2024-03-15                     Senate Journal                      Page 1916
SB 140                                                                                                                        
Letter dated March 14 was received:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority vested in me by Article II, Section 15, of the                                                              
Alaska Constitution, I have vetoed the following bill:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2024-03-15                     Senate Journal                      Page 1917
                              CSSB 140(FIN) am H                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
   “An Act relating to funding for Internet services for school districts;                                                     
   relating to charter schools; relating to transportation of public school                                                    
students; relating to correspondence study funding; relating to the base                                                        
 student allocation; relating to funding for reading improvement plans;                                                         
                    and providing for an effective date.”                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
While I support the basic idea of education funding reform, this bill                                                           
fails to address the innovations necessary to allow Alaskan students to                                                         
excel. Without a comprehensive plan to address the education issues                                                             
of the state, simply increasing funding to the current system does                                                              
nothing to increase the educational outcomes and potential of our                                                               
youth.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The bill ignores the teacher recruitment and retention issues facing the                                                        
state. Attracting and retaining top quality educators to the state is vital                                                     
to fulfilling Alaska’s obligation to provide an education to our                                                                
children. However, due to the uniqueness of Alaska’s geography and                                                              
the remoteness of some of our schools, we are experiencing a crisis in                                                          
recruiting and retaining the best teachers for our children. It is                                                              
imperative that the legislature take direct financial action to                                                                 
incentivize top quality educators to teach and remain in Alaska.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The bill also fails to enhance charter school opportunities in a                                                                
meaningful way. Charter schools are an innovative and proven                                                                    
alternative to traditional education for many children. Education                                                               
reform is more than funding. True reform must embrace a willingness                                                             
to provide alternative methods of education to meet the varying needs                                                           
of our student population.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor