Jernigan at [email protected].
Over 300 NAFIS members and superintendents of the American Association of Schools Administrators completed the “Impact Aid and Sequestration” survey. NAFIS is still analyzing your responses, but one thing is clear: sequestration is having and will continue to have a signi$ cantly negative impact on federally impacted schools nationwide. About 35% of districts have already
budgeted the sequester into their budgets for the 2012-2013 school year. " e results of those cuts are detailed in the chart below (top $ ve: delay maintenance and technology purchases, eliminate instructional sta! , eliminate non-instructional sta! , increase class sizes, reduce
professional development):
Here is what some of you had to say about sequestration: “We have cut about $4 mil-lion dollars out of a $20 million dollar bud-get over the past four budget cycles. . . If se-questration goes through we will no longer have a single counselor, librarian, P.E./ health teacher or music teacher. It would devastate our district academic program.”“We need to hire sta! at the beginning of the year not wait until January to see if there is going to be a sequesture. . . School districts serving military families need to o! er sup-port as well as a strong educational program
and should not be expected to take such a huge reduction in funding.”“We will have to ‘opt out’ for additional property tax relief which will put more burden on our local tax payers.”“Our school is the largest employer on the southern end of the reservation and the loss of jobs will have a signi$ cant impact on the lives of so many of our families. . . " e challenges our children face grow exponentially each year as we continue the downward spiral in edu-cation funding.”
“Getting the last bit of support we need will help us reach our capital campaign goal faster,” said Jernigan. “And once we get there, then we can start focusing our e! orts on supporting federally impacted school districts conducting best practices research on military transience and incorporating multicultural education into the traditional school setting.”
The sister foundation of NAFIS, the Federally Impacted Schools Educa-tional Foundation (FISEF) has re-
cently launched its own website. It can be found at www.$ sefdc.org.
“We are very close to achieving our goal of building FISEF’s capital to $100,000 and because of that, we are preparing for the next step of the process,” said NAFIS Communications Director Bryan Jernigan. “" is also allows us to have a more public presence.”
Sta! have been working diligently to look for alternative supporting opportunities and have spent considerable amounts of time this summer researching grantmaking foundations that might be willing to work with FISEF to reach that last bit of money needed to achieve the $100,000 goal.
“We are in talks with foundations and corporations in Washington, California and Arizona in an e! ort to underwrite FISEF Level 1 School Business O# cials Workshops in those states so that we can o! er workshops without the travel costs busting our budgets,” said Jernigan.
If you know of organizations that sup-port workshops like these, please feel free to share contact information with Jernigan via email at bryan@na$ sdc.org.
New FISEF Website
9
Campaign 2012: The Candidates and Education
Issue
Competitive Grant Programs
Combating the Recession
Common Core State Standards
School Turnaround
Vouchers
Charter Schools
No Child Le! Behind Act
Teacher Accountability
Funding
President Obama
Foundation of President’s education agenda. Seeks to use competitive grant programs such as Race to the Top to en-courage states to embrace reform.1
" e 2009 stimulus program invested $100 billion in education, including roughly $50 billion devoted to preventing teacher layo! s.1
Administration has touted Common Core and rewarded states in RTTT for adopt-ing more rigorous standards. Has also granted NCLB waivers for adopting such standards.1
School Improvement Grant Program required grant recipients to choose one of four turnaround models, including school closures or $ ring the principal and half the sta! .1
Has been open to vouchers in the past, but has opposed expansion of the D.C. Op-portunity Scholarship program.3
Governor Romney
Has supported many of RTTT’s goals, but he has criticized it as “poorly designed” in that many winning states have fallen behind in ful$ lling their promises.4
Criticizes this stabilization measure as preventing states from making necessary reforms.4
Agrees with Common Core, but believes that administration has “manipulated” states into adopting them.5
Turnaround plan relies mostly on trans-parency. Calls for states to create grading systems for schools/districts. Believes fed-eral gov’t is “poorly positioned to specify what needs to be done at the local level.”2
Parents of low-income and special ed. students would be able to transfer federal funding to a public, charter, or private school of their choice.2
In favor of expanding high-quality charter schools. RTTT awarded points to states for expanding charters.1, 2
Romney would eliminate the highly quali$ ed teacher provision of NCLB, reduce federal micromanagement, and improve transparency and accountability.4 Obama has included such policies (i.e. HQT) in his waivers of NCLB mandates.1, 2
Emphasize importance of teacher quality and accountability. Romney would tie state grants to their evaluations of educator e! ectiveness. Teacher quality already major concern of RTTT.1, 2 Obama has supported tougher teacher evaluations based on test scores.6
Obama has been supportive of education funding, especially the $100 billion for edu-cation in the stimulus package.6 Romney has been critical of the education stimulus money. He would allow low-income and special needs students to use Title I and IDEA monies for a public, private or charter school of their choice.4
1 Klein, Alyson. "Obama Uses Funding, Executive Muscle To Make O! en-Divisive Agenda a Reality." Education Week. 13 June 2012: 1, 26-28. Print.2 Klein, Alyson. "Romney Hones Pitch on Education Policy." Education Week. 6 June 2012: 1, 25-27. Print.3 Rosalsky, Greg. "Obama Administration So! ens Position On D.C. Voucher Program." Hu# ngton Post 18 June 2012, n. pag. Web. 19 Jul. 2012.4 "A Chance for Every Child: Mitt Romney’s Plan for Restoring the Promise of American Education." MittRomney.com. N.p., 2012. Web. 19 Jul 2012.5 Klein , Alyson. "Romney Calls for Using Title I, IDEA Funds for School Choice." Education Week. (2012).6 “Future of the Workforce.” National Journal. Web. 2 Jun. 2012.
10
FISEF LEVEL ONE WORKSHOP REGISTRATIONDecember 1, 2012
Harrah’s Hotel and Casino - Las Vegas
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________
School District: _____________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________ Email: _______________________________________
School District Data:1. What type of Federal students are served? Circle all that apply.
Indian Lands Military Low Rent Housing Civilian
2. What was the average daily attendance last year? __________
3. Which of the following is used to gather information for the survey? Circle only one.
Source Check Student Survey Both
FISEF Level 1 Workskhop - Las Vegas
FISEF will be heading out to Las Vegas and will o! er its Level 1 Workshop one day before the NIISA Winter Meeting on December 1, 2012. If you are interested in registering for the
workshop, please $ ll out the registration form below and fax it to NAFIS at 202/624-5468. " e workshops have a limited registration level of no more than 20, so register early to ensure your spot at the meeting.
In each all-day session, attendees will get training on Impact Aid legislation, regulation and procedures, conducting student surveys, completing the application error-free and much more. " e tenta-tive agenda below should give you an idea of what's ahead at this workshop.Registration/Continental Breakfast 8:30amIntroductions/How much do you know? 9:00am
Completing the Application Exercise 9:10am" e Application Process 9:30am When do you apply?Identifying Eligible Students 9:45am Completing Your Section 8003 Application Lunch (provided) 12:00pm Section 8003 Application" e Payment Formula 2:00pmUnderstanding /Computing LOT Percentage 2:30pmCalculating Your Payment 3:00pmQ&A regarding completing the application 3:45pmMiscelleaneous Items 4:00pm - Understanding Table 9 - Indian Policies and ProceduresAdjourn 4:30pm
Attendee Data:1. What are your current responsibilities (circle all applicable)
Student Survey Impact Aid Application Budgeting for Impact Aid receipts
2. How many years IMPACT AID experience have you?
0 1-3 4-7 7-10 more than 10
3. Suggestion: Bring along a pocket calculator.
PAYMENT: " e class costs $250. To reserve your room, call (702) 369-5000.
How will you pay?
CASH CHECK P.O.
Cancellation procedure: Cancellations received in writing by No-vember 16 will be refunded in total; between November 16 and 23, only 50% will be refunded and there will be no refund if cancellation occurs a% er November 23.
Make checks payable to:
Federally Impacted Schools Educational Foundation. Questions? Call: 202/624-5455
Send registration and payment or P.O. to: Bryan Jernigan, FISEF, 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 419, Washington, DC 20001 or Fax to: 202/624-5468
11
FISEF LEVEL ONE WORKSHOP REGISTRATIONDecember 6, 2012
DoubleTree Hotel - San Antonio Airport
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________
School District: _____________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________ Email: _____________________________
School District Data:1. What type of Federal students are served? Circle all that apply.
Indian Lands Military Low Rent Housing Civilian
2. What was the average daily attendance last year? __________
3. Which of the following is used to gather information for the survey? Circle only one.
Source Check Student Survey Both
FISEF Level 1 Workskhop - San Antonio
The ever-popular FISEF Level 1 Workshop is set to be held one day before the Texas Association of Federally Impacted Schools (TAFIS) Winter Meeting in San Antonio - " urs-
day, December 6, 2012. If you are interested in registering for the workshop, please $ ll out the registration form below and fax it to NAFIS at 202/624-5468. You may also copy and paste the following link to make your hotel reservations at the DoubleTree Hotel San Antonio Airport: http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/
personalized/S/SATNSDT-TAF-20121206/index.jhtml?WT.
mc_id=POG. " e workshops are limited to 20, so register early to ensure your spot at the meeting.
In each all-day session, attendees will get training on Impact Aid legislation, regulation and procedures, conducting student surveys, completing the application error-free and more. " e agenda below should give you an idea of what's ahead at this workshop.Registration/Continental Breakfast 8:30am
Introductions/How much do you know? 9:00amCompleting the Application Exercise 9:10am" e Application Process 9:30am When do you apply?Identifying Eligible Students 9:45am Completing Your Section 8003 Application Lunch (provided) 12:00pm Section 8003 Application" e Payment Formula 2:00pmUnderstanding /Computing LOT Percentage 2:30pmCalculating Your Payment 3:00pmQ&A regarding completing the application 3:45pmMiscelleaneous Items 4:00pm - Understanding Table 9 - Indian Policies and ProceduresAdjourn 4:30pm
Attendee Data:1. What are your current responsibilities (circle all applicable)
Student Survey Impact Aid Application Budgeting for Impact Aid receipts
2. How many years IMPACT AID experience have you?
0 1-3 4-7 7-10 more than 10
3. Suggestion: Bring along a pocket calculator.
PAYMENT: " e class costs $250. To reserve your room, copy and paste this link in your web browser: http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/S/SATNSDT-TAF-20121206/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG.
How will you pay?
CASH CHECK P.O.
Cancellation procedure: Cancellations received in writing by No-vember 22 will be refunded in total; between November 22 and 29, only 50% will be refunded and there will be no refund if cancellation occurs a% er November 29.
Make checks payable to:
Federally Impacted Schools Educational Foundation. Questions? Call: 202/624-5455
Send registration and payment or P.O. to: Bryan Jernigan, FISEF, 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 419, Washington, DC 20001 or Fax to: 202/624-5468
12
Board of Directors
President
Richard Carson
Vice President
Terry Smith
Treasurer
Judy Preston
Secretary
Sandy Doebert
Director, Region One
James Sarruda
Director, Region Two
William Hardin
Director, Region Three
Thomas Schneider
Director, Region Four
Ron Walker
Director, Region Five
Vacant
Director, Region Six
Ray Proctor
Directors At-Large
Ron Seaver
Chad Blotsky
Cherise Imai
Deborah Jackson-Dennison
School Board Liaison
Brian Gallup
Immediate Past President
Barry Beauchamp
Past President
Vacant
IMPACT is published electronically bi-monthly by the Nation-
al Association of Federally Impacted Schools, 444 North Capitol
Street, NW, Suite 419, Washington, DC 20001. Main Telephone:
(202) 624-5455, Fax Number: (202) 624-5468. © Copyright 2012
by NAFIS, all rights reserved. Nothing appearing in IMPACT
may be reproduced without the express written permission of
the national association. We welcome all commentary, contribu-
tions, photographs and letters to the editor. Please address all
correspondence to NAFIS at the above address. NAFIS mem-
bers receive IMPACT as a free membership service. Please call
or email for more information.
NAFIS 2012 Fall ConferenceSeptember 23-25, 2012Hyatt Regency Capitol HillWashington, DC
FISEF Level 1 School Business O# cials WorkshopDecember 2, 2012Harrah’s Hotel and CasinoLas Vegas, NV
NIISA Winter MeetingDecember 3-4, 2012Harrah’s Hotel and CasinoLas Vegas, NV
FISEF Level 1 School Busines O# cials WorkshopDecember 6, 2012DoubleTree Hotel - San Antonio AirportSan Antonio, TX
NAFIS Calendar
New Fall Interns Join NAFIS
Victoria Wood and Brenden Burke are set to join NAFIS in time for you to meet them at the NAFIS Fall Conference in September. " e two interns are East Coast-ers and both are interested in education from a political viewpoint.
Wood is a junior at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and is studying Sociology and Political Science.
“I have a passion for issues of social justice,” she wrote in her intern application. “One way that I believe our country can address issues of social justice is through educa-tion reform. Educating the citizens of America on social issues and through our poliitcal process would promote an informed citizenry that is more apt to act on their beliefs. I would like to work with educational leaders to gain a better understanding of what it is like to be involved with forming education policy and all other intricacies of the system. I aspire to teach and eventually take on a more administrative role in the education system.”
Burke hails from " e Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and is a senior majoring in history.
Burke has said, “I have always been interested in the American legislative process. To be able to work on a bill is a career goal of mine. Conducting research on an important issue and to work with a diverse group to create a solution that has a positive e! ect on the nation is one of my goals. NAFIS provides a unique opportunity to learn important research skills and to bene$ t from the experience and insights of supervisors..”
We believe we can help both interns achieve their goals and we look forward to introducing you to them at the NAFIS Fall Conference. If you can’t make the conference, please say hello to them when you phone the o# ce.
Welcome, Victoria and Brenden!
Join Our Facebook & Twitter Pages!For real-time updates on Impact Aid, conference registration forms, and news on sequestration, visit us on Facebook and Twitter! Copy the following link into your web browser and then “like” us!
http://www.facebook.com/Nationalassociationo� ederallyimpact-
edschools#!/pages/National-Association-of-Federally-Impacted-
Schools/246376665411225
And then follow us on our Twitter page at:
http://twitter.com/NAFISschools