As the 27th Alaska Legislature approaches its close, many issues surrounding kindergarten through 12th grade public education remain unaddressed. The current conventional wisdom at the Capitol seems to be that our 500 public schools across the state will be just fine if the state helps with a few extra, one-time expenses for energy and transportation — outside the foundation formula.
Local school boards have testified eloquently to the House and Senate that those fixed expenses, plus increased costs for salaries and benefits, require a somewhat larger investment — but inside the foundation formula. The outside-inside distinction is important because without some ability to plan a budget into the near future, our local school boards can’t build educational programs with certainty and parents and students can’t look forward to stable course offerings.
Many school board members and parents are bewildered that the state can consider creating tax incentives for the oil industry costing $2 billion, and a capital budget approaching $3 billion, and an operating budget over $6 billion. But we can’t see our way clear to providing the youngest members of our society with an opportunity for a well-rounded educational experience.
At this writing bills are pending in the Legislature to improve digital technology in the classroom, help provide a daily school meal to hungry students, and in general treat the teachers and support staff we entrust our children to daily with respect and adequate compensation. To date, we are standing by in amazement at how most of these educational issues are all but ignored or held as bargaining chips.
I realize some Alaskans will look at school boards and label them as a special interest group. The only thing special about a school board is that it is duly elected local citizens providing a volunteer service overseeing schools in which 90 percent of Alaska children are being educated. Together all 53 school districts in Alaska are responsible for investing $1.2 billion a year in programs that directly affect children and youth in our communities. School board members derive little or no remuneration for this important work.
Many of us in the voting public heard that education was the highest priority among candidates in the last election. No doubt we will hear the same in this election year. As we would suggest to our children, “it’s not what you say, it’s what you do.”
We hould ask our public officials to consider these points as education issues are addressed at the close of the 27th Alaska Legislature.
• Rose is executive director of the Association of Alaska School Boards, a membership organization representing 52 Alaska school districts. He lives in Juneau.
Comments (16)
Add commentRebates to oil companies
Is Parnell's biggest priority.
Accountability
Mr. Rose failed to mention any accountability for increased funding for salaries and benefits. JSD salaries are in the top tier nationwide but the JSD student scores/outcomes are not. There is nothing wrong with the legislature or governor requesting results.
Yes, Parnell's oil tax is a giveaway but a separate issue.
@jnucitizen: because
@jnucitizen: because increasing the quality of education is simply a switch one can flip, regardless of students' cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, of classroom technology, and of district policy. Yes indeedy--if kids aren't succeeding, it MUST be the teachers' faults, and they should just FIX IT.
The number one indicator of a student's academic success is not what school they go to, but what kind of home they grow up in. A supportive home that provides a child with safety, stability, and all the necessities of life is conducive to learning. A home that lacks these things is not.
I don't understand why it's so hard for people to realize that education and poverty are inextricably linked.
Results
Increased funding does not equal increased knowledge enhancement/transfer. No funding increases for a system that does not produce. Increasing school funding without getting increased performance is the same as giving oil companies tax breaks without the guarantee of increased spending in the oil fields. School district need to learn that they have pushed too far and now it is time to prove up. Use all of the increased funding over the past 10 years to show that X% funding increases equal the same % in performance. Explain what education dollars buy and let the public decide if we are getting the right “bang for our buck.” How much did the graduation rate increase through spending how much money?
I wholeheartedly agree, but...
do we just continue funding organizations like school districts that, unlike actual businesses, aren't required to modernize/streamline their operations and methods?
yeah, you guys are right - -
it's a much better use of our funds to give somewhere between 2 and 4 billion dollars away to a CEO who promises nothing, gives us no information or statistics, and does not allow us to measure what they are doing in any way.
Accountability indeed.
(BTW - SBAs and HSGQE = accountability)
Justify jobs
I disagree with jnucitizen --- Juneau's teachers are NOT among the top paid in the nation. All Alaska teachers are in the top 35%. That is not "highest paid."
But I DO feel that the JSD is wasting money: it's top heavy. Anyway, the teachers don'tcreate the budget or prioritize where the district's money goes. It's the management. And the school board.
Who rubber stamped the management's budget proposal last month with practically NO CHANGES.
Choate and Thurston, I will remember you kindly if you run again for school board. And thnk you to the parents and community members who spent hours on the budget only to have their wishes ignored. I'm angry at the lack of willingness of our elected school board to listen to the public.
The rest of the school board apparently just wants to let the district office tell them what to do. Well, I plan to remember that next year when we are writing the budget again. I'd like to be on the budget committee, even if my kids are almost done with school here.
Accountibility for who?
I agree with "PP" and "middle"
Poverty and dropout rates go hand in hand. But grad rates HAVE been improving... slightly.
Denying money to schools is NOT going to make them better.
It's not like the school boards will cut the people who write the budget (managers/administrators). They'll approve cutting nurses, custodians, teachers, cultural assistants and aides, just like our school board just approved to do. I am glad to see others have noticed our Juneau school board's lack of support for what kids deserve like I have been.
Our kids' classes get bigger and bigger and there are still dozens and dozens of people working in jobs that kids never see.
Over the past two years,
Over the past two years, student achievement rates and graduation rates have been improving across the state. It is clear to see that Parnell just does not want to fund public schools. His entire approach of "until achievement improves" was just lip service. Although the facts are clear, loyal party members will back him up.
Facts often try to get in the way of political goals. What do you value more? Loyalty or truth?
@freeryan
You make an apples-to-oranges comparison. Cutting funds from our schools because we're not satisfied with certain conditions penalizes only our children.
There are far better ways to improve education. Cutting its funding is not one of them.
Agree with Middle...
The School Board needs to be reminded that they are in charge - not the Administration. Earn your keep. Question authority. Balance the budget, and make sure the pain is just as sharply felt (if not more so) on the Administrative side. Parnell? Parnell has made his position a complete joke, with his "lets give 2+ Billion per year away" to his masters and to heck with K thru 12 - oh but BTW... Parnell supports vouchers for Public Funds to be able to go to religious and other private schools - bleeding even more precious funds from public schools. One snag: it's against the Alaska Constitution to use public funds for private or religious schools (thank God), so what does Parnell do? He gets one of his flunkies to put in a bill to amend the Constitution! These, in my opinion are examples of irresponsible, even incompetent governing.
Education
The less educated become Tea Patiers, the more Tea Partiers, the more Republicans. Duhhhh. Give money to big oil!!!! Forget education.
He's just a tool of the
He's just a tool of the teachers unions.
Juneau-Douglas High School made AYP
this year. Doesn't that mean teachers should get a raise rather than a cut?
Parents
As mentioned by others, until our society holds parents responsible for the education of their kids we will never achieve the level of success that will wish to obtain.
Parents that take a active interest in their child education are the kids that do the best in school. Parents don't have to be rich to get their kid to school rested, clean and feed. Parents don't have to be rich to provide the discipline and a place for kids to study.
It is becoming fairly obvious that parents that don't care about their kids education create kids that don't care about their education. Quit blaming the school system for your lack of parenting, jr isn't always being picked on when he gets poor grades. Jr's lack of school success isn't always the schools fault, look in the mirror.
It is not hard to figure out why the gap between the have and have nots has increased, the have nots don't care as much about education.
He is kidding, right?
When the Juneau School District is currently spending $17,561 dollars per student per year and is probably in the lower third of the state in per student cost, I think there can be no question about our priorities as far as funding. Perhaps Mr. Rose might do better writing a letter of explanation setting forth clear reasons why this is only enough to push on time graduation rates up to about %80. Many school districts in Alaska fare far worse… they spend far more money per student and are lucky to get a %50 on time graduation rate.
Evil oil
Please, and why? To argue a point that children will be hurt, if more money is not provided, class separation card must be played. Thats right, Big Oil and their dirty tax incentives to hire the parents of these children. The only tax breaks should be given to hippie communes, that way the children will learn to barter scented candles for devils club salve. I want big oil to give me back my uterus too.