Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/21/2024 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Local Government and 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
February 21, 2024
4:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Löki Tobin, Chair
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
NILS ANDEASSEN, Executive Director
Alaska Municipal League
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered the presentation Local Government
and Public Education.
ALVIN OSTERBACK, Mayor
Aleutians East Borough
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Aleutians East Borough.
BETH WELDON, Mayor
City and Borough of Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the City and Borough of Juneau.
MARY SWAIN, Assembly Member
Bristol Bay Borough
Naknek, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Bristol Bay Borough.
CHRIS NOEL, Mayor
Denali Borough
Healy, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Denali Borough.
BRYCE WARD, Mayor
Fairbanks North Star Borough
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
BRENT JOHNSON, Assembly Member
Kenai Peninsula Borough
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
RODNEY DIAL, Mayor
Ketchikan Gateway Borough
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
SCOTT ARNDT, Mayor
Kodiak Island Borough
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Kodiak Island Borough.
FELIX RIVERA, Assembly Member
Municipality of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Municipality of Anchorage.
ANNA BRAWLEY, Assembly Member
Municipality of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Municipality of Anchorage.
NATHAN HADLEY, JR., Assembly President
Northwest Arctic Borough
Kotzebue, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Northwest Arctic Borough.
CRAIG MCCONNELL, Assembly Member
Northwest Arctic Borough
Kotzebue, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the Northwest Arctic Borough.
JOSH VERHAGEN, Mayor,
City of Nenana
Nenana, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the state of public
education in the City of Nenana.
ACTION NARRATIVE
4:00:11 PM
CHAIR LÖKI TOBIN called the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Present at the call to order were
Senators Kiehl, Gray-Jackson, and Chair Tobin. Senator Bjorkman
arrived thereafter.
^PRESENTATION: LOCAL GOVERNMENT and PUBLIC EDUCATION
PRESENTATION: LOCAL GOVERNMENT and PUBLIC EDUCATION
4:01:03 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of a presentation Local
Government and Public Education by the Alaska Municipal League.
4:02:19 PM
NILS ANDEASSEN, Executive Director, Alaska Municipal League,
Anchorage, Alaska, offered the presentation Local Government and
Public Education. He moved to slide 2:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Public Education Local Contributions
• $530 million in local tax contributions
• Five local governments that contribute more than the State
• Local contributions of Under 5 percent - 3 MSD, 19 REAAs
(14 less than 1 percent)
• 11 MSDs between 5 percent and 20 percent
• 10 MSDs between 20 percent and 35 percent
• 6 MSDs between 35 percent and 45 percent
• 4 MSDs from 50 percent to 63 percent
• REAAs $80M in federal, compared to MSD of $50M
MR. ANDERASSEN noted there are four local governments that contribute
more than the state does to local school districts and more than 20
contribute more than 20 percent.
4:03:32 PM
MR. ANDREASSEN moved to slide 3 and said another facet of the
intersection between local government and public education is
related to school construction and major maintenance. It is a huge
issue outside of the BSA. A report from the Department of
Education and Early Development (DEED) identified that $289
million is needed for school construction and major maintenance.
There is $603 million in priority projects in front of the
legislature, which is historically funded at 15 percent. The
current budget is funded less. Local governments made up the
difference.
[Original punctuation provided.]
School Construction and Major Maintenance
• 76 percent of schools owned and managed by local
governments
• FY23 14 districts didn't submit 6-year plans 3
REAAs, 10 MSD
• FY 23 $603 million = $11,374.95 ADM
• Average $165 million in following 5 years
• 13-year average of $52M construction, and $13M for
maintenance o
• Of 37 construction projects, 12 districts, five
municipal
• 109 maintenance projects, 32 districts, 19
municipal
• State meeting 15 percent as a percentage of need
annually
• 27 percent of all projects were REAA
• Due to repeated funding shortfalls, industry standards
suggest an additional 1 percent of replacement value
should be programmed for deferred maintenance. At $9.7
billion, the annual amount for Alaska would be $289
million.
4:04:30 PM
MR. ANDREASSEN moved to slide 4 and said the Alaska Municipal
League (AML) adopted several resolutions related to public
education and mentioned inflation proofing the BSA, school
construction, and major maintenance:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Public Education
Resolution 2023-12
Increase and Inflation-Proof BSA
Requesting that the State increase and inflation-proof
the BSA.
Resolution 2020-07
Fund School Bond Debt Reimbursement
Supporting full payment of currently obligated school
bond debt reimbursement; a reinstatement of the school
bond debt reimbursement program; and a careful and
deliberate reform of State support of school
construction and maintenance.
He spoke to inflation proofing BSA and fund school
bond debt reimbursement.
MR. ANDREASSEN said because local contribution is tied to
property assessment, which tracks similar to inflation, since
2017 the value of the local contribution has increased by 13
percent while the value of the state contribution has decreased
by 1 percent.
4:05:25 PM
MR. ANDREASSEN moved to slide 5 and said fund balance is a
principal of good governance that local governments and
school districts have in common:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Fund Balance is an Important Tool
Cash flow
Offset revenue shortfalls and unexpected
expenditures
Stabilize taxes and maintain services without budget
cutbacks
Improve long-term planning initiatives
Enhance credit ratings
4:06:42 PM
MR. ANDREASSEN moved to slide 6 and discussed the following
about unassigned fund balances:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Fund Balance Guidelines
GFOA recommends a minimum of two months of either
operating expenditures or operating revenue (~16%).
School districts are limited by state statute to 10%
of the year's expenditures
Current Reporting
• Average unassigned fund balance as percentage of
total expenditures is 3%.
• Only 25 districts have positive unassigned fund
balances.
• Four have negative unassigned fund balances.
• The rest have zero unassigned.
• Non-Spendable
• Restricted
• Committed
• Assigned
• Unassigned
MR. ANDREASSEN said negative unassigned fund balances means
districts are trying to make up for the difference in some way.
4:07:25 PM
MR. ANDREASSEN moved to slide 7 and said the unassigned fund
balance of 3 percent might not be true. A graph depicting the FY
24 statewide total fund balance shows the unassigned operating
fund balance as $183,358,857 and school district expenditures as
$2,197,760,620. He said because of how fund balance reporting
occurs the 3 percent might not be true - it comes outside a
fiscal year in the middle of one. It is a cash basis and a lot
of what is reflected in the $183 million is basically deferred
revenue. The districts receive revenue in December from a
municipality or other source and will use it to manage cash flow
in coming months.
4:08:16 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON inquired about the GFOA's recommendation
because she heard it had changed.
4:09:02 PM
MR. ANDREASSEN replied he would investigate and report his
finding on best practice to the committee.
SENATOR GRAY_JACKSON stated her belief that two months of
recommended operating expenditures or operating revenue should
continue. Independent auditors used to have a recommendation
also.
4:09:25 PM
MR. ANDREASSEN moved to slide 8 and spoke about Alaska's
school districts six points of consensus:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Working Toward Consensus:
1. A BSA increase of $300 is insufficient. We encourage a
significant investment by the state to bring education
funding closer to par with expenses experienced by our
districts.
2. An increase to the BSA this year should be accompanied
by an inflation adjustment for future years.
3. The extent to which the State chooses to additionally
fund teachers as part of a recruitment and retention
initiative should be administered and budgeted for by
the State, and separately and in addition to a BSA
increase.
4. Additional funding for pupil transportation and special
needs is critical to account for increasing costs in
those areas that are outpacing other cost areas of
inflation.
5. Decisions related to new or alternative public schools
should be made at the local level, to ensure that the
taxes raised in those communities to contribute to
public education are appropriately represented.
• Local government leaders expect to be part of a
deliberative process that builds on the strengths
of the current system without destabilization.
6. School construction and major maintenance continues to
fall behind without sufficient State investment, with
the State funding an average of only 15% of need. This
year's capital budget should address priorities
identified by school districts and local governments.
4:11:47 PM
CHAIR TOBIN referred to slide 6 regarding fund balance
guidelines and current reporting. She stated the committee had a
presentation from DEED earlier in the week which appeared to
present inaccurate information. She said she is glad the report
was given to DEED so they can update the presentation.
4:12:55 PM
ALVIN OSTERBACK, Mayor, Aleutians East Borough, Anchorage,
Alaska, presented borough school funding contributions and major
maintenance information. He stated the minimum local
contribution is $644,987 and the maximum is $1,830,150. The
borough typically funds $1,100,000 in local contributions. This
year the school district is requesting approximately $1.5
million because one school in the borough no longer meets the
10-student requirement so to remain open supplemental funding is
needed. Also, like other areas of the state local costs are
rising faster than anticipated. He said in 2023 the Aleutians
East Borough (AEB) received $2,900,000 in major maintenance
funding and a DEED grant for Sandpoint school. Due to inflation
the cost of the project increased to $6,800,000. The borough
submitted a supplemental funding request to DEED for the
additional $3.9 million and a Capital Project Submission and
Information System (CAPSIS) request. School bond debt
reimbursement is very important to AEB. Currently, the state's
FY25 budget has 100 percent of the school bond debt
reimbursement in it. The borough's FY25 reimbursement amount is
$702,907. He stated his belief that educating children is the
most important contribution the state can make for its next
generation of leaders. Ensuring that the BSA is set at a number
that will provide adequate funding through the school districts
should be a very high priority for Alaska. He opined that
anything less than a BSA of $680 would not provide adequate
school funding.
4:15:09 PM
BETH WELDON, Mayor, City and Borough of Juneau, Juneau, Alaska,
stated that she is also the president of the Alaska Municipal
League. She said she provided members with a copy of a letter
signed by school districts listing points of consensus. She
mentioned that Juneau is the first district to end up with a
deficit, but she expects other districts will soon follow. The
Juneau School District (JSD) has a deficit of $7.5 million for
FY 24. She noted that the school district acknowledges its own
accounting errors, which resulted in the unexpected deficit, and
does not blame the legislature. However, an increase in the BSA
would have helped. She stated that the cost of providing quality
education has outpaced state involvement. The BSA is a temporary
fix until the governor and legislature can develop a plan for
education reform. She opined that Alaska is not only harming its
students but also sending a message that it is not open for
business and is not family friendly. Families do not want to
live in a state with a failing school system. She requested an
increase in the BSA to fix funding and education reform so that
schools can thrive. She also noted that an increase in pupil
transportation funding is needed.
4:17:36 PM
MARY SWAIN, Assembly Member, Bristol Bay Borough, Naknek,
Alaska, said the school district has three needs. The first is a
bare minimum $680 increase to the BSA. The second need is
housing, driven by the expanding commercial salmon fishing
industry. The third need concerns the Alaska Reads Act, which
was implemented last year. While the borough has seen remarkable
growth through its implementation, more funding is required. For
student growth to continue, full funding is necessary. She
stated that her borough was fortunate to have a major
maintenance project funded, with the borough matching state
funds by paying $5 million for the project. She emphasized that
municipalities support education funding and urged members to
make major maintenance a top priority. She mentioned that her
community prefers partnerships and does not agree with forced
consolidation. She cited the growth of the career and technical
education (CTE) program and the addition of a social-emotional
coach for students as evidence that partnering with the
community works and should be expanded.
4:19:00 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN joined the meeting.
4:22:23 PM
CHRIS NOEL, Mayor, Denali Borough, Healy, Alaska, said that
education is the most important service and the largest budget
item for the Denali Borough. More than 50 percent of the annual
budget is spent on education. The borough is one of five that
consistently maximizes its local contribution. He stated that he
is testifying to advocate for state support and shared
responsibility in providing public education. He encouraged
members to significantly increase the BSA and include a statute
that would automatically adjust for inflation. Fixed costs have
risen while the BSA has remained flat. Anything less than a
$1,100 increase to the BSA, after the borough's unassigned fund
balance is exhausted, would not allow the district to balance
its budget, even with full support from the borough assembly. He
also urged the appropriation of sufficient funds to the major
maintenance grant program, as there are needs across the state.
The small communities of Cantwell and Anderson have large school
facilities but are nearing the 10-student requirement. The
buildings need maintenance to remain safe learning environments.
4:24:49 PM
BRYCE WARD, Mayor, Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB),
Fairbanks, Alaska, said the borough is looking at shutting down
two more schools, having already closed three. A tax cap
election is scheduled for May to increase the local contribution
by $10 million, raising it from $50 million to $60 million. The
borough's contribution is capped at $70 million. The school
district has seen a drop in enrollment, and the lack of BSA
adjustment has significantly impacted the district. The state
has a required local contribution for education, and the
community must fund at least that amount. This required amount
is deducted from the basic need, which has had a significant
impact due to flat and declining enrollment. While the borough
has maintained flat funding at $50 million, due to the
adjustment in the required local contribution, the district,
even with 2,000 fewer students than 10 years ago, should
contribute $12 million more than it did a decade ago. Not
funding this additional $12 million is an erosion of funding to
district.
MR. WARD noted that Fairbanks has been successful in funding its
capital projects and has established a new capital improvement
program that has leveraged federal dollars. Despite this
success, Fairbanks has received no state dollars since the
program began five years ago. He discussed some of the
improvements the borough has made, but deferred maintenance
remains a major issue in Fairbanks and other districts. He
expressed frustration with policies that allow correspondence
programs to purchase buildings within FNSB tax exempt while the
community is discussing increasing its education contribution
and shutting down schools. He stated that practice erodes public
brick-and-mortar schools, which have historically been funded
through local communities. He concluded by stating that if
Alaska wants a good education system, it must be willing to pay
for it, adding, "There is no such thing as a free lunch."
4:28:55 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN asked what the maximum amount the borough is
allowed to contribute.
4:29:18 PM
MR. WARD replied that last year's funding was $54 million and
the maximum allowable is $72 million.
4:29:28 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked what the average class size is in the
Fairbanks North Star Borough.
4:29:45 PM
MR. WARD replied the answer depends on whether it is an
elementary, middle, or high school. With the FY25 budget the
size of classes will increase by five students, except for
elementary due to the hold harmless provision.
CHAIR TOBIN replied that is helpful to understand. She stated
her belief that the National Education Association (NEA)
recommends a ratio of 1:10 for first through sixth grade. An
increase of 5 students is very aggressive.
4:30:38 PM
BRENT JOHNSON, Assembly Member, Kenai Peninsula Borough
Assembly, Soldotna, Alaska said he supports the six points of
consensus that were presented by AML. He shared his interest in
wrestling and that Service High School in Anchorage won the
regional championship for 12 - 15 years in a row. He opined that
this was not luck but good coaching and development of a program
where success bred success. He stated Alaska needs to do the
same with its education system. He said providing an increase to
the BSA and addressing the six points of consensus moves the
state towards creating a good system. It doesn't guarantee
success, but it enables success. Society can do things to make a
teacher's job more friendly. If teachers have a job where they
are happy and successful, then children will have success and
the system will feed on itself.
4:33:25 PM
RODNEY DIAL, Mayor, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Ketchikan,
Alaska, said he had an idea to help stretch limited state
education funds further. He noted that for years, the Ketchikan
Gateway Borough's primary policy issue has been the disparity in
the required local contribution, a state tax imposed only on
organized boroughs and municipalities. The concern isn't that
the borough pays the tax, but that many other areas do not, and
it's not based on the ability to pay. He pointed out that areas
outside of Fairbanks, Palmer, and as far as Valdez pay nothing
to support education. It's not just about what they could
contribute in support of education, but also about the
efficiencies that would result from mandatory borough formation.
He used Prince of Wales Island as an example, noting that it has
three school districts serving only a few thousand people, which
he said wastes limited education dollars.
MR. DIAL explained that half the state, which remains
unorganized, provides no local support for education because
some communities, who could afford it, choose not to form
boroughs in order to avoid paying education taxes. This makes
the education funding pie smaller for everyone else. Unorganized
areas experience inflation just like organized areas, but the
difference is that they are shielded by the state, which
essentially inflation-proofs their education needs each year. He
urged the legislature to pursue borough formation and, in the
meantime, requested that the state, at a minimum, provide the
same inflation protection to organized boroughs as it does to
unorganized ones.
4:35:47 PM
SCOTT ARNDT, Mayor, Kodiak Island Borough, Kodiak, Alaska, said
that Kodiak was forced to form a borough that includes village
schools, which do not receive enough funding, leaving the town
to carry the costs on the local tax base. He thanked the
committee members for their continued support of the School Bond
Debt Reimbursement Program, which is crucial for Kodiak. He
emphasized that the proposed $680 increase to the BSA is
desperately needed. He opined that the governor's proposed
three-year teacher bonus experiment is not a solution to salary
issues, as it does not guarantee long-term funding.
MR. ARNDT said continued maintenance is a persistent problem in
Kodiak, and to cover revenue losses, some of the Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds were used.
It costs roughly $2.63.0 million to replace a school roof. He
also noted that the guidelines for minor maintenance, which
school districts are responsible for, and major maintenance,
handled by boroughs, need updating. The threshold was last
increased from $15,000 to $25,000 in 1999, and adjusting for
inflation and the time it will take to implement, he suggested
raising it to $50,000.
MR. ARNDT pointed out that part of the funding allocated to
school districts is meant for maintenance, but the state's
failure to adequately address funding sources for schools
remains a significant issue. He urged the committee to secure as
much funding as possible and thanked them for their efforts.
4:38:58 PM
SENATOR KIEHL said Kodiak Island Borough school district is
unusual because it has mid-size community schools and several
rural village schools. He said the bonus program issues
incentives by district. He asked if the borough works to retain
teachers in village schools in the same way it does for Kodiak
proper.
MR. ARNDT replied yes, except that village schools receive
housing assistance for teachers. Under the bonus program, each
Kodiak teacher is to receive $10,000. However, there are other
school professionals that do not qualify for the program. There
is inequity in the program, and it is a problem.
4:40:39 PM
FELIX RIVERA, Assembly Member, Municipality of Anchorage,
Anchorage, Alaska, said there is widespread acceptance that
Alaska's education system needs more funding. In January, the
Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution supporting the Anchorage
School District's request to increase the BSA by no less than
$1,413, bringing it to $7,373, and to increase transportation
funding by at least $209 per student, raising it to $690 per
pupil for FY 25. The assembly became involved because
underfunding schools hurts the entire community. Property taxes
have risen without school bond debt reimbursement, and the
decreased support for schools is driving young families to
leave, which negatively impacts Anchorage's economy and
residents' quality of life, exacerbating the workforce shortage.
Anchorage wants to provide its students with opportunities to
thrive in the school system, but the state's chronic
underfunding of public education is stifling the opportunities
that once made the system remarkable and offered families
choices. He questioned how local communities can be expected to
fill the gap for Alaska's constitutionally mandated
responsibility to fund education. While local communities are
willing partners, inflation and increased property assessments
are putting significant pressure on local taxpayers.
MR. RIVERA acknowledged that committee members have worked
diligently to improve education funding, but he is concerned
that the state is squandering educational opportunities for both
current and future generations. He implored legislators to
address the funding issue to provide stability and relief for
schools in Alaskan communities. He shared various facts
regarding the BSA, maintenance, and inflation, and warned that
ASD may be forced to eliminate 450 educators and staff in May
2024 unless legislative action is taken by mid-February. He
urged swift action.
4:44:16 PM
ANNA BRAWLEY, Assembly Member, Municipality of Anchorage,
Anchorage, Alaska, said she agreed with the comments made by her
colleagues across the state. She noted that two key concerns for
both local and state governments are the economy and
infrastructure. She shared how her family moved frequently and
chose where to live based on the quality of public schools and
affordable housing options. She opined that most families look
for good infrastructure when deciding where to settle. She
emphasized that public schools are a critical part of a
community's infrastructure in Alaska, noting that the state
competes with others for talent. Alaska needs to attract people
to work on large infrastructure projects, and economy,
infrastructure, and schools are interconnected. She urged the
legislature to take action to ensure these systems work together
effectively.
4:46:58 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked how much Anchorage has invested in school
major maintenance during the state's nine-year moratorium on
participation, for which it has received no state reimbursement.
MS. BRAWLEY replied that Anchorage is a community that utilizes
bonding. Unfortunately, the school bond has failed over the past
couple of years, leading to a backlog of maintenance. The
municipality regularly asks voters to help fund school
maintenance. She stated that she would provide the committee
with specific details on the local contribution.
4:48:05 PM
SENATOR KIEHL said he would appreciate having the dollar
amounts, as the state's moratorium has put communities in a
difficult position. He expressed his appreciation for the effort
municipalities are making in the absence of state action.
4:48:44 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said maintaining a healthy fund balance is
valuable to obtaining a favorable bond rating. She inquired
whether a 2011 assembly resolution regarding fund balance
maintenance was still in effect.
MR. RIVERA replied yes, the resolution was still in effect.
4:49:21 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked whether an independent auditor still
recommends the amount to hold in reserve.
MR. RIVERA replied yes. The recommended fund balance is
approximately 12 percent.
4:50:21 PM
NATHAN HADLEY, JR., Assembly President, Northwest Arctic
Borough, Kotzebue, Alaska, said he grew up in a village without
running water or sewer. As a student living in Buckland, he
joined all sports because he wanted to shower at the school.
Building maintenance is important for villages. He said he
supports AML's presentation.
4:51:17 PM
CRAIG MCCONNELL, Assembly Member, Northwest Arctic Borough,
Kotzebue, Alaska, Mr. M said he is a former teacher who worked
for the district for 35 years, with 24 years as the facilities
director. He testified that resources were not wasted. In terms
of maintenance operations, the Northwest Arctic Borough School
District was one of the few to operate below the 30 percent
maintenance threshold, with one year operating at just 18
percent of the budget. However, inflation has made it
increasingly difficult to operate. The governor's proposed
increase would provide $612,000 for the district, which serves
1,800 students. Fuel costs have risen by $2 per gallon, and the
borough burns 600,000 gallons of fuel per year, leading to a
$1.2 million increase in fuel costs alone. The governor's
proposed increase would not even cover the increased fuel costs,
let alone other rising costs for electricity, water, sewer,
garbage, insurance, maintenance, salary increases, and housing.
MR. MCCONNELL pointed to the committee room's vents and
explained that they supply and return fresh air. An engineer
would typically recommend 50 percent fresh air, but due to the
cost of heating the fresh air, it has been reduced to just 5
percent to save on fuel. He opined that the borough would go
bankrupt if it complied with everything the state and federal
governments required. He emphasized that he never cuts areas
concerning safety.
MR. MCCONNELL described a specific issue where a 30-year-old
fire alarm system in one school is no longer compatible with the
community's power source. The borough does not have $700,000 to
replace the fire system. The school has a hired watchperson
monitor for fires. The watchperson stays up through the night
when visiting teams sleep at the school. He said the district is
in a difficult situation and desperately needs funding; a $340
increase is insufficient; $1,400 is needed.
4:55:49 PM
JOSH VERHAGEN, Mayor, City of Nenana, Nenana, Alaska, said that
Nenana is a home rule city and is not part of an organized
borough. It operates its own city school district, which
includes a K-12 school. Additionally, the Nenana Student Living
Center, which has operated for 22 years, houses approximately
110 students from rural Alaska, 96 percent of whom are Native.
The graduation rate at the center is 94 percent. The CyberLynx
correspondence program, also based in Nenana, serves over 1,000
students.
MR. VERHAGEN expressed pride in Nenana's school system and
gratitude for the funding it receives. He reiterated that the
Alaska Constitution states, "the legislature shall by general
law establish and maintain a system of public schools open to
all children of the state," noting that it does not mention
municipalities. He urged the legislature to make what it is
obligated to fund a priority. Nenana has invested significantly
in its school system and has worked diligently to be as self-
sufficient as possible. The average cost per student per
semester is $7,800. To balance the budget this year, he
requested a minimum BSA increase of $600 and acknowledged that
other schools may require more.
MR. ANDREASSEN said the testimony provided highlights the need
for collaboration and a solution to fix funding across the
state. He emphasized that partnership and collaboration will
depend on the state fulfilling its constitutional obligation to
fund public education, while also ensuring local collaboration
and maintaining as much local control and decision-making as
possible.
4:59:54 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN said he wanted to thank Educators Rising for
attending the hearing. The students have identified themselves
as wanting to be educators. He noted that advocating for things
that they believe in is an important part of teaching.
Testifiers and legislators have indicated that they have had a
valuable education. He mentioned having a great experience with
one of the assembly members that testified. He said he would
like to see investment in Alaska's schools.
5:01:42 PM
CHAIR TOBIN said she finds it exciting that one of the students
wants to be a counselor.
5:02:24 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Tobin adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting at 5:02 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Municipal League Updated Presentation 02.21.2024.pdf |
SEDC 2/21/2024 3:30:00 PM |
Education |