FIRST DAY OF THE SESSION, January 13, 2010

Today was only my second time to be in the Legislature on opening day of the session, but it was certainly unique. I know because I’ve been an observer of goings-on at the capitol since 1995 in one way or another, as the PTA lobbyist from 1995 to 2000 and as a member of the State Board of Education from 2001 to 2008.

After the opening day ceremonies – which were very nice with beautiful violin music from a very talented girl accompanied by her younger brother on cello – some of the uniqueness began. We had a speech by the Senate President, Brandon Shaffer. Having such a speech isn’t unusual; having a different Senate President in the second year of one biennial General Assembly certainly is.

After the Senate Minority Leader spoke, the Senate Secretary was sworn in, and we passed the perfunctory resolutions to begin business, we recessed in order for the Senate Education Committee to meet – on the first day! After that committee meeting, we reconvened with the Appropriations Committee meeting at the microphone and proceeded to hold 2^nd Reading on a bill – again, on the first day!

All of this flurry to fast-track a bill, which normally occurs only during the last few days of a session, was to get SB 36, Programs for Educator Preparation, passed in order for it to be signed before January 19, when our state’s application for Race to the Top is submitted. Apparently the data-tracking of educator effectiveness based on their preparation program will be part of our state’s plan for implementing Race to the Top, should Colorado receive the federal grant.

The bill is sponsored by one of our three new Senators, Michael Johnston. Senator Johnston shares on office with me and I’ve actually known him for several years, because his parents were my constituents when I represented the 2^nd Congressional District on the State Board of Education. A few years ago I read his book about his first teaching experience in Mississippi through the Teach for America program, In the Deep Heart’s Core. Senator Johnston is quite the rookie, having only been an educator before being appointed to fill the vacancy when Senator Groff resigned, so we were able to succeed in freaking him out with the usual freshman “hazing” method of defeating his bill and then bringing it back for reconsideration. Senator Johnston is in his early thirties and looks very young, so one Senator joked that he doesn’t look like he meets the age requirement to serve in the Legislature (which is age 25).