Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/13/2023 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB52 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 52 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE BILL NO. 52
"An Act relating to education; increasing the base
student allocation; and providing for an effective
date."
1:04:20 PM
LON GARRISON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION OF ALASKA
SCHOOL BOARDS, thanked the committee for their service and
acknowledged the difficult job the members faced in
planning for the funding of state services including
education. He referenced his time as a local school board
member. He read from written testimony:
Co-chairs Stedman, Hoffman, and Olson, and members of
the Senate Finance Committee. For the record, my name
is Lon Garrison. I serve as the Executive Director of
the Association of Alaska School Boards.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you today
in strong support of SB 52 Increase the Base Student
Allocation. AASB believes SB 52 upholds the
Legislature's moral and constitutional responsibility
of sufficiently funding Alaska's public education
system.
The AASB Board of Directors has adopted three
legislative priorities for this year. They are:
• Sufficient, sustainable, and predictable education
funding
• Retention and recruitment of teachers,
administrators, and staff
Student wellness and safety
The state of Alaska has always statutorily fulfilled
its responsibility to establish and maintain a public
education system under Article 7, Section 1 of
Alaska's Constitution. The legislature's
responsibility has been to appropriate sufficient
funds to maintain an effective public education
system. However, for over a decade, Alaska has not
sufficiently invested the resources necessary to
ensure every student receives an excellent education
daily.
In November 2022, the AASB membership unanimously
approved RESOLUTION #2.2 URGING EARLY, ADEQUATE,
EQUITABLE, AND PREDICTABLE FUNDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
by specifying an increase of not less than $860 to the
BSA. This figure was put forward by the Anchorage
School Board as a result of the District's analysis
early last fall of the difference between the current
FY23 BSA of $5,930 and an estimated inflation-adjusted
value of $6,820, using the CPI-Urban Alaska rate,
compounded over the past six years. As it turns out,
that early fall estimate was low. ASDs recalculated
BSA increase, accounting for inflation through the end
of 2022, should have been $ 1,268 for FY2024. The most
recent increase in the BSA occurred six years ago, in
2017.
A further comparison of the BSA to inflation over the
past eleven years (2012 to 2022) shows the BSA has
only increased by $250 or a total of 4.29% percent.
Meanwhile, based on the CPI-Urban Alaska data, the
cumulative inflation for that same period is 24.6%.
Thus, the underfunding of Alaska's public education
through the BSA has been a chronic issue. Several
times, additional funding outside the BSA has been
provided, which is appreciated. However, these one-
time discretionary funds have not led to the stability
and predictability of a statutory increase in the BSA.
SB 52 provides for a measured and predictable increase
in the BSA over the next three years. An increase of
$1000 in FY24 comes much closer to matching the loss
of buying power. Another BSA increase of $348 in FY25
builds upon that adequacy, and finally, in FY25,the
BSA is tied to a rolling average of inflation. These
three steps provide both the sufficiency and stability
that is one of AASB's top legislative priorities. AASB
has strongly advocated that the BSA should statutorily
be connected to an inflation-proofing formula. Our
resolution 2.50 INFLATION-PROOFED BASE STUDENT
ALLOCATION (BSA) INVESTMENTS addresses this issue.
So, what does this mean for school boards which, by
statute, are required to establish, approve and
implement balanced budgets each year? It has meant
having to make hard decisions that reduce staffing,
eliminate programs, curtail extracurricular
activities, and diminish many of the supports that
affect the conditions for learning for each student.
Locally elected school boards have been delegated the
authority to implement a system of public education
required by the Alaska Constitution. School board
members are tasked with governing their districts and
allocating funds to execute an educational plan for
all public school students. It is a highly complex
task. In Alaska, school boards have no taxing
authority. They, therefore, must rely solely on
revenue from the state, the federal government, and in
organized areas, at least a minimum local contribution
to fund education.
A myriad of operational costs, including utilities,
supplies, transportation, fuel, maintenance, freight,
food, instructional materials, and other services
necessary for operating a school system, have all
increased dramatically. As these operational costs
have increased, resources to employ the staff needed
to run schools and deliver educational support and
instruction have been reduced. As a result, the
opportunities for all students to succeed diminish,
and we see declines in many indicators of student
achievement.
1:09:40 PM
Mr. Garrison continued his testimony:
Last Friday, I attended the House Education Committee
meeting where three rural Alaska school districts,
Lower Kuskokwim, Northwest Arctic, and Bristol Bay,
described their education programs and the monumental
challenges each of those districts faces in supporting
their mission and vision for their students.
Overwhelmingly, staff turnover ranging from 20% to 40%
was a primary challenge due to uncompetitive salary
and benefits, high housing costs, the lack of housing,
and the high cost of living. All presenters repeated
that the cost of essential goods, such as a gallon of
milk, could run from $10 to $30, depending on
location. A gallon of gasoline can vary from just over
$6/gallon to almost $15/gallon.
The highly uncertain nature of the annual legislative
appropriation for education funding and the potential
executive vetoes continually creates uncertainty that
makes it difficult to sustain a maintenance of effort
in an effective and efficient manner. Time and again,
school boards and superintendents must make hard
choices that often result in reduced staff or the
elimination of programs and services, which often
negatively impact student achievement. Pupil-teacher
ratios increase. Critical student support services
such as school counselors, nurses, career and
technical education programs, and career guides are
often the first to go. Extracurricular activities are
often next, along with the arts and other electives,
such as advanced placement classes. All of these
supports and programs help create the fabric of local
public education woven into the composition of every
Alaskan community. The compendium of all of these
things makes the American education system special.
Locally elected school boards, elected by the same
constituencies as yourselves, have been delegated the
authority to implement a system of public education on
behalf of the state of Alaska. In order to do that,
they rely upon state, local, and federal governments
for revenue. School boards implement the local control
model that has served Alaska well, but it depends on
your support.
AASB strongly advocates for your support of adopting
SB 52, Increasing the Base Student Allocation, as an
investment in Alaska's students that will pay
dividends in our future. Funding outside the BSA only
promotes short-sighted spending, reducing staff
retention and recruitment and ultimately decreasing
student achievement. AASB asks that this committee
support the will of the Senate Bipartisan Coalition
and prioritize increasing the BSA as a definitive
commitment to supporting Alaska's public school system
and Alaska's future through the education of its young
people.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
1:12:57 PM
Co-Chair Stedman recalled that Mr. Garrison had spent
several years on the Sitka School Board. He commented that
fundamentally the legislature had to have a balanced budget
and had to consider two open items: the Permanent Fund
Dividend (PFD) and education. He asked Mr. Garrison's
opinion on how to balance the PFD demand with funding
education. He thought it was clear the state did not have
enough cash flow to fully fund the PFD, much less an
increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA).
Mr. Garrison echoed others that had said the issue was a
policy call. He reckoned back to his experience on the
Sitka School Board, where he was faced with the same
funding prioritization decisions. He advised that the
legislature prioritize funding education. He referenced the
Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) resolution that
suggested an increase of not less than $860 to the BSA,
which the membership felt was needed to keep education at
its current level and make up a little ground. He
understood that the state was faced with weighing two great
demands. He commented that his family had used every PFD to
help his children with college. He advocated on behalf of
school boards that the priority of education should be
placed above that of the PFD.
1:16:42 PM
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.
1:16:53 PM
ANDY HOLLERMAN, ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ANCHORAGE,
testified in support of the bill. He commented that he had
been a member of the Anchorage School Board and was a
classroom teacher. He thought the bill was encouraging. He
remarked on the longevity of teachers and the length of
time needed to improve at teaching. He discussed inflation
and its effect on programs. He asserted that there were
side effects to not having an annual inflation adjustment
to education funding.
1:19:34 PM
KELLY LESSENS, ANCHORAGE SCHOOL BOARD, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of the bill. She emphasized that student outcomes
did not change until adult behaviors changed, which was the
guiding philosophy that the Anchorage School Board had
adopted. The board had adopted goals related to grade K-2
reading proficiency, grade 3-9 math proficiency, and high
school students college and career readiness. The board
had adopted a multi-year calendar and designed annual
budgets to support the goals. She discussed efficiencies
identified by the board. She stressed that there was a
vision in line with the education goals, which she thought
would translate into student outcomes. She asserted that
continued flat funding would put the districts goals at
risk. She cited a projected deficit of $85 million for the
Anchorage School District. She discussed positive side
effects of additional education funding.
1:22:01 PM
CORRINE MARKS, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the bill.
She read from a prepared testimony:
I am Corinne Marks, a high school teacher in Juneau.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify in favor of
raising the BSA.
Many people share how much they value education and
teachers. Working two years at a US Embassy school, I
experienced the realities of being sincerely valued.
This time proved to me that more funding does make a
difference. I was happier, I was healthier, because I
wasn't beaten down by a lack of funding. Classes were
guaranteed no larger than twenty. Preparation time was
twice what I currently have. I was able to do what
research tells educators they need to do: plan with
colleagues, assess student data, provide feedback, and
communicate with families. Proper funding does make a
difference for our students.
As flat funding continues, healthcare, housing and
food costs increase. To compensate, Ive taken on work
as an adjunct at the UAS School of Education. Im
training Alaskas future educators and watching them
leave for California, Illinois, Oregon, and Maryland.
Colleagues are also leaving for opportunities outside
Alaska. More reasonable work expectations, better pay,
and a pension. Over my 25 years, my job description
has expanded from being a teacher to include mediator,
assessor, counselor, coach, mentor, snack providor.
We need to be able to look at future educators and
tell them they will love the job and be fairly
compensated. We need educators to seek out jobs in the
State of Alaska, and stay here. We need the best
possible future for our communities, schools, and most
importantly our students the future of this state. I
would not have to be here today if the legislature
truly appreciated the importance of education, because
raising the BSA would not be an issue, it would simply
be done. Have courage, work together, and fund the
future of our state. Increase the BSA.
1:24:15 PM
PATTY BROWN, ALASKA SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU,
testified in support of the bill. She retired after
teaching for 22 years, and was speaking on behalf of the
Alaska Science Teachers Association. She listed multiple
teachers in her family. She asserted that investing in
schools was investing in community. She proposed that an
increase of $1,000 in the BSA with $350 the following year,
in addition to inflation-proofing would be ideal. She
recalled that in 2019 the state Board of Education adopted
science standards for Alaska. She continued that Department
of Education and Early Development (DEED) had provided web
resources and training videos as a start to implementation.
She recounted that most teachers that communicated with her
organization did not have the necessary resources.
Ms. Brown identified that money added to the BSA could be
earmarked for improving science education for every
student. She listed manners in which the funds could be
applied. She added that the content of science was
inspiring to young learners and could help achieve goals in
reading, writing, and math. She spoke in favor of place-
based education and incorporation of indigenous ways of
knowing. She noted that science was strongly connected to
career and technical education. She asserted that public
education had always been about contributions to society,
and that it was imperative that funding for science
education become a priority.
1:27:07 PM
EMMA MELKERSON, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the bill.
She was currently a kindergarten teacher in Juneau. She had
also worked in Kivalina, at a school replaced with funds
allocated by the Kasayulie v. State of Alaska settlement.
She relayed that the lawsuit was filed to ensure that
Alaska met its constitutional obligation that the
legislature shall by general law, establish and maintain a
system of public schools open to all children of the state.
She noted that the Northwest Arctic Borough School District
was looking at a multi-million dollar deficit. She
emphasized the importance of her students and requested a
permanent increase to the BSA.
1:29:26 PM
CHRIS HEIDEMANN, PRESIDENT, JUNEAU EDUCATION ASSOCIATION,
JUNEAU, spoke in support of the bill. He relayed that he
was a teacher at JDHS and was a parent of two children in
the Juneau School District (JSD). He wanted to discuss the
effects of flat funding on the teaching profession in the
state. He cited vacancies in all urban school districts in
the state, at all levels. He posited that flat funding was
causing the education jobs in the state to be un-
competitive in the open market, making it impossible to
attract quality educators to the state. He observed that
in-state education graduates from within the state
overwhelmingly left the state for better wages and benefits
and a defined-benefit pension, while those that came to the
state left after a couple of years.
1:31:29 PM
ELIZABETH SIDDON, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of the
bill. She was a parent of a school age child and was a
member of the Juneau School Board. She supported an
increase to the BSA and urged members to encourage
colleagues. She thought an increased BSA would provide
additional stability. She mentioned flat funding and rising
costs. She discussed her childs education during the
Covid-19 pandemic. She asserted that her child and his
peers missed foundational learning time. She discussed the
importance of educational opportunities.
1:34:43 PM
CALEB SCHANE, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the bill.
He thought not raising the BSA would make it harder to have
after-school activities. He discussed losing teachers at
his school. He discussed the effect of larger class sizes.
1:36:25 PM
SUNNA SCHANE, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of the
bill. She was a student at Montessori Borealis and was in
seventh grade. She was in favor of raising the BSA. She
thought that Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School had lost some
extra-curricular classes due to a lack of funding. She
discussed the importance of education.
Co-Chair Olson handed the gavel to Senator Merrick.
1:37:35 PM
Senator Bishop asked what Ms. Schane planned after her
graduation.
Ms. Schane shared that she was interested in psychology.
1:37:55 PM
BAY WHITE, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in favor of the bill. He
thought that raising the BSA would help students, and not
raising the BSA would cause the loss of extra-curricular
activities.
1:38:46 PM
EMILY FERRY, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the bill.
She relayed that she was a Montessori Borealis Site Council
parent. She came to the meeting with a group of students.
She stressed that she was advocating for all students and
schools in the state. She discussed positive activities in
local schools. She feared that not raising the BSA would
have dire consequences. She discussed contribution and
supported contributing towards her childrens education.
1:41:07 PM
SUMMER KOESTER, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the bill.
She relayed that she was a teacher and a parent of two
children in JSD. She discussed advocating for her job as a
Spanish teacher, which had been cut. She discussed class
sizes of 40 students. She shared that her daughter
experienced autism and could not attend her neighborhood
school due to large class sizes. She discussed the effects
of a lack of funding for sufficient staff. She cited that
one out of every five teachers in the state had left the
teaching profession. She compared the price of education
with the price of incarceration. She asserted that higher
graduation rates would lower the prison population. She
discussed spending by teachers. She cited that Alaska
ranked 49th in education and high school graduation, while
being first in fiscal stability.
1:43:42 PM
MATTHEW SCHWARTING, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of
the bill. He spoke in favor of the school system and caring
teachers. He shared concerns that teachers were not staying
in the state due to higher pay elsewhere. He thought higher
pay would attract amazing teachers to the state.
1:44:41 PM
SHARON DENTON, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of the
bill. She shared that she was a reading interventionist at
the Juneau Montessori School. She was retired from JSD. She
was working after retiring from \ work special education,
reading and classroom teaching. She had been working with
Montessori part time. She discussed her work as a reading
interventionist and noted that she had been given no new
materials to work with. She thought there needed to be more
funding for materials. She suggested cutting funds spent on
testing, which she thought had no apparent results.
1:47:32 PM
LISA EGAN LAGERQUIST, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the
bill. She relayed that she was formerly a JSD teacher and
had two children in the JSD school district. She left the
profession of teaching for personal reasons and did not
return due to wages and classroom sizes. She supported an
increase to the BSA. She referenced an Education Committee
meeting in which she had waited to testify and had been
unable. She recounted that she had heard testimony in favor
of funding for home schools, private schools, and charter
schools. She did not support additional funding for private
schools. She pointed out that home school did not work for
everyone. She discussed charter schools. She agreed with a
previous testifier regarding challenges with hiring
teachers and staff.
1:50:25 PM
MAKO HAGGERTY, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified
in support of the bill. He commented on the lack of
opposition to the bill thus far in the meeting. He relayed
that his kids had already benefitted from an education in
the state but asserted that he still benefitted from an
educated society. He supported raising the BSA.
1:52:13 PM
Senator Merrick noted that the co-chairs were in a meeting
but were listening in to public testimony.
1:52:29 PM
MICA VAN BUSKIRK, PARENT, SEWARD (via teleconference),
spoke in support of the bill. She shared that she was the
parent of two high school students and was president of the
site council at the school. She asserted that the lack of
predictable and adequate increases to the BSA in recent
years had caused extreme losses of programs in her three
area schools. She discussed increased expenses for fixed
costs which led to loss of staff and essential program. She
mentioned consolidation of grades, increased classes sizes,
and loss of electives courses. She cited that over 80
percent of Sewards high school students had to take one to
three distance education classes in order to graduate. She
mentioned reduced athletics teams' budgets.
Ms. Van Buskirk continued her testimony. She mentioned the
closure of the community pool. She mentioned cuts to
counselors and support staff. She asserted that students
were disengaging. She asserted that families and teachers
were leaving the area for opportunities in larger areas.
She emphasized the need for stable funding for education.
She asked for forward-funding for education.
1:55:18 PM
KARI SAGEL, SELF, SITKA (via teleconference), testified in
support of the bill. She asserted that without the proposed
increase to the BSA, Sitka would lose 15 positions. She
heard reports that children were coming to school with
cognitive and behavioral gaps. She discussed potential
cuts. She recounted that she had participated in a trauma-
informed training the previous day that centered children.
She supported the same theory for the states approach to
education. She supported raising the BSA, having a more
modest PFD, or the implementation of an income tax.
1:57:19 PM
DIANE GUBATAYAO, KETCHIKAN SCHOOL BOARD, KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. She
referenced a budget amendment passed in the House proposing
one-time funding, which she did not support. She referenced
data that indicated flat funding had resulted in Alaska
school districts losing $1,433 per enrollment since 2012
due to inflation. She referenced reduced funding and
spending power in the Ketchikan School District. She
discussed the deleterious effects of unpredictable
education funding. She cited that the assembly and school
board in Ketchikan supported the bill.
1:59:43 PM
MICHAEL ROBBINS, SUPERINTENDENT, KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH
SCHOOL DISTRICT (via teleconference), spoke in support of
the bill. He asserted that stable and predictable funding
was necessary for school districts to be able to attract
and retail highly qualified educators. He discussed the
impact of inflation on purchasing power. He mentioned
seeing the impacts of insufficient funding. He discussed
cost increases. He cited that without a funding increase,
his district would be required to reduce 48.5 positions
from its general operating budget, including 20 teaching
positions. He discussed the potential effects of budget
cuts on class sizes. He discussed expansion of services
that would be possible with reliable increased funding. He
supported increasing and inflation proofing the BSA.
2:02:07 PM
BOB HEWITT, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. He was a retired educator that worked
as a school district employee for 37 years, 26 of which
were as an administrator. He had witnessed insufficient
funds in the school district, which had caused negative
impacts on students, teachers, parents, and administrators.
He discussed increased costs and the need for reliable
predictable funding.
2:03:16 PM
PATTI TRUESDELL, KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in support of the
bill. She was a retired teacher that served on the school
board and volunteered four days a week in her local
elementary school. She shared a story about the hiring of
six elementary counselors when she had first started with
the school board. One counselor had resigned after not
being promised a position the following year. She
emphasized that school districts were losing good people
due to lack of predictable funding.
2:05:46 PM
ELEANOR POE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. She was a high school student in the
Anchorage School District. She discussed the student-
teacher ratio at her school, which she thought would be
worsened if there was not an increase to the BSA. She
commented on the expected loss of four teachers and
increased class sizes. She asserted that teachers were
under stress. She mentioned a lack of art supplies in art
class.
2:08:03 PM
BEVERLY RUSSELL, ALASKA NATIVE SISTERHOOD, JUNEAU (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. She relayed
that her organization, the Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp
70, believed in education. She reminded that the states
constitution called for establishing and maintaining the
states schools. She noted that the BSA had not seen an
increase in seven years and had not kept up with inflation.
She discussed increased costs. She mentioned high costs in
rural areas. She considered that flat funding for education
was effectively a cut to education. She advocated for
reasonable class sizes.
2:09:51 PM
DESMONA STEVICK, PRESIDENT, ALASKA NATIVE SISTERHOOD -
GLACIER VALLEY CAMP 70, JUNEAU (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. She asserted that the
state's education system had eroded in recent years. She
cited a 24.6 percent increase in the cost of education
since 2011, while the BSA had only risen by less than 5
percent. She thought the lack of funding was reflected in
lagging academic performance and high numbers of educator
turnover and attrition. She cited that KTOO recently
reported that 35 educators in Juneau had submitted
paperwork to leave the district at the end of the school
year. She emphasized the importance of public education for
the state. She suggested that sustained investment in the
state's education system was the foundation for a
prosperous future for the state.
2:12:10 PM
FRANCESCA ALLEGREZZA, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in opposition to the bill. She did not think the
current curriculum could provide proficiency in reading in
math and did not think increased funding would help. She
asserted that some families relied on the PFD for living
expenses. She thought education received more and more
funding while providing the same results. She referenced
Co-Chair Stedman's remarks pertaining to a choice about
funding. She referenced the use of Covid-19 relief funds.
2:14:26 PM
RICH CATAHAY, SUPERINTENDENT-PRINCIPAL, KAKE CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT, KAKE (via teleconference), spoke in support of
the bill. He asserted that stable and predictable funding
was necessary for districts to attract high quality
educators. He noted that the BSA had only been increased by
$30 since 2016. He mentioned the impact of inflation. He
discussed his districts budgetary work and reductions, as
well as increased costs and impacts of insufficient
funding. He recounted that sports programs had been cut,
and discussed increased fuel costs and the resultant costs
increases in electricity and travel. He asserted that
reliable funding was critical to improve student outcomes
and reducing educator turnover. With an increase to the
BSA, his district would use the additional funds for
positions including a preschool teacher and a reading
specialist. He mentioned extreme operating challenges.
2:17:18 PM
PHILLIS MORROW, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the bill. She relayed that she was a retired
educator. She appreciated the complexities of prioritizing
funding as well as the effects of funding decisions for
students and teachers. She had observed the effects of the
decline in BSA funding. She mentioned that her son was a
teacher and discussed annual uncertainty around funding.
She discussed program changes due to less funding, and the
difficulties from uncertain funding. She referenced prior
testimony.
2:19:20 PM
DANIELLE LOGAN, PRESIDENT, EDUCATION SUPPORT STAFF
ASSOCIATION, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in
support of the bill. She had been an educator for seven
years and had seen changes in the district. She described
turnover in support staff. She emphasized the importance of
support staff and custodial staff. She thought schools
would continue to decline without a permanent increase to
the BSA.
2:21:25 PM
JESSICA LOUWERSE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of the bill. She was the parent of two
students in elementary school in ASD and a resident in a
low-income neighborhood. Her school was a Title I school
with high numbers of minority students, special education
students, and English Language Learners (ELL). She asserted
that flat funding education and an inadequate BSA had the
most impact on the economically disadvantaged, ELL, and on
minority or special education students. She cited national
economic reports that showed a strong correlation between
educational achievement and income. She discussed
educational disparities and was a proponent of
interventions, that required robust education funding.
2:23:51 PM
JOSHUA GIRARD, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. He relayed that he was a
paraeducator at a middle school. He discussed the effects
of the Covid-19 pandemic on education. He discussed the
loss of arts and teaching positions due to lack of funding.
He cited the stress of work and a lack of competitive pay.
He discussed diminished teaching and paraprofessional
staff.
2:26:37 PM
DEBBIE CARY, PRESIDENT, KENAI PENINSULA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD, NINILCHIK (via teleconference), spoke in support of
the bill. She discussed the history of the BSA and cited
that adjusted for inflation, the BSA should be $7,152. She
thought one-time funding was helpful but created a crisis
in the retention of staff because of uncertainty. She cited
a $13.1 million deficit for the following fiscal year in
her school district, which would necessitate cutting 34
positions without an increase. She discussed her boards
goals for the following year. She discussed mental health
and wellness in the educational community.
2:29:25 PM
CYNDY MIKA, SUPERINTENDENT, KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in favor of
the bill. She mentioned the flat funding of education and
the effect of inflation. She cited that the borough's
transportation costs had gone up $357,000 in one year,
while transportation revenue had gone down $7,500. She
discussed increase in the cost of property and liability
insurance of more than double. She asserted that inflation-
proofing education funding and an increase in the BSA was
necessary for districts to provide quality education and
retain high quality educators. She discussed her districts
deficit and discussed the necessity to cut staffing. She
mentioned increased class sizes. She mentioned recently
completed negotiations with teachers associations and
committed to providing almost half of new revenues from the
BSA would go to salaries across all associations.
2:32:16 PM
PATRICIA GIBBS, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. She appreciated the efforts of the
committee. She thought the state was critically behind in
funding education while inflation had increased at a
greater rate. She referenced the testimony from the
previous speaker. She cited over 1,000 open positions in
education in the state. She thought educating the youth of
the state should be the states top priority.
2:34:08 PM
MARCELO QUINTO, VICE PRESIDENT OF ALASKA NATIVE
BROTHERHOOD, CAMP 70, JUNEAU (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. He emphasized the Alaska Native
Brotherhood's longtime support of education since it was
formed in 1912. He was a lifelong Juneau resident and
recalled class sizes that were not as large. He emphasized
the importance of the student to teacher ratio.
2:35:44 PM
JASON TAURIAINEN, SELF, NIKISKI (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the bill. He relayed that he was a member of
the Kenai-Peninsula Borough School Board. He lived on
homestead lands in Nikiski. He thought the bill was well-
crafted. He discussed the lean education budget and
thought every necessary cut was made to staff. He
referenced earlier testimony regarding choosing the PFD
versus funding education. He asserted that education was a
constitutional obligation. He discussed the formation of
the Permanent Fund.
2:38:16 PM
CHRISTINE VILLANO, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. She was a lifelong
resident of the state and had worked as a teacher. She
advocated for early and reliable funding. She thought
schools needed to be stabilized by reducing staff turnover.
She was a classroom volunteer and had observed big
differences in her grandchildrens classes compared to her
childrens. She mentioned overcrowded classes, cuts to
school nurses, and a lack of course options.
2:41:03 PM
JULIE SMYTH, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of the
bill. She relayed that she resided in Fairbanks. She
asserted that a well-funded school signified a well-
adjusted community. She discussed student success. She
believed that many students were struggling after two to
three schools in the Fairbanks area had closed, resulting
in many larger classrooms. She mentioned struggles for
families of students with special needs.
Senator Merrick handed the gavel back to Co-Chair Olson.
2:43:13 PM
AT EASE
2:44:08 PM
RECONVENED
WILL CHERVENAK, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. He thought there had been much
misinformation spread about education spending. He cited
that he was a high school administrator in the Kenai
Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD). He thought
misinformation had been spread about education funding. He
asserted that there was a false narrative that 50 percent
of expenditures had gone to school and district
administration. He noted that the largest expenditure
category in KPBSD was classroom instruction at nearly 61
percent, while school and district administration was 5.5
percent of expenditures. He argued that Alaska ranked below
that national average for per-pupil education spending. He
considered that with accounting for inflation, flat funding
of education was effectively a cut. He discussed increased
costs for healthcare, utilities, insurance, and
transportation. He mentioned increased costs, lack of
competitive wages, and larger class sizes as deleterious
effects on the hiring pool for educators.
2:47:13 PM
MARY OLSON, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), testified in
support of the bill. She had worked in the Alaska school
system since 1978. She recounted that all three of her
children had received a great education in Alaska but
considered that flat funding and inflation had eroded the
purchasing power of education funding. She discussed cuts
to teaching positions and difficulty with teacher
recruitment. She supported inflation-proofing. She was
grateful that her children had graduated in 2004. She
discussed the past success of the states education system.
2:49:36 PM
ANNA BOSIN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. She was the mother of a kindergartner
at a neighborhood school. She worked as a professional
engineer and wanted to stay in the state. She asserted that
education had the power to change the lives of children and
families. She emphasized that strong education systems were
the foundation to a healthy economy. She mentioned the
outmigration of working-age people in the state. She
thought flat funding and lack of inflation proofing had
resulted in consequences such as overcrowded classrooms, a
lack of teachers, and dilapidated buildings. She discussed
the increased pressure on families. She proposed that the
increase in the BSA would circulate throughout the state
through teachers and staff, and would bring more business
to the state.
2:52:25 PM
KRISTEN SCHUPP, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. She emphasized the
importance of investing in kids. She supported investing in
education. She did not believe there would be better
education outcomes with less funding. She thought parents
needed support with strong early education measures. She
thought investment in education was a much greater
contribution to long term economic strength in the state
than a large PFD.
2:53:56 PM
BRIAN SMITH, SELF, PETERSBURG (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the bill. He relayed that he was the parent
of two young children. He was invested in the long-term
stability of education in the state. He wanted schools to
be able to attract and retain teachers as well as maintain
facilities. He mentioned the trajectory of teacher pay in
the state compared to that in other states. He spoke to
local concerns about hiring.
2:55:15 PM
JOSHUA GILL, PRESIDENT, ALASKA ASSOCIATION OF ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, BETHEL (via teleconference), testified
in support of the bill. He asserted that Alaska schools
needed additional funding to catch up with inflation cost,
implement the Alaska Reads Act, maintain facilities, and
increase educator salaries. He cited that his district was
the largest Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA)
with 29 schools only accessible to Anchorage by air or
barge. He discussed the needs of his district. He discussed
increased costs for fuel, utilities, travel, supplies,
insurance, and construction. He mentioned a struggle with
teacher housing. He noted that educator recruitment was
difficult. He discussed low teacher salaries and position
vacancies. He advocated for an increase inside the BSA to
give students the best possible education.
2:58:31 PM
REBECCA BERNARD, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of the bill. She had two school-age
children. She relayed that her children's school experience
had been mostly positive. She discussed cuts to programs.
She questioned if the state valued providing a strong
education.
3:00:32 PM
Co-Chair Olson handed the gavel to Senator Merrick.
KRISTI WOOD, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. She had heard the
argument that the state should not raise the BSA until test
scores were higher, but asserted that public schools could
not perform well while having funding undercut. She
addressed the economic concern of the possibility of her
neighborhood school closing. She pondered the state's
outmigration of young families. She thought supporting the
BSA increase would support a strong economy.
3:02:12 PM
PENNY VADLA, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. She had taught at the high school and
college level for 30 years. She thought it was imperative
that the state provide adequate and sustainable funding for
the schools to continue providing the quality education the
state was charged to provide under the state constitution.
She commented that there had been years of stagnant
education funding and that the BSA had not kept up with
inflation. She thought school districts were struggling
despite making cuts to various areas. She emphasized that
districts did not want to make further reductions that
would cut successful programs and increase the student-
teacher ratio. She mentioned the importance of recruiting
and retaining teachers. She did not think one-time funding
was sustainable.
3:04:28 PM
KATHY SIMPLER, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), testified
in support of the bill. She thought an increase to the BSA
would help with school budget planning. She discussed
previous cuts to services including school nurses,
counselors, and music and gym teachers. She mentioned
increased costs such as fuel, as well as inflation. She
discussed past funding increases and one-time funding for
school districts. She did not think one-time funding was
sustainable.
3:06:40 PM
RACHEL LORD, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. She mentioned fiscal concerns facing
the state. She argued that having a functional education
system required consistent and sufficient funding rather
than boom and bust funding. She mentioned a deficit in
her district, and referenced federal funding that would run
out. She mentioned increased costs with declining funding.
She thought good schools were a basic public service that
was needed for a strong economy. She thought the state
needed a fiscal plan. She supported a structured percent of
market value (POMV) draw from the Permanent Fund to fund
basic public services while prioritizing education. She
supported a broad-based tax to help tie Alaskans to state
services. She noted that she was also on the Homer City
Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting a
meaningful increase to the BSA. She supported a BSA
increase tied to inflation.
3:08:52 PM
BOBBY BURGESS, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. He had served on the
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District budget
advisory committee as a parent representative and relayed
that what he had learned was alarming. He discussed school
closures, inadequate staff funding, increased pupil-staff
ratios, and skeleton crews in departments such as
facilities management. He referenced deferred maintenance.
He was concerned about potential cuts to important programs
and staff. He supported stable and adequate funding that
would allow for future planning. He thought good education
supported a good workforce.
3:11:30 PM
KATE QUICK, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. She was a parent of three teenagers.
She commented on the decline of offerings in her school
district. She mentioned her childs reading tutor, and
noted that the services had been cut. She questioned
whether the Alaska Reads Act could be implemented without
adequate funding. She discussed cuts to elective courses
due to teaching vacancies.
Senator Merrick commented that she was also the mother of
three teenagers.
3:14:11 PM
SUSAN NEDVZA, CHIEF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, BERING STRAIT
SCHOOL DISTRICT, UNALAKLEET (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill. She commented that the Bering Strait
School District had 15 separate schools and sites that
covered 50,000 square miles and it was necessary to fly in
and out of each village. She emphasized the need for
predictable funding to operate at full capacity. She
reminded that providing schools was a constitutional
obligation. She discussed steady cost increases in many
areas, which were compounded by shipping and travel cost
increases in rural Alaska. She emphasized the impact on
students. She commented that rural schools were the hub of
many services. She discussed the need for more student
capacity and teacher housing. She advocated for sustainable
funding inside the BSA.
3:17:03 PM
TERRIE GOTTSTEIN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of the bill. She emphasized that education
in the state was a constitutional obligation that
necessitated a long view. She mentioned the erosion of
purchasing power. She noted that she was the parent of
adult children who had gone through ASD when it was
adequately funded. She had a small business consulting for
college admissions mentoring. She made note of the decline
in course offerings for students in the state as they
competed nationally for college admissions.
3:20:07 PM
NORA MATELL, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. She shared that she was a
high school teacher and had two young children. She
referenced the inflation rate and budget shortfalls. She
cited that salaries and benefits made up 80 percent of the
budget for ASD. She discussed the effects of larger class
sizes. She discussed the importance of small group
attention. She discussed the challenge of classroom
management in larger classes, which took time away from
teaching and preparation for teaching.
3:22:30 PM
Senator Merrick handed the gavel to Co-Chair Olson.
DAVID BOYLE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
opposition to the bill. He asserted that there was no
accountability for how education funding was spent in
Alaska schools. He referenced an audit that cited per-
student spending and wondered how the money was spent. He
thought there was a need to reform the education funding
formula. He advocated for a greater frequency of student
counts and referenced the state of California. He discussed
English Language Learners and spending. He thought there
was a lack of cost control in schools. He lamented the lack
of accountability for how funds were spent. He discussed
healthcare costs.
3:25:40 PM
AT EASE
3:26:26 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson commented that the committee had already
gone a half an hour past what was originally allotted for
public testimony. He encouraged additional testifiers to
submit written testimony.
3:27:00 PM
ZANE BARBER, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. He was a student in ASD.
He expressed concerns about cuts to programs and teachers.
He was concerned for his siblings that were in school in
ASD. He discussed the effects of inflation.
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.
SB 52 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Olson discussed the agenda for the following day.