Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
01/30/2023 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
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| Start | |
| Presentation: Discussion on the Challenges Facing Alaska's Public Education | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
January 30, 2023
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Löki Tobin, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Story
Representative Dibert
Representative Galvin
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: DISCUSSION ON THE CHALLENGES FACING ALASKA'S
PUBLIC EDUCATION
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
AMY BROWER, Superintendent
Dillingham City School District
Dillingham, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on the challenges
facing Alaska's public education system.
SANDY THOMPSON WALLACE, President
Alaska Public Employees Association
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on the challenges
facing Alaska's public education system.
SANDI RYAN, President
Fairbanks Teachers Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
AMANDA JOHNSON, Member
Mat-Su Classified Employees Association
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
BARBARA TYNDALL, representing self
North Pole, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding with concerns.
GENE STONE, Superintendent
Lower Yukon School District
Mountain Village, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
MIKE BRONSON, Volunteer
Education Branch
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
TREVOR STORRS, President
Alaska Children's Trust
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
ELIZABETH SIDEN, Board Member
Juneau School Board
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
JESS COBLEY, Teacher
Juneau School District
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
PAT RACE, representing self
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
NATHAN ERFURTH, President
Kenai Peninsula Education Association
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
MIKE GRUNST, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
WILL MULDOON, Finance Chair
Juneau School Board
Juneau School District
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
RACHEL LORD, representative self
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
ALEX KOPLIN, representing self
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
ANTONIA LEONARE, representing self
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against an increase to school
funding.
ALEX JAFRE, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against an increase to school
funding.
ROZLYN GRADY-WYCHE, President
Alaska Coalition of Black, Indigenous, People of Color Educators
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
MICA VANBUSKIRK, representing self
Seward, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
SUMMER KOESTER, representing self
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
LISA EUGAN LAGERQUIST, representative self
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
CHEYENNA CUELLAR, Teacher
Dzantiki Heeni Middle School
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
EMILY FERRY, representing self
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of an increase to
school funding.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:04 PM
CHAIR LÖKI TOBIN called the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the call to order were
Senators Bjorkman, Stevens, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl and Chair Tobin.
^PRESENTATION: DISCUSSION ON THE CHALLENGES FACING ALASKA'S
PUBLIC EDUCATION
PRESENTATION
DISCUSSION ON THE CHALLENGES FACING
ALASKA'S PUBLIC EDUCATION
3:31:02 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of a discussion on the
challenges facing public education in Alaska.
3:31:34 PM
AMY BROWER, Superintendent, Dillingham City School District,
Dillingham, Alaska, stated she supports a significant increase
to the base student allocation (BSA), transportation, and FY 24
budget. She said she also supports instating a perpetual rate of
inflation increase. Flat funding of Alaska's schools for six
years means schools' budgets have not kept up with inflation.
Inflation is at a 40-year high, schools have lost purchasing
power, and therefore programs and services have been cut.
Inflation must be accounted for in BSA and transportation
funding to improve education for Alaska's students. She stated
she had been a superintendent for two districts in Alaska and
had cut teaching positions, eliminated support services, and
restructured critical programming. Rural educators teach
multiple grades and mixed-subject classrooms with little support
and limited or outdated materials. Superintendents struggle to
find money to purchase new curriculums as healthcare,
transportation, utilities, shipping, and supply costs increase.
Funding fixed-cost items is becoming a challenge. At Dillingham
City School District (DCSD), health insurance costs have
increased between 13 - 18 percent yearly. For FY 24, it expects
a 16 percent increase. Fuel costs have doubled.
MS. BROWER said DCSD will face a financial cliff when federal
COVID funds expire in FY 24. The district will have a $278,000
deficit, eliminating four teaching positions and cutting several
programs. DCSD currently subsidizes transportation funding with
$60,000 annually from its foundation fund. Teachers are leaving
rural Alaska in droves. Housing conditions and livable wages are
the reasons given for leaving. She stated she moved to
Dillingham in July and lived in a room at the school for five
weeks before finding a place to live. There was no hot water at
the school. Nine teachers arrived in mid-August and lived at the
school with their families. It took as long as mid-October to
find housing. Housing for teachers across the state is
imperative. A livable wage and teacher retirement plan is also
needed to keep quality teachers in Alaska. Classified staff are
also leaving schools for higher-paying jobs.
MS. BOWERS said that the Reads Act in FY 24 is projected to add
$30-40 to the BSA. Teachers support the Reads Act, but funding
provided to the BSA for its support is inadequate. DCSD must
make up more than $150,000 in FY 24 due to enrollment losses
alone.
3:41:04 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if the DCSD is involved with any grow-
your-own programs.
3:41:27 PM
MS. BOWER replied that DCSD secured a United States Department
of Education full-service community schools grant in December. A
large portion of the grant is to develop an early education
program. The funding will support a program with the Bristol Bay
Regional Career and Technical Education Consortium to develop a
program to provide staff for the early education program.
3:43:22 PM
SANDY THOMPSON WALLACE, President, Alaska Public Employees
Association, Anchorage, Alaska, said the organization represents
employees in 24 local unions across Alaska. She has worked for
the Anchorage school district for 26 years and discussed the
various positions she has held as support staff. She said she
had been the president of the Totem Association of Educational
Support Personnel since 2019. The organization was founded in
1967 and has over 11,000 members making it the largest support
staff union in Alaska. Support staff have a vital interest in
the health and long-term success of Alaska's education system.
MS. THOMPSON-WALLACE said policymakers must recognize that the
education team in schools consists of more than certification
personnel. She opined that classified staff are often forgotten
in the funding discourse. She described the various duties of
classified staff and why the positions deserve respect. She
noted that students with disabilities often spend more time with
paraprofessionals than teachers. The number of students entering
DCSD is declining; however, more students need assistance.
Support staff care about students. Before the staffing shortage,
many worked at the same school for 20 or more years. The need
for defined benefits and livable wages has made hiring more
difficult. Like teachers, support staff provide supplies for
students but earn half as much. For example, in 2020, during the
COVID pandemic, members of the Juneau Education Support Staff
(JESS) paid off the lunch balances of 564 students, totaling
$7,446. The COVID pandemic and flat funding of education have
left support staff doing more. Staff cover for teachers and give
up breaks and lunches to care for students. In Anchorage, when
staff fills in for the teachers or nurses, they are paid an
additional $10 per hour because there are not enough substitutes
to cover the unfilled teaching positions and everyday staff
absences. Budgets and staff get cut, but students still need to
be educated and cared for.
MS. THOMPSON-WALLACE said Alaska needs to do better. People are
overworked. They are tired, and their morale is low. She
declared that schools in Alaska could not function without
support staff. The most significant crises schools face are an
effective cut to the BSA and the legislature's failure to offer
members a defined benefit retirement option. She said there are
700 vacant support positions across Alaska. Members are paid
hourly with an average annual income of $33,000. They are
allowed to work only 40 hours per week. Support staff in one
school district agreed to a 35-hour work week to avoid support
staff layoffs. Support staff often work multiple jobs to make
ends meet.
3:58:14 PM
MS. THOMPSON-WALLACE stated that despite modest financial
bargaining proposals, school districts consistently reply that
their hands are tied by a flat funded low BSA that has not kept
pace with inflation and a retirement system that is not within
their control. She requested that school districts be encouraged
to set funding aside to provide a living wage for support staff
if the BSA is increased. She compared the wages of support staff
to similar jobs, for example a food service worker is paid
$15.62 per hour, while McDonald's pays $18.50 per hour. She
asked that the legislature fund school districts so that support
staff can be given a livable wage, pension, and pathways for
career advancement. On behalf of the support staff she
represents, she requested a BSA increase of $1,100.
3:59:59 PM
At ease.
4:00:26 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and acknowledged
Representative Story was in attendance.
4:01:24 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on the question of whether
to increase school funding.
4:01:44 PM
SANDI RYAN, President, Fairbanks Education Association,
Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in support of an increase to school
funding, stating she had been a high school math and computer
science teacher for 36 years. She said she had witnessed the
elimination of programs through the state's underfunding of
education. The programs cut are the programs that draw students
to school. Students must pay privately to participate in music,
art, or sports. Students should not have to pay to play to have
an equal opportunity to learn.
4:05:25 PM
AMANDA JOHNSON, Paraprofessional, Member of Mat-Su Classified
Employees Association, Palmer, Alaska, testified in support of
an increase to school funding and provided information on class
sizes in her area. A kindergarten class has 27 students. Her
son's third-grade class has 37-38 students that sit on the floor
because there is not enough room for desks. High school classes
have 38-40 students in math, science, language arts, and art. A
behavior support class has 15 students in grades K-5 with one
teacher and two paraprofessionals. The average school caseload
for a school counselor is 400. The American School Counselor's
Association recommends at most 250 students. A substantial
increase in the base student allocation will help educators. The
legislature is responsible for having a short-term and long-term
plan for assisting education in Alaska.
4:08:18 PM
BARBARA TYNDALL, representing self, North Pole, Alaska,
testified in support of an increase to school funding and stated
she recognizes that staffing, transportation, and inflation have
been huge issues for schools. Education takes up a large portion
of the state budget. She noted that school populations are
shrinking. She opined that the quality of the products and
services Alaska's students receive is poor and is not
necessarily beneficial to students. She asserted that families,
not schools, should address mental health issues. Alaska is
behind academically because teachers spend time on non-academic
subjects. Teachers have time cut from the school day by other
programs. The budget should be for "boots on the ground"
teaching staff, and schools should pull back on items that
families can address. She asked that the legislature scrutinize
projects and programs. Educators should teach students to think
and analyze, and parents should raise their children. Doing this
would lower the state's welfare budget.
4:10:56 PM
GENE STONE, Superintendent, Lower Yukon School District,
Mountain Village, Alaska, testified in support of an increase to
school funding and thanked the legislature for publicly sharing
that it would work to address current funding deficiencies in
education. He stated that his school district had experienced
increased costs, such as shipping, housing, transportation, and
maintenance. The supplement for food costs is $1 million per
year. Activities costs have increased by $500,000. The school
district is recruiting overseas teachers. The state is funding
only a few capital improvement projects, so the school district
pays for repairs as it can. The school district recently had to
pay $4.5 million for a tank farm in Hooper Bay. He opined that
the legislature should consider the proposed BSA increase of
$860, a bare minimum amount, as it will barely cover costs. The
state will not draw teachers to Alaska without adequate housing.
The district has been innovative in solving issues and working
to develop career and technical education opportunities with
Anchorage. School District personnel need raises due to
inflation. He asked that the legislature make adequate education
funding a priority.
4:13:49 PM
MIKE BRONSON, Volunteer, Anchorage Branch, National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of an increase to school funding, stating
he is concerned because Alaska's students are at the bottom of
the barrel in reading and math. The legislature needs to
establish reasonable class sizes and adequate instruction. Based
on state funding laws, the Anchorage School District projects an
increase to the teacher-pupil ratio of 53 percent. Between 2019
- 2029 average student class sizes will have increased from 24
to 37. He provided the names of schools that saw an increase in
class size while experiencing lower reading and math
performance.
4:16:20 PM
TREVOR STORRS, President, Alaska Children's Trust, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of an increase to school funding,
pointing out that children make up 25 percent of Alaska's
population and 100 percent of its future. Alaska ranks 49 out of
50 states. Society needs to ensure Alaska's children have the
knowledge, skills, support, and resources to be strong
contributors to the collective success of the state. He said
that Alaska would continue to see increased job vacancies, state
out-migration, and overall cost increases without adequately
funded education. Alaska schools have been flat funded for seven
years. Flat funding coupled with inflation equates to program
losses due to an eight percent decline in purchasing power. Kids
Count has continually ranked Alaska in the bottom half of all
states for student well-being. He said he encourages the
legislature to make lasting and meaningful changes to the BSA.
4:18:56 PM
ELIZABETH SIDEN, Board Member, Juneau School Board, Juneau,
Alaska, testified in support of an increase to school funding
and said that she and Ms. Cobley met in 2017 working to bring
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs into
Juneau's classrooms, along with place-based hands-on learning.
She said she wants good student programs but finds the district
and the Juneau teacher's union are at an impasse due to flat
funding. Juneau has a projected $5 million deficit for FY 24. If
class size is the adjuster, there would be 36 students per class
instead of 25. She urged the committee to consider a minimum
increase to the BSA of $860.
4:20:45 PM
JESS COBLEY, Teacher, Juneau School District, Juneau, Alaska,
testified in support of an increase to the BSA. She stated that
her class size was 36 students upon returning to school
following the COVID pandemic. At one point, she had 45 students
who were to wear masks and remain 3 feet apart. She recalled
that it was laughable. This year the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR)
is set at 25 to 1. However, her science class is 34 to 1. She
opined that it is a huge disservice to students to place them in
rooms with large class sizes. A task that should take 10 minutes
will take an hour. Large class sizes make it difficult for a
teacher to meet the needs of the students. She stated she is
surprised schools have not been sued for failing to meet the
needs of special education students. She invited legislators to
visit her classroom if they do not believe there is a need to
increase the BSA.
4:24:14 PM
PAT RACE, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of an increase to school funding and stated he is
involved in bringing artists into schools. He said his sister is
a teacher who is paid well but does not work in Alaska. She
would like to return to Alaska, but it is not affordable. She
and her husband are National Board Certified. Alaska needs them.
However, Alaska does not offer a retirement plan for teachers.
He opined that Alaska needs to become competitive by inflation-
proofing the BSA and offering a retirement and benefits package
equal to Washington State. The state should treat the next
generation with respect. They cannot vote. It is up to this
generation to look after them and provide them with
opportunities for success.
4:27:18 PM
NATHAN ERFURTH, President, Kenai Peninsula Education
Association, Kenai, Alaska, testified in support of school
funding and opined that the achievements and efforts of KPBSD
veil a district that has begun to crumble due to a lack of
funding. Over the past several years, the state has placed more
demands on the school district. Fixed costs have increased, but
the BSA has not. The number of teachers nationwide is
plummeting, exacerbating the district's challenges because it
cannot offer competitive wages and benefits. Positions are
unfilled, services go unrendered, and programs are evaporating.
Educators are not line items; they create opportunities for
students. Students notice the contraction and see their worth is
less every year. He stated the following are the problems KPBSD
faces:
• Displaced library due to water-damaged ceiling.
• Deferred maintenance of $420 million.
• Distance education used beyond its intended scope.
• Teachers absorbing classes that colleagues have left.
• Loss of quality staff due to mental health concerns.
• Custodial duties performed by teachers outside of school
hours.
• Classified staff performing tasks outside their pay grade.
MR. ERFURTH said the future of Alaska depends on public schools
helping all students grow into successful young adults. Students
miss out on opportunities and experiences due to a lack of
funding. Educators are leaving the profession and taking jobs
that are not demoralizing, politicized, criticized, and
micromanaged. The education of Alaska's students is a
constitutional and ethical responsibility. He asked the
following rhetorical questions to people who believe student
test scores should improve before funding is increased: "The
last time your car came to a hill, did you hit the gas to get
over it? Or did you refuse the car gas until it went fast up the
hill on its own?" He concluded that the legislature needs to
provide funding so that education in Alaska can surpass its
challenges and move student learning forward.
MIKE GRUNST, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in
support of an increase to school funding and stated that as a
parent with children in the Chinese language immersion program,
he had noticed the flat funding of schools for several years. He
said that the governor's extreme budget cuts to the university
system started a chain of events leading to 18 - 34-year-olds
leaving the state. Enrollment in Anchorage schools began falling
2-3 years ago. Anchorage is down 5,000 students and needs to
close schools. He opined that it is okay to increase efficiency
but not at the expense of programs that help the state's future.
In the late 1970s - 80s, Texas experienced similar economic
turmoil as Alaska. However, Texas focused on funding education
and its university system, which is now world-renowned. He
questioned why anyone would want to move to Alaska where
education is not properly funded. There is no draw for young
professionals, and high school students do not want to remain
where they are not valued. He asserted that Alaska needs to
overhaul its PreK - College education system comprehensively. He
stated he is okay with using PFD funds or taxes to fund
education.
4:34:35 PM
CHAIR TOBIN acknowledged that Representative Galvin and
Representative Dibert were in attendance.
4:35:02 PM
WILL MULDOON, Finance Chair, Juneau School Board, Juneau School
District, Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of an increase to
school funding and stated that Juneau schools expect to receive
$1.836 million in one-time funding. The school district will use
$1.806 of that amount to fill deficits. The City and Borough of
Juneau funds to the local cap, as determined by the BSA
calculation. Juneau would need $640 added to the BSA to maintain
a status quo budget. Class sizes for Juneau are between 35 - 40
students. The school district must pass its budget by March 18.
Not knowing the funding before the budget deadline places
schools in a difficult position. He stated he is trying to
remain optimistic that the legislature will fund education.
4:36:54 PM
RACHEL LORD, representative self, Homer, Alaska, testified in
support of increased school funding and stated she is a parent
of two children and a member of the Parent Teacher Association.
She said she supports increasing and inflation-proofing the BSA.
Flat funding is, in effect, a budget cut to schools due to
inflation. She opined that the argument regarding return on
investment is unfair considering the lack of investment Alaska
has given K - 12 education for many years. Supporting students
through education and programs attracts people and businesses to
Alaska.
4:39:01 PM
ALEX KOPLIN, representing self, Homer, Alaska, testified in
support of an increase to school funding and stated that five of
his children advanced through Homer's school system. He asserted
that Alaska should immediately increase the BSA by $1,400 -
1,800. Since he does not pay taxes in Alaska, he cannot be upset
about the increase. It is great to have a legislature that wants
to solve issues. He stated he hopes there is a paradigm shift in
the legislature where only the state's three top priorities,
budget, PFD, and education, receive committee hearings. He
stated he did not understand why Governor Dunleavy cut the
education budget when he was a superintendent. Alaska has some
unbelievable schools, and the ranking of 49th out of 50 does not
reflect all schools in Alaska. Teachers in Alaska are fantastic
and do not deserve the treatment they are receiving. They should
have a meaningful retirement. Alaska should give education a
priority, so infrastructure does not die.
4:41:51 PM
ANTONIA LEONARD, representing self, Wasilla, Alaska, testified
in opposition to an increase to school funding and stated she
did not enjoy school as a student. She began homeschooling her
youngest child at the onset of COVID. Homeschool children
receive $2,100 yearly to purchase curriculum and pay for
extracurricular activities. Alaska spends $13,000 per student
enrolled in public school. She suggested that parents be given
$13,000 to choose their child's education.
4:45:45 PM
ALEX JAFRE, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in
opposition to an increase to school funding and said he is
appalled that school districts are asking for more money when
poor judgment has been exhibited. Private schools educate
children for less than $13,000 a year.
4:47:16 PM
ROZLYN GRADY-WYCHE, President, Alaska Coalition of Black,
Indigenous, People of Color Educators, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of an increase to school funding and said
the organization she represents supports an increase to the BSA.
She opined those barriers to becoming an educator, such as exams
for teachers and students, need to be addressed. Class sizes are
too big, and parents need to be involved. Teachers and
administrators need to have accountability. She also supports
school choice.
4:50:12 PM
MICA VANBUSKIRK, representing self, Seward, Alaska, testified in
support of an increase to schools funding and said that he had
watched school costs increase. The school district tells the
community of Seward every spring that it will lose teachers due
to an underfunded budget. The loss of even one teacher is huge
to small communities. The school's budget is due in April, but
the legislature does not finalize a budget until May. Students
often do not know if they will have a teacher until the
beginning of the next school year. Her community has cut many
teachers and programs. She asked that schools receive an
increase in the BSA to retain and recruit teachers early. The
legislature should forward fund education.
4:54:01 PM
SUMMER KOESTER, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of an increase to school funding. She stated that she
had to advocate for her job every year as a Spanish teacher. Her
position was eventually cut. She now advocates for her son, who
will enter a middle school with class sizes of 40 students. She
advocates for her daughter with autism, who will not receive
needed support, and for former colleagues whom students have
assaulted. One out of five teachers leave the profession each
year. It costs the state less than $6,000 a year to educate a
student and $38,000 to incarcerate an adult. Higher graduation
rates correlate to reduced prison populations. Teachers spend
more money in their communities than employees in the oil and
gas sector. Executive Director of the Juneau Economic
Development Council stated, "Alaska ranks 49th in education,
49th in high school graduation, and number one in fiscal
stability." She concluded that Alaska has resources. She urged
legislators to fund education.
4:56:26 PM
LISA EUGAN LAGERQUIST, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, said
she testifies in support of school funding because her dream
teaching position became available recently, but she cannot
afford to give up her current pay and retirement benefit.
Teaching requires much time. Flat funding is less funding for
schools. Teachers do more and are being paid less. Alaska needs
to make education a priority.
4:58:17 PM
CHEYENNA CUELLAR, Teacher, Dzantiki Heeni Middle School, Juneau,
Alaska, testified in support of an increase to school funding
and said the BSA should be increased by $1,300 so that districts
can hire and retain support staff. Legislators rely on support
staff to make it possible for them to do their jobs. Teachers
require the same. Schools can only provide an excellent
education with excellent support staff. There are five
paraeducator positions open at Dzantiki Heeni. Districts are not
able to offer a competitive wage to hire support staff. The
office staff at Dzantiki Heeni Middle School has decreased from
seven to four, and the custodial staff from 4.5 to 2.5 over the
last ten years. Support staff reduce student behavior problems
in hallways and bathrooms. A fully funded education system would
have truancy officers and social workers to help students stay
in school. Cuts to support staff affect students' education.
5:00:59 PM
EMILY FERRY, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of an increase to school funding. She stated that she
works with the Association of School Boards and has a day job
looking at state data. In areas that Alaska invests, it does
well. She stated that she chose the Montessori Borealis school
for her children because it promotes workforce development. The
Juneau school district must cut 40 - 50 teaching positions
without increased funding; this could mean the entire Montessori
program. She is willing to pay for education.
5:03:51 PM
CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony.
5:04:06 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Tobin adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting at 5:04 p.m.
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