Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
03/21/2023 05:15 PM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB65 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 65 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 65-INCREASE BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION
5:18:19 PM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the only order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 65, "An Act relating to education;
increasing the base student allocation; and providing for an
effective date."
5:19:04 PM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE opened public testimony on HB 65.
5:19:50 PM
ANDY HOLLEMAN, representing self, stated that he wished to speak
to what happens when there are occasional increases in funding
followed by years of no increases. He offered his belief that
good programs have to be trimmed a little every year, or they
may disappear. He said that in the Anchorage School District
(ASD), every spot goes to support running the organization or
working directly towards kids in a positive way; one cannot
expect an organization to be dynamic and doing new and different
things when the programs are constantly being trimmed. He urged
the committee to make an adjustment so that schools can sustain
what they are doing now and make it a practice to make small
adjustments each year so good programs can continue. He opined
that the state of things now systematically discourages people
from doing better.
5:22:26 PM
DANIELLE LOGAN, representing self, testified in support of HB
65. She stated that support staff are routinely on the short
end of the stick during budget cuts. Paraprofessionals are
being asked to do jobs outside of their areas of expertise, and
when staff are being pulled in many different directions, the
students suffer. Support staff are essential to running a
school, she said, and flat funding is not working anymore;
therefore, she opined the base student allocation (BSA) needs to
be raised.
5:25:16 PM
IRENE BOLL, representing self, stated that she was running for
the Anchorage School Board and wished to address the critical
issue of public education funding. Despite the fundamental
importance of public education, public education funding is
severely lacking in many areas, she said, which is why she
supported the proposed legislation. In many areas, the current
allocation is not enough and inadequate funding leads to a
myriad of issues in the education system. She opined that
increasing the BSA would improve the quality of education for
students and provide educators with the resources they need.
5:27:29 PM
JANICE BANTA, representing self, testified in support of HB 65,
and related that she was a retired school counselor and raised
three children who attended school in ASD. She spoke to her
concerns about proposed cuts to educators across the state and
the schools having extraordinarily difficult challenges, she
said, and she provided brief examples. She questioned how
student's needs can be adequately met while one person is
expected to do the job of two. She related one of her children,
after receiving higher education outside Alaska, may not return
to Alaska to practice in his selected field due to dwindling
population and stagnant financial support for education. She
implored the committee to vote yes on HB 65 to increase the BSA
and improve the quality of education in the state.
5:30:26 PM
MANETTE STANLEY, representing self, testified in support of HB
65. She said Alaska is the foundation of future success, and
success comes in the guise of well-educated youths who are given
a wide variety of skills; however, that cannot happen at schools
that are not appropriately funded. She stated that she hoped
the committee had done their research and found that Alaska's
schools are vastly underfunded. She related that 15 states have
higher BSAs than Alaska's, including four more that are above
$10,000. She said she hoped to convey the reality that schools
are in demand to provide high quality education with a fraction
of the necessary funding which, she said, is simply not
possible. Students, in addition to communities across the
state, would be devastated if they lose access to facilities and
resources as a result of underfunding. She thanked the
committee for their consideration.
5:32:26 PM
MEMPHIS STANLEY, representing self, testified in support of HB
65, and offered a personal story of attending a school swim
program, which opened more opportunities for learning and taught
him lifesaving skills. He said that schools have lost so much
in recent years that it would be detrimental to lose any more.
5:33:53 PM
ALEX RUSSIN, Cordova School District, testified in support of HB
65 and relayed that he was the Cordova School District
superintendent as well as the director of curriculum, human
resources, special education, federal programs, and many other
areas. He said he shared this information to exhibit the
multitude of roles that administrators play in small school
districts. The current rhetoric generalizing that school
district financial resources are bloated with administrative
costs need to change, he said, as it is inaccurate. The BSA had
only increased $30 since 2016 and the rise in costs and services
created significant loss in purchasing power for school
districts, he explained. Passage of HB 65 would provide the
Cordova School District with a majority of the funding necessary
to meet its budgetary shortfall for fiscal year 2024 (FY 24) due
to increased costs, and he said he looked forward to following
the committee's conversations on education.
5:36:48 PM
DIANE GUBATAYAO, Ketchikan School Board, Testified in support of
HB 65. She related that she served as a school board member for
the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District for seven years
and she said she had a lengthy perspective of the impacts of
flat BSA funding. Districts, she said, have scraped along
partially due to special COVID-19 funds but cannot continue
this. She opined the number one duty of the state, and the
legislature is to adequately fund and support education. She
noted that from 2012 to 2022, the BSA had only increased 4.2
percent, while overall inflation during the same time period
increased 24 percent. She said that all school districts need a
significant increase to the BSA, and said she appreciated
special appropriations, but one-time special funds do not
compensate and restrict the ability to strategically plan for
the future. She urged the committee to support HB 65.
5:39:27 PM
SAVANNAH FLETCHER, representing self, testified in support of HB
65, and agreed with prior testimony that "one-time things" are
no longer effective. She mentioned the burden her school
district faced just to keep flat funding, and opined flat
funding is negative funding as the cost of everything else in
the community rises. There must be sustainable growing support
from the state for students, or families will be forced to live
somewhere more affordable. Supporting the bill would be a step
in the direction of fixing the problem, she said.
5:41:29 PM
DENIS GARDELLA, representing self, Testified in opposition to an
increase in the BSA. He acknowledged that his position was
likely unpopular, but wished to explain why he is not in favor
of the bill. He said Alaska is ranked number 45th amongst
states for overall educational achievement. He pointed out how
Alaska compared in other rankings, such as fourth grade math,
resulting in below proficiency placement. He brought up other
states' "education savings account" where state money goes into
a student's education account to be used in the school of their
choice. He said public education has become too big and
expensive and no longer teaches what most of America values, he
opined. Continuing to fund public education is not producing
satisfactory results and should be re-thought; therefore, he
reinforced his opposition to a BSA increase, but said yes to a
conversation to overhaul public education.
5:44:04 PM
BRIDGET WEISS, Superintendent, Juneau School District, informed
the committee that she had served as an educator for 39 years.
She emphasized the importance of adequately funding public
education and questioned why it would even be a consideration
not to move in that direction. She said budgeting without
adequate funding is a challenge, and she related line items that
students are not even aware of. She opined that it was imminent
for Alaska's children that HB 65 passed.
5:47:36 PM
BRIAN HOLST, Director, Juneau Economic Development Council,
stated he is here to advocate for a much stronger investment in
public education and supported HB 65. He pointed out many
hardships educators in Alaska face compared to other states;
however, he stated that Alaska is ranked number one in one item:
fiscal stability. He said fiscal stability measures the ability
of a state to ensure the success of government sponsored
programs and quality of life for the state's residents. The
state has the ability to choose to invest more in its students
and he encouraged the committee to increase the BSA.
5:50:06 PM
CRYSTAL HOFFMAN, representing self, testified in opposition to
HB 65. She related that included in her property taxes is a sum
that goes to ASD, which equates to $1,000 per month. She said
she felt she was investing in the students of Alaska but
expected a better return; therefore, she questioned why more
money should go into an investment that currently does not have
a good return in terms of the low ranking of Alaskas schools.
She opined that a better system should be developed where the
money follows students, and she asked the committee to consider
alternatives other than additional funds for something that has
not seen success yet.
5:52:18 PM
VICKI HEWITT, President, Matanuska-Susitna Education
Association, stated that she was honored to represent nearly
1,200 certified teachers, nurses, and other providers. She
offered her observations about the impact of the last seven
years of flat funding. First, she said, student class sizes
have grown, and teachers have to adjust by teaching many
different levels within the same classroom, also resulting in
students getting left behind. Flat funding has also limited the
ability to recruit and retain the best of educators. She
relayed hearing from educators who consider leaving Alaska due
to its non-competitive wages and incentives. As someone on the
front lines educating students, she said, without this
investment, students would continue to suffer, and outcomes
cannot improve. She urged the committee to pass HB 65 and make
an investment in Alaska's students.
5:54:44 PM
JENNIFER PALMISANO, Anchorage School District (ASD), offered her
testimony in support of HB 65. She said that school districts
across the state are in need of stable and predictable funding,
which is crucial to attract qualified educators. She noted that
the BSA had not been increased since 2016, and the impact has
created a loss of purchasing power for the ASD, as well as
resulting in negative funding. She said finding teachers is a
daily struggle for every school, and she noted there are at
least two unfilled positions a day in her district. She urged
the committee to consider raising the BSA so Alaska schools can
continue to serve students with quality education they deserve.
5:57:20 PM
JAMIE BURGESS, related that she was the Superintendent for Nome
Public Schools for seven years, and she stressed her passion for
the achievement of students and the wellbeing of staff. With
only $30 increase to the BSA since 2016, there are no easy cuts
to make, and struggles to find appropriate staff continues. She
requested that the state make a significant investment in
education, which is an investment in children's futures, as they
are the future. She added that districts have done their best
with flat funding the past seven years but the decline in
funding resulted in a decline in education outcomes, she said.
6:00:57 PM
RODNEY DIAL, representing self, noted that he is the mayor of
the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, and that he testified to ask for
fairness. He explained that half of the state is considered
organized boroughs, and the other half is unorganized. In the
organized areas such as Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Matanuska-
Susitna, the state imposes a broad-based mandatory tax called a
required local contribution. He described that in Ketchikan,
families are contributing thousands of dollars per year in
support of education, whereas the unorganized areas will pay
nothing in support of their schools. Because of this truth, he
said, fairness should dictate at a minimum the legislature's
consideration of inflation proofing the education spending it
authorizes. It is not fair to continue to ask half the state to
pay more local taxes each year, he said. For the state to have
a sustainable budget, he opined "organized borough formation"
must be encouraged.
6:03:12 PM
LESLIE JACOBY, representing self, testified in support of HB 65
on behalf of herself, the Seward Tsunami Swim Club, and her
daughter Lydia who was an Olympic swimmer. She stressed the
need to keep the community's pool open year-round, adding that
currently, the pool is closed for two months in the summer
making training difficult for high achieving athletes. Closing
swimming pools hurts kids, seniors, and community members who
need it the most, she said. She described the many benefits of
having skills in swimming, and that the rates of drowning in
Alaska are one of the highest in the nation. The pool provides
a safe space, a healthy outlet, and she noted that when students
learn swimming, it improves other areas of their academic lives,
as well as teaching discipline and goal setting. She opined
that swimming is a life skill and essential for public safety
and mental health.
6:06:12 PM
MARY TOUGAS, representing self, testified during the hearing on
HB 65 and stated that she supported more money for education,
but she would also support how smaller schools can be funded
differently than so many dollars per student. She stated that
pools were installed so that children could learn how to swim,
as well as being a safety and health issue. She reiterated her
support for education funding but shared her belief that all
borough schools should be kept open, particularly in Seward.
6:09:29 PM
ERIKA BURR, representing self, testified in support of HB 65 as
a former student in Fairbanks, Alaska, a current teacher, and a
future parent. Relationships between students and teachers have
utmost importance and lack of funding undermines these
relationships by creating large class sizes. As a teacher, she
said she only gets to know the students who actively strive,
which leaves teachers to feel less satisfied with their jobs.
Young people deserve to have teachers' energy, time, and
attention, and when that is lacking, some students "check out."
She urged the committee to pass HB 65 and show kids that they
matter.
6:12:09 PM
BETH ZIRBES, representing self, stated that her worry is related
to the class sizes proposed for students. She said that her
daughter's preschool had a student teacher ratio of ten to one,
and there was then a proposed 27 students, which she found
unacceptable. As a teacher, she said she found it hurtful to be
accused of failing, adding that a fourth-grade test is an
inadequate measure of how students are doing; however, she
highlighted other areas where her students ranked above the
national average. She said is it hard to motivate people to
come into the field and do a good job when the situation is dire
and poorly funded.
6:15:02 PM
CINDY GLASSMAKER, representing self, testified in opposition to
HB 65, and offered her belief that raising the BSA does not
guarantee students will have or receive the needed tools from
the educational system to provide better outcomes specifically
through the test scores. She stated that Alaska is fifth lowest
in the nation for test scores, and dead last in fourth grade
reading. She opined that Alaska's kids should be funded by
allowing families to create an educational voucher system that
works for them. Moving a spending bill with the revenue issues
the state is facing is irresponsible, she said, and she asked
the committee to oppose HB 65.
6:17:02 PM
RANDY DALY, representing self, provided his professional
background, and stated that he is a massive proponent of
education so much so that he volunteered his time to educate
children in many areas, including teaching them the economic
system. He said he expected outcomes, value for the dollars,
and offered his belief that it was not the time to increase the
amount of money [to the BSA] until the state can ensure there
would be some output. Looking at alternative ways to provide
education must be investigated, he said.
6:20:53 PM
EMILY FERRY, representing self, related that in her work world,
she has heard a lot from employers who cannot find qualified
workers, and said she is also deeply alarmed by the statistics
heard tonight. When the state invests, there are better
outcomes, she said, and when the budget is cut, the outcomes
worsen. She questioned where citizens of Alaska want to go as a
state. To develop the work force of tomorrow, she opined the
state must invest in middle school and elementary students. She
brought up an example of a classroom size of 180 students and
one teacher [in a gym] because there were not enough teachers or
substitute teachers (subs). She expressed her joy at having
the choice to send her kids to various types of schools in
Alaska and reiterated the need to invest to provide a vibrant
future to Alaska's students.
6:24:28 PM
REGINA WRIGHT, representing self, testified in opposition to HB
65 and expressed concern that education spending was the second
largest category in Alaska's budget. She said studies revealed
that higher spending did not lead to better outcomes and urged
the committee to oppose the bill.
6:25:27 PM
STEPHANIE WILLIAMS, representing self, provided her background
as an educator for 20 years in both public and private schools,
and taught students from low economic areas to economically well
off. She said when she came to Alaska, she was impressed with
the public schools her daughters attended. She relayed that she
went into the Alaska school system as a substitute teacher and
saw wonderful teachers, but her concern was the mismanagement of
funds. She recalled seeing 30 Apple computers against a wall,
which was money that was spent in the school system, but the
computers were not up and running. She explained that she asked
why that was, and she was told that there was only one
technician in the school district that could service the
computers. She also noted the turnover rate for teachers who
went into administrative roles. She offered her belief that the
money was there but allocated wrong. She opined money needs to
be better managed and the state must dig into where that money
is going.
6:29:23 PM
LORRIE HEAGY, representing self, offered her background as an
educator for 26 years in the Juneau School District with a PhD.
She noted that she was heartened by Governor Dunleavy's speech
at the beginning of legislature that focused on children. She
stressed all the hardships that teachers go through on a daily
basis with very little prep time. She added that she heard a
lot about Alaska's investment in teachers, who are in turn going
to the Lower 48 due to no retirement system and class sizes,
among other reasons. She asked the committee to think of the
future and support the children.
6:32:48 PM
C.J. KOAN, representing self, testified in opposition to HB 65.
She related her passion for Alaska students and their successful
education. She added that recently, she was provided an
explanation to BSA calculations and expressed that she was
amazed at how it actually worked. She said it was eye-opening
to learn how the math was done and she gave brief examples of
her perception of it. She reiterated that as much as she
supported education, a new method should be created around the
use of monies to give kids what they actually need. She opined
that there is mismanagement going on and that it should be
tweaked.
6:36:46 PM
PETER HOEPFNER, Vice-President, Cordova School District,
testified in support of HB 65, and offered his background with
the Alaska Association of School Boards (AASB). He acknowledged
the continued decline of education funding along with the rising
cost of health insurance. He added that the continued decline
of funding means that the state is always looking at cutting in
more districts. He noted the difficulties in hiring even
substitute teachers, as other jobs pay more. He said [from a
2019 study] Alaskas spending on K-12 education falls below the
U.S. average, and he opined the state needs to invest in the
future of education.
6:39:40 PM
MIKE COONS, Concerned Citizens of Alaska, stated that he was the
president of the Concerned Conservatives of Alaska and testified
in opposition to HB 65 and the $1,000 increase. He said HB 65,
along with SB 52, "could care less there are any means to ensure
those standards are met," and all the while Alaska is dead-last
in all states in education. He offered his belief that
teachers' salaries do not reflect that they are underpaid. He
asked the committee to vote no on the bill and "kill it here and
now."
6:42:21 PM
DEBBIE CARY, noted she was the president of the Kenai Peninsula
Borough School District, and she had 4 children who attended and
graduated from Alaska schools. She said 30 years ago many
things were not thought of, such as cyberbullying and social and
emotional development, but today it is imperative not to only
think about it but to allocate resources to support the well-
being of students. She noted her district's current deficit in
their budget and various cuts projected. She said she was not
asking the committee to fund a failing system but to think of
the future of education and support the children through HB 65.
6:45:06 PM
HEATHER BARDARSON, representing self, testified in support of HB
65 and to raise the BSA to $1,250. She provided her family's
background of being educated in Alaska and said Seward schools
cannot afford to lose any more educational funding. She belief
that the community needed competitive teacher salaries and
maintained infrastructure. She said she hoped she and her
family's voices would bring further funding for future
educational opportunities in Alaska. She implored the committee
to pass HB 65.
6:47:21 PM
TYLER MALLORY, representing self, related his background as a
police officer in Seward and a high school football team coach
and affirmed his support for funding the BSA. He offered
examples of kids' success stories who excelled in school and
went on to be successful students. He said when extracurricular
activities are taken away, such as football that attract certain
kinds of kids, those kids lose out on the opportunity to teach
them how to be functioning adults. He opined that the BSA
should be raised and eliminating athletics on the [Kenai]
peninsula is something that cannot happen.
6:49:49 PM
RON JOHNSON, representing self, stated that he had a keen
interest in education, but his biggest concern is the lack of
results for the money spent, as statistics show Alaska ranks
amongst the lowest in the states for performance results. He
said he did not believe that throwing more money into the
education system was going to improve it, and he also questioned
where the money would come from. As a taxpayer, he said he
would be willing to increase the BSA if the results could be
shown.
6:52:11 PM
JANET JOHNSON, representing self, reflected on previous
testimony opposing the bill, and opined that there was
definitely something wrong with Alaska's education system when
children are not being taught what they need to know to function
in an adult world. It does not take more money, she said, to
teach math, writing, and English. She reiterated her opposition
to HB 65 and said she hoped the committee would strongly
consider not passing the bill.
6:54:16 PM
MICHELLE HODEL, representing self, testified in opposition to HB
65. She said she agreed with prior testifiers who said the
state needed to get back to the basics. She added that the
"woke ideology, that she saw posted all over the school, which
she called propaganda, needed to stop. She said all this should
not be tied to money, and she stated it would limit those who
cannot afford to send children to a private school or homeschool
them.
6:55:56 PM
MARIANNE NELSEN, representing self, said she is testifying as a
concerned citizen, mother of four, and a small business owner.
Education spending is the second largest category of Alaska's
budget, yet the outcomes do not support that investment, she
said. She reiterated prior testifiers information given on
Alaska's statistics in education nationwide that she stated was
"quite concerning." Higher spending did not lead to better
educational results, and if the state could get creative and
figure out how to educate students differently, she said she
would be in support of the bill. She reinstated her opposition
to HB 65 and asked the committee to consider what she had
presented.
6:59:05 PM
SAHAR FOSTER, representing self, provided her background as a
student in public schools in Juneau. She said that after her
freshmen year it became apparent to her that the public school
system did not meet her needs and she enrolled herself in a
boarding school. She stated that she firmly believed in
education, but after her son had been enrolled in the public
education system, she discovered that the school system could
not meet her child's needs, and he was being asked to
underperform on a daily basis. She said the [school] system
does not meet everyone's needs, nor does it need more funding;
there is a systemic problem that can't be portrayed on what the
issues are. Raising the BSA while parents are pulling their
children from the system creates a financial gap the state
thought it could meet by raising the base level, she said.
7:02:54 PM
LORI RUCKSDASHEL, Principal, Anchorage School District,
testified in support of HB 65. She relayed that in her
district, she saw the impact of flat funding in all aspects of
staffing, including high turnovers for not only teachers, but
paraprofessionals. She acknowledged the want for highly trained
staff in the classrooms, especially in K-3 to build strong
foundations, but it is all directly due to funding, she said.
She opined that reliable funding is an absolute necessity, and
urged the committee to consider increasing and inflation
proofing the BSA to ensure Alaska schools can continue to serve
students.
7:04:50 PM
KELLY KING, representing self, testified in support of HB 65,
and noted that public schools are often some children's one
constant through uncertainty. At risk students, she said, need
positive and consistent relationships with school staff as well
as captivating school programming. She offered her belief that
if the state cannot attract and retain quality educators and
mentors, a constant for vulnerable young would be removed.
7:06:50 PM
JOSHUA GIRARD, representing self, offered his professional
background, adding that he was a paraprofessional at Seward
Middle School. He said he witnessed cutbacks that included the
loss of music, classes being forced to merge, and teachers
taking on more work with the same pay. Teachers, he said, left
for better employment and benefits elsewhere. The funding does
not allow for competitive pay and in turn affects the staffing
and students. He questioned how the needs are to be met with
limited faculty and expressed support for raising the BSA.
7:09:34 PM
PATTY WISEL, representing self, explained that her concern was
what may happen to her grandchildren in regard to their
education and who will pay down the road. She mentioned
Alaska's .7 percent drop in enrollment, adding that since 2002,
Alaska had grown its education revenues and spending by nearly a
third while enrollment has declined. She reiterated Alaska's
place nationwide in education and said that the numbers are
critical and should be repeated. She opined it is time to fund
students, not systems, and she urged the committee to vote no on
HB 65.
7:11:41 PM
JENNIFER SAMPSON, representing self, offered a brief personal
background and related that she had come across a statistic that
said Alaska spends about $18,000 per student. She explained
that her son is a college student and his tuition is about half
of that, which she found "mind-blowing." Public schools, she
said, are much less expensive and she questioned why they are
only funded at 90 percent. She noted charter schools cost less
to operate, yet they are thriving. She said she is not against
funding schools, but asked that the students be funded, not the
system.
7:14:07 PM
BARBARA TYNDALL, representing self, provided background on her
children's education in Alaska, adding that sometimes, she would
take her children out of the public school and put them in a
private school. She stated that one can get a very good
education with very little money, as seen in the private
schools, but she acknowledged not everyone can afford that
option. She confirmed her opposition to raising the BSA because
of the outcomes; the money is not doing what it is meant to do,
she said. She believed that educators are producing the
product, and everyone else receives whatever they are giving,
and she stressed the shortages of teachers here as well as
throughout the U.S. The available money should be stewarded and
follow the student, she opined. She urged the committee not to
pass HB 65, and to examine ways to steward the funds, as she
opined a lot can be done with very little.
7:19:22 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 7:19 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
7:30:51 PM
SALLY DUNCAN, representing self, testified in opposition to HB
65, and stated that kids are not benefiting from increases. In
the 1970s, she said, kids were at or near being top performers,
and only an average was paid out of the budget. Now, kids are
last in most subjects and top dollar is being paid out of the
budget, which is why, she said, she opposed HB 65.
7:32:37 PM
WILL MULDOON, related that he was a member of the Juneau School
District Board of Education as the finance chair, where he said
they passed their budget recently, and he noted a $3 million
deficit as well as other financial hardships the district faced.
He brought up examples of other states who proposed similar
legislation to HB 65, and opined the Alaska State Legislature
could emulate them. He reiterated his support for the bill and
thanked the committee for their work.
7:35:45 PM
ROBERTA ZIPAY, representing self, said that she appreciated the
passion for helping students, and she related stories about
public versus private schooling. She stated that she can only
speak directly and personally about ASD and what she saw as not
adequate, she opined. She gave examples of her children in
public schools being taught subject matter she did not want them
to learn. She added that there were posters and literature in
the offices of the school she did not find appropriate. She
said she appreciated the ability to place her children in a
private school system where she praised the education they
received there, and she noted she also taught there. She asked
the committee to find a better way to support students, because
"this is not it."
7:41:51 PM
MICA VAN BUSKIRK, representing self, testified in support of HB
65. She said the lack of predictable and adequate increases of
the BSA caused the inability to retain and recruit quality
teachers. She added that impacts in Seward schools included
consolidated classes, loss of core classes, and the reduction of
high-level classes. Many students, she said, are being forced
to take distance education classes and noted the possibility of
the school's pool closure. She related that families have moved
out of the community to find schools with more opportunities.
There are no private schools in her community, so there are no
other options except for homeschooling, which is an option a lot
of parents cannot take. She requested not just one time
funding, but sustainable and predictable increases to the BSA.
7:44:57 PM
CINDY ECKLUND, Assembly Member, Kenai Peninsula Borough, related
that she was a District 6 Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly
member. She said that the borough assembly adopted a resolution
requesting that the state make a meaningful increase to the BSA
for public schools. The district, she said, is facing a $13.1
million budget deficit for fiscal year 2024 (FY 24) requiring an
increase to class size and elimination of programs. She added
that the BSA is at the lowest it has been in 20 years adjusted
for inflation. She reiterated that the assembly requests a
meaningful increase to the BSA for Alaska's students to bridge a
fiscal gap created by a lack of inflationary increases to the
BSA over the last several years.
7:47:01 PM
EVELYN DALTON, representing self, provided her background in
education, and stated she is testifying because the education
system is in crisis. She said she saw the disenfranchisement
all around her when she went to work, both in the faces of
students and staff, and in addition, enrollment and performance
was down. She stated she would love to say that increasing
money would fix things, but there are no up to date systems or
regulations, and the issue of what is being done with the
districts needs to be addressed. Families are pulling kids out
of the schools because they are not getting the outcomes, and
until the "model" is fixed, there is no sense in throwing money
at something that is already broken, she opined.
7:50:07 PM
ALEXANDER RENO, representing self, testified in opposition to HB
65, and opined that it is not an issue of if more money is
needed, it is a matter of optimizing the money already in the
system. He provided his background of being educated in Alaska,
and that he currently worked with the state. He relayed the
importance of parents being involved in their child's education
and in the system, and he expressed his opinion that it did not
make sense fiscally to throw more money at a problem when there
is a debt with the state. Reallocation of funding can benefit
the issue, he said.
7:52:34 PM
BERNADETTE WILSON, state director, Americans for Prosperity,
said that among those represented are single mothers and fathers
who cannot afford to travel to Juneau to testify, as well as
kids who have learning disabilities that do not have the nerve,
to be here and testify. She stated that the amount of money
being put into education does not match the dismal placement
results Alaska's students produce. She urged the body, when
they look at funding, to fully vet the bill. She expressed her
shock to have found out that legislators who sponsored the bill
did not know the teacher to administrator ratio is four to five
in nearly every single school district. She said she was told
that number was not accurate and explained that the statistic
can be found to back it up. She opined it is low-income kids
the state is discriminating against by continuing to throw money
into a program that does not work. She expressed her belief
that students need to be funded, not systems that have failed
for more than a decade.
7:56:17 PM
ERIC GODDEN, representing self, said he opposed the passage of
HB 65 and began by asking how much money would be enough, to
which, he said, he did not think there was an answer. He said
it may not be a money issue since there are successful schools
as well as schools that are failing. He opined the lack of
success was being caused by a culture curriculum and
implementation. He pointed out the news of how teachers are
being cut but said he had not heard of a six-figure
administrator being cut. He said he thought the wastefulness
[of funds] is evident, and that he would not attach it to
inflation proofing.
7:58:56 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 7:58 p.m. to 7:59 p.m.
7:59:34 PM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE called on several testifiers who dropped off.
8:01:01 PM
DARREN SNYDER, representing self, thanked the House Education
Standing Committee for their service, and testified in support
of HB 65 and the success of all Alaska's communities. He
explained that when he learned of the state's inability to keep
up with commitment to educate K-12 youth over the past ten
years, he was "floored." He questioned how to achieve the goals
of every citizen of Alaska to be self-reliant and successful by
not providing even a 2013 funding level. He opined that unless
the BSA is raised, youth and communities throughout the state
are not adequately being served. He said the right thing to do
is obvious, and he urged the passage of HB 65. He addressed
previous criticism of "top heavy" administration being a
problem, and he said those who have problems with administrators
should get in touch with the school district to deal with
things. The public school is just another element in our
democracy and people must work with each other to achieve
accountability, he said.
8:04:49 PM
MICHELE ELFERS, representing self, advocated to raise the BSA.
She said she thought it was directly related to workforce
development, and she confirmed the many vacancies in her
organization. She opined that professionals could be raised
here in the state and retained, since it starts with good
quality education. A good quality education system is needed,
she said, and people are leaving due to the lack of it. She
gave examples of her own children in the Alaska school system
and discussed the need to educate her child through
correspondence courses alternatively. She stressed her desire
for students to be able to stay in the state.
8:08:59 PM
VALERIE BROOKS, representing self, testified in support of HB
65. She related she was a recently retired reading teacher and
had over 30 years of public education in Alask. She said she
saw firsthand how inflation and a stagnant BSA impacts students
and staff. She praised public education, students, and staff,
and opined that the system is not failing, but when it is not
adequately funded, it cannot address all the requirements to
meet the needs of public-school kids. Lack of funding results
in a lack of progress, she said, adding that HB 65 and a BSA
increase would help make Alaska public schools successful. She
urged the passage of the bill.
8:11:45 PM
RAY IMEL, representing self, relayed that he is a recently
retired teacher from a middle school in Juneau. He reflected on
the story of how cyclist Lance Armstrong had cheated but could
not lie to his child when asked. He said the "cheapskate"
funding for education has been cheating the children of Alaska.
Despite the fiscal reduction, test scores never increase, he
said. He stated that he had worked with a team of excellent
educators who doubled down to make things work, and at least two
of his colleagues "worked themselves to death," which he
described as an awful cautionary tale. He opined that HB 65 was
finally a step in the right direction.
8:14:32 PM
BILL BURR, Superintendent, Wrangell Public Schools, related that
he was Superintendent of Wrangell Public Schools, and testified
during the hearing on HB 65 specifically, he said, regarding the
effect a stagnant BSA would have on the educational
opportunities for the students in Wrangell, and the state at
large. As inflation and costs increase, the funding to public
education has not. He explained the hardships his district had
faced as a result of the [COVID-19] pandemic and their budget,
causing a significant strain on remaining staff. Students, he
said, are a resource that must never be depleted and while
adding funds to public education costs is not easy, it is
essential to the wellbeing of the state. He urged the committee
to make students a priority by increasing and inflation proofing
the BSA to a sustainable amount.
8:16:59 PM
JENNA FABIAN, Principal, Nikiski North Star Elementary, noted
her affiliation with the Alaska Association of Elementary School
Principals. She stated that stable and predictable funding is
critical in ensuring that districts retain and attract high
quality educators. In addition, the impact of inflation had
created a significant loss in purchasing power for all the
school districts, she said. The bandwidth for instructional
effectiveness of certified teaching professionals has been
greatly reduced, and less staff are unable to facilitate after
school programming. Another of her concerns, she said, is the
worry about burnout in educators as well as finding and
retaining qualified candidates for vacancies. Reliable funding
is key, and she asked the committee to increase and inflation
proof the BSA to ensure Alaska schools can serve students with
the quality education they deserve.
8:19:56 PM
KEVIN BANKS, representing self, offered his testimony as an
advocate for the passage of HB 65. Schools are not failing,
they are starving, he opined, characterizing the lack of funding
imposed on the public schools in the state as anemic. The
opportunity to go to alternative schools are great, he said, but
he questioned the students who dont have that option. He said
that public schools are public for a reason, and a part of
making sure that every student has a chance for an education.
He said it is time to start feeding the schools the
nourishment they require.
8:22:18 PM
GENE STONE, Superintendent, Lower Yukon School District, related
that he wished to advocate for school funding. He described
some of the increases his district faced, supplementing costs of
needed programs, and many of the capital improvement projects
not making the cut. He opined the BSA amount of $1,250 is a
reasonable starting point in the discussion of increasing the
BSA. Seven years of flat funding has put districts on obvious
deficits, he said, and he urged the passage of HB 65 to
adequately fund education.
8:25:53 PM
CHRIS REITAN, Superintendent, Craig City School District,
testified in support of HB 65 and a $1,250 increase in the BSA.
He related that he had been a superintendent in Alaska for 12
years and an educator in the state for 29 years. For 26 of
those years, he worked with districts that were strong advocates
for school choice options. He said he was a strong proponent of
district operated school choice options developed at the local
level. He highlighted the challenges the public school systems
face on a daily basis and how it impacts every school. He gave
examples of the hardships the Craig City School District endured
since the increase in the last BSA in 2017. He brought up the
lack of consistent investment into children's education and
urged the passage of HB 65.
8:29:31 PM
NATHAN ERFURTH, President, Kenai Peninsula Education
Association, provided his background as the president of the
Kenai Peninsula Education Association and testified in support
of HB 65. He relayed that for the last several years schools
had received very real cuts through increasing costs, and
inflation alongside a flat BSA. Districts attempted to absorb
the cuts by not re-hiring when teachers retire or resign, and
students are losing access to programs and professionals that
could open doors for life opportunities and careers, he said.
He offered his opinion that if the state wants to keep the best
and brightest around for the work force, they must be treated
well and given what they need while they are young. Public
education can meet everyone's needs with the right resources and
professionals, he said.
8:31:34 PM
KEVIN SHOVE, School Board Member, Haines Borough School
District, provided his educational and professional background
and stated that the Haines school board and administration
strongly support HB 65. He said that the current situation
regarding education is evident, and he reflected on some
testifiers' concerns about how the funding was being allocated.
He said that would be an accountability issue, not a funding
issue; however, not increasing funding since 2017 is a huge
concern for him. The passage of HB 65 would show serious
commitment to Alaska's education and children, he said, and
thanked the committee for their time and consideration.
8:35:37 PM
JOSHUA GILL, Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals,
provided his professional background and stated that he had many
affiliations, as well as being a parent of 5 children with 4
enrolled in public school. He said to meet the bare minimum
needs, the BSA needed a substantial increase. He noted the many
costs schools have faced to keep running, and in addition, the
challenge of recruiting and retaining teachers especially in
recent years. Flat funding, he said, had impacted all of this.
He stressed that raising the BSA would help provide students
with basic needs and well qualified educators.
8:38:48 PM
RITA TROMETTER, representing self, testified in opposition to HB
65, and she questioned where the increased allotment of money
was going to be used. Without real answers, she advised the
house to consider a tight budget for the upcoming year, as it
appeared annual allotment increases have little to no tracking
as to where it has been spent in the past to improve student
scores, or where it will be used in the future to improve
testing scores. She offered her belief that monies for
education should not increase, instead, education departments
should be advised to cut nonacademic curriculum from the line up
and go back to basic education [reading, writing, and math] so
students can pass grade level testing. She urged the committee
to vote against HB 65 at this time.
8:41:57 PM
LILLY BORON, Principal, Haines Borough School District, provided
her background and testified in support of HB 65. She expressed
her pride at the quality education Haines strives to deliver to
Alaska students. She added that students tend to stay in the
state and attend Alaska universities and she gave examples of
her own children's success. However, she said the cost of
groceries and other commodities have increased by at least 25
percent, and in recent years, there have been difficulties
recruiting and retaining qualified educators. Years of
continued flat funding, she said, had reduced the ability to
sustain programs and provide necessary student services. She
urged the committee to invest in Alaska's students and pass HB
65.
8:44:30 PM
LEM WHEELES, representing self, provided a brief personal
background and stated that he is a product of the Alaska
education system and highly invested in it. He opined that
schools are in dire need of a significant increase in the BSA,
and the amount proposed would go a long way to correct the
damage done. He said he witnessed firsthand the loss of
teachers due to flat funding, and he expressed that he is tired
of seeing great teachers leave his school because of lack of
adequate investment. He asked the committee to work with their
colleagues and the Senate to get HB 65 passed.
8:47:39 PM
PATTY BROWN, representing self, gave her background and said she
was a retired teacher and taught for 22 years in rural Alaska,
as well as being on the board of Alaska Science Teachers
Association for ten years. She said there had been flat funding
since 2017 with miniscule increases before that, and she
emphasized the huge needs in rural, urban, and bush communities
in Alaska. Holding schools accountable is the right thing to
do, not schools having to accomplish more with less, she said.
She stressed her support to raise the BSA and encouraged the use
of some of the funds to enrich science education for all
students.
8:50:51 PM
TIM ELDER, Employee, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District,
said he was the Kenai Peninsula Borough theatre manager since
2005 and began his career with the district as a theater
technician. He added that he raised two children in the
district who have graduated. He noted the district had not seen
an increase in the BSA since 2016, and he pointed out the
proposed elimination of theater technicians as a measure to
close the fiscal gap. By removing this technical support
position, he opined the community would lose access to a
resource that promotes creativity, community involvement, and
the arts. He asked the committee to invest in children and the
community by increasing the BSA.
8:53:32 PM
SANDI RYAN, President, Fairbanks Education Association, stated
that she was a 29-year teacher of high school mathematics and
computer science in Fairbanks, Alaska, and currently the
president of the Fairbanks Education Association. She gave
personal examples of her own education, and the opportunities
she had for field trips. She said budget cuts fall directly
onto the students and noted that extracurricular activities are
"drying up." She said she supported a significant increase to
the BSA for Alaska's students.
8:55:35 PM
KIM HAYS, representing self, testified in support HB 65 and
urged its passage. She said a well-educated populous is
integral to the survival of democracy, and education is the one
thing that should be invested more in year after year, not less.
She gave examples of her children's education, and that parents,
teachers, and education advocates have been "sounding the alarm"
for years. It has come to the point where there have been
school closures and more will be closed if things continue this
way, she said. She stated the passage of HB 65 would put
education first and show that the children are valued.
8:58:12 PM
PEGGY COWAN, representing self, said the minimal increase in the
BSA had eroded the ability of districts to hire the necessary
staff, and the past decade consisted of slashing budgets and
limiting extracurricular activities, among other consequences.
She urged the committee to listen to the specifics of the
current school board members who had testified, and urged the
committee to adopt a state budget that would increase funding
for schools to a sustainable level. Punishing districts by
short funding schools will not increase student achievement, and
families need to want to stay in Alaska to strengthen the future
of the state.
9:00:32 PM
ESTON JENNINGS, Director, Teaching and Learning Alaska Gateway
School District, testified in support of HB 65. She said an
increase of predictable funding is needed to retain quality
educators. She noted the lack of the BSA increase since 2016,
and the impact of inflation on purchasing power for districts.
There is a misconception that district offices are filled with
overpaid administrators which, she said, is simply not true.
Most educators wear multiple hats to do the necessary work of a
small district. Reliable funding is key to improving students'
outcomes by stabilizing schools and reducing educator turnover.
She affirmed her support for increasing and inflation proofing
the BSA.
9:02:39 PM
MIKE GRUNST, representing self, shared the educational
background of he and his children, and said it is time for the
state to step up and take responsibility for the direction
citizens want the state to go. He pointed out that Alaska is
the lowest taxed state in the nation and pay nothing for the
services received from the state. He reiterated some of
Alaska's unfavorable ratings in many other areas and opined that
the state needs a comprehensive financial plan to address these
issues. He suggested the coordination of school districts and
university systems so they can mutually support one another. He
said that Alaska has 750,000 residents with $80 billion in the
bank, and opined that almost all the problems can be solved with
the fortitude to do so.
9:06:18 PM
SUSAN NEDZA, Chief School Administrator, Bering Strait School
District, said that her district is only accessible by air
travel, and opportunities and challenges need predictable
funding at a level that meets the needs of students to operate
to full capacity. Costs have increased in recent years, which
in rural Alaska, is compounded by shipping and travel costs.
When these costs cannot be met, students must go without. She
said the district strives to do the best in providing a quality
education in a variety of areas without any additional funding,
but when full supports can be provided through stable funding,
improvement in test scores would be just one of the measures of
success. She said some communities have outgrown their schools
and are trying to make room for enough students; however, labor
and building costs have doubled. She stressed the importance of
a BSA increase so the crisis would not continue.
9:10:19 PM
TREVOR STORRS, President and CEO, Alaska Children's Trust, said
children make up 25 percent of Alaska's population but 100
percent of the future. Due to Alaska's poor standings in
education nationwide, everything must be done to ensure Alaska's
children grow up with the knowledge, skills, supports and
resources to be strong contributors to collective success. He
encouraged the legislature to pass meaningful changes to the BSA
this year, as well as a BSA that keeps pace with inflation.
9:12:39 PM
LAURA ANDERSON, representing self, stated that she is a fourth-
grade teacher in Anchor Point and testified in support of HB 65.
Schools need stable and predictable funding, since public
education has been flat funded since 2017, she said. She noted
that inflation has risen 18 percent and the BSA has increased by
less than 5 percent. She related that her district saw the
impacts of flat funding as well as how it could affect the
future. Students, teachers, and parents deserve better, she
said, and urged the passing of HB 65 so students can be served
with a quality education.
9:14:50 PM
FRANK HAUSER, Superintendent, Sitka School District, said that
the Sitka school district is currently facing a budget deficit
of $2.7 million dollars which represents almost 12 percent of
their total general fund budget. He said flat funding does not
provide for many things, and multiple years without an increase
to the BSA have eroded the ability to keep educators in
classrooms. He explained that in Sitka, they have made
significant cuts to teachers, administrators, support staff, and
programs. He opined that reliable funding would increase
student achievement, and that HB 65 would provide stability in
the schools in many ways. Money invested in Alaska's schools
and students is money well invested in the future of Alaska, he
said.
9:17:46 PM
TED EISCHEID, representing self, testified in support of HB 65.
He praised previous testimony and thanked the public educators
who were involved in his life. He recognized the crisis in
education funding over time and said he hoped the proposed
legislation would offer a solution. He reflected on testifiers
who said to "let the money flow with the students," and he
opined that the job of legislators is to maintain education with
adequate funding.
9:22:49 PM
SUMMER KOESTER, representing self, offered her background as a
teacher, a parent, and gave personal examples of when she began
her career as a teacher. She said she advocated for her son who
will soon enter middle school and will be in classes of 40 plus
students. She said she also advocated for her autistic daughter
who she takes to a school that does not have too many students
per class. Lastly, she said she advocated for her colleagues
and asked the committee to "fund what matters."
9:25:40 PM
ERICA KLUDT-PAINTER, Superintendent, Petersburg School District,
testified in support of HB 65 and provided a brief professional
background. She said her commitment to public education is
clear and unequivocal. She observed that the education budget
in Alaska had been unstable for years with a minimal $30
increase in the BSA in the last six years, leaving negative
outcomes. Stable and predictable funding is necessary, she
said, to ensure districts can attract and retain high quality
educators and improve student outcomes. She said her school
district [Petersburg, Alaska] is facing a $1 million budget
deficit, and the next steps would be increased class sizes and
reduced programs, among many. She urged the committee to
increase and inflation proof the BSA to ensure Alaska's schools
can meet important goals.
9:28:07 PM
CRISTEN SAN ROMAN, representing self, said she was testifying in
strong support of HB 65, and opined that it is legislators jobs
to make sure that state money is invested wisely. She offered
her perspective that schools have resources that benefit the
community, and a functional and thriving community is built on a
strong education system, and adequate funding being essential in
making that happen. She noted that in Homer, Alaska, there are
not many spaces for indoor recreation and that theater programs,
which may be cut, are important especially in winter months.
She spoke of some of her favorite programs during and after high
school, and said she is concerned that students may not be able
to experience all that she did. She stressed that 2017 money is
very different than 2023 money, and said it is beyond time for a
BSA increase.
9:31:14 PM
SARAH NUGENT, representing self, shared that she was an educator
in Kodiak, Alaska, and testified in support of HB 65. She
offered her educational background and that of her children's.
She implored the committee to do everything in their power to
make sure HB 65 passes into law, as the BSA has not increased
since 2017. Inflation has increased, and it is a disservice to
schools not to increase the funding, she said. If her district
does not receive more funding soon, drastic measures will be
forced upon them and students will suffer the consequences of
such cuts, she opined. The public schools are in crisis mode
and the Alaska legislature must increase the BSA this year and
do right by the children, she said.
9:33:39 PM
TERRIE GOTTSTEIN, representing self, testified in support of HB
65. She pointed out the last seven years of cuts to school
budgets while other costs have increased, which she found
unbelievable. The bill would at least approach a break-even
point on the BSA, she said, and she quoted a previous testifier
who said, our schools are not failing, they're starving". She
opined that the legislation had spent itself into a hole and she
encouraged the committee to at least pass the $1,250 increase to
the BSA and inflation proof it so as not to dig further into
another hole. Adequate funding, she said, is a constitutional
responsibility especially to public education in Alaska.
9:37:48 PM
ROY GETCHEL, Superintendent, Haines Borough School District,
urged the committee's support for HB 65 and an increase to the
BSA, as it had not been increased since 2016. He provided a
background of activities his students in his district
participated in that he wished to protect. He added that hiring
quality staff is the single most important thing he does as a
school leader, and emphasized the importance of responding to
the pressures of the economic situation immediately so that high
quality staff can be maintained for the benefit of the children.
9:41:23 PM
REED DAVIDSON, representing self, said that as a student, she
strongly supported HB 65. She said her district in Anchorage
had an estimated budget deficit of $68 million for fiscal year
2024 (FY 24), and academic curriculum would have to suffer,
among other things. She said she had frequent conversations
with administrators in the school district that all become
centered on lack of funding. She urged the committee to
allocate funds towards education, as there is no better
investment into the future of Alaska than an investment into its
school system.
9:43:38 PM
JAY GIBSON, representing self, testified in support of HB 65,
and offered his background which led to him being an educator.
He said that when he graduated, he had the flexibility to choose
where he wanted to teach, but it was competitive teacher
salaries that brough him to Alaska. Now, uncompetitive salaries
are pricing teachers out of living in the state and making it
impossible to sell these positions. He stated that it is the
simple truth that you get what you pay for in education just
like in other areas. He encouraged the committee to invest
funds into education and thanked them for their support.
9:46:45 PM
LUANN MCVEY, representing self, said that she is a retired
Alaska teacher and a grandmother, and strongly supported HB 65.
A significant increase is needed for the BSA for teachers to
meet the needs of students in public schools, she opined.
Public schools, she said, are inclusive and teachers must teach
to each student's needs. When class sizes boom even the best
teachers struggle, and in addition to planning student's
lessons, they must locate materials at appropriate reading
levels as well as maintain interaction with students. Funding
and providing for public education is a constitutionally
mandated job of the state, and without an appropriate BSA
increase, students will lose out on learning, she said. She
suggested paying for increases [in education funding] through
statewide income tax, reduce the permanent fund dividend, and
increase taxes on oil companies. She urged the committee to
pass HB 65.
9:49:36 PM
HEATHER CONN, Principal, Petersburg School District, stated that
she is a principal at Stedman Elementary School in Petersburg,
Alaska, and a board member of the Alaska Association of
Elementary School Principals. She said she supported HB 65 and
asked for consistency and reliability in education funding.
Funding is necessary to ensure the future of Alaska's students,
she said. She stated that she believed in education, what is
done in her district's schools, and she hoped the committee also
believed in the public education system and would support HB 65.
9:51:34 PM
JASON TAURIAINEN, representing self, related that he had been a
public-school student and had spent some time in private schools
as well. He said public school is a constitutional obligation
for the state government, and he saw opportunities within the
school system slowly start to erode due to flat funding. He
stated that his family leans in, not away from public education
and that his children had been successful through their own
public education. He said if it came down to how funding can be
accomplished, he would choose sales tax, or consumption tax. He
stressed that something needs to be done to accomplish
investment in the state's education.
9:54:39 PM
ROBYN CAPP, representing self, testified in support of HB 65,
and related that she was a special education educator and parent
of a special needs child. She said she is deeply committed to
the success of every student regardless of their ability level,
and that supported schools today are growing tomorrow's
inventors and leaders. She expressed that she had seen the
impact of insufficient funding in Fairbanks, and it is magnified
when students with disabilities are looked at. She offered her
belief that reliable funding is key to improving student
outcomes, and she asked the committee to support HB 65.
9:57:13 PM
DAN POLTA, Superintendent, Denali Borough School District, spoke
in support of HB 65 and urged the committee to advance the bill.
Students deserve and need support, and many years of stagnant
funding had negative impacts towards fully supporting students,
he said. Schools can no longer offer attractive salaries and
wages to teachers so they can nurture students' love of
learning. Children need support, deserve an excellent
education, and he opined HB 65 would be a powerful step.
9:58:35 PM
CYNDY MIKA, Superintendent, Kodiak Island Borough School
District, said that as an educator, superintendent, and parent,
she spoke in favor of HB 65 and the full increase to the BSA.
For years, the BSA has been flat-funded and inflation continues
to rise. In actuality, she said, funding is less than previous
years resulting in a severe disadvantage to public education.
Inflation proofing education funding and increasing the BSA is
necessary to ensure districts can provide high quality education
and educators, she opined. She reiterated her support for the
full increase to the BSA in HB 65.
10:01:09 PM
REBECCA INGALLS, Teacher's Union of Bristol Bay School District,
provided her educational background and affirmed her support and
encouragement for the passage of HB 65. There is a
constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education to
every student in the state, and she stated that the world
children live in today is not the same world as their parents
grew up in. Inconsistent funding for education has caused
schools to do more with less for a number of years, along with
cutting educators and programs. Staffers, she said, also have
to do their jobs, and then some, which makes it more difficult
to direct individual attention towards each child. She spoke
briefly about testing and said that kids are so much more than a
test score. She believed that comparing states through a
national test when each state does things differently is not an
adequate comparison. She urged the committee to visit local
schools to see the issues they face.
10:04:40 PM
CHRISTY JORDAN, representing self, testified in support of HB 65
and related that she was an elementary school counselor and
mother of a special needs child. She offered a story of a
family she knew who considered leaving Alaska, a theme she said
that she had seen much more in recent times because of lack of
opportunities. She added that music and art in the schools have
been lost and there is talk of closing the only local pool. She
stressed the importance of the pool as a life-saving necessity
where children learn how to swim. She said it was heartbreaking
when she hears of children not seeing a future in Alaska. She
brought up computerized testing that can last over four days,
and the inaccuracies that can result. She asked the committee
to provide more opportunities for children, so they want to stay
in the state.
10:07:44 PM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE closed public testimony on HB 65.
[HB 65 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 65 oppose received as of 3.20.23 redacted.pdf |
HEDC 3/21/2023 5:15:00 PM |
HB 65 |
| HB 65 Support received as of 3.20.23 Redacted.pdf |
HEDC 3/21/2023 5:15:00 PM |
HB 65 |
| HB 65 fiscal note 2.10.23- DEED.pdf |
HEDC 3/21/2023 5:15:00 PM |
HB 65 |
| HB 65 fiscal note- Fund Capitalization 2.10.23.pdf |
HEDC 3/21/2023 5:15:00 PM |
HB 65 |
| HB65 Sectional Analysis ver A 2.9.23.pdf |
HEDC 3/21/2023 5:15:00 PM |
HB 65 |
| HB65 Sponsor Statement ver A 2.9.23.pdf |
HEDC 3/21/2023 5:15:00 PM |
HB 65 |
| HB65 ver A.PDF |
HEDC 3/21/2023 5:15:00 PM |
HB 65 |