Apr 17
12
Dear Alaska Legislators… #Day86
Your legislators need to hear from you now. Our schools need fiscal certainty, and our children need hope for the future. Please express your individual thoughts to your legislators today.*
You could share how KPBSD makes a difference for you or your children, how a KPBSD education prepared you for your future, or thoughts about proposed bills and funding solutions.
We ask our Senate and House to come together in the next two weeks, overcome the rhetoric, and develop the right fiscal plan so KPBSD can prepare for the school year that begins in August.
Day 86 update
It appears increasingly likely there will be a reduction of state education funding. The Senate is proposing a five percent reduction which equates to a $5 million dollar cut to our budget. This action will have serious, negative consequences for students. Also, this cut significantly reduces the potential funding capability of the Kenai Peninsula Borough by more than $1 million.
The legislative session is coming to its statutory end and education funding for the KPBSD has not been determined. This leaves your schools in a bind, as we develop an educational plan that begins in less than four months. Every one percent reduction to state education funding means a loss of over $1 million in revenue for our district.
KPBSD demonstrates excellent results, and these proposed reductions put our improvements and innovations at significant risk.
“The state has a constitutional requirement to maintain a system of public education and I believe that the system should be of the highest quality,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “Our kids are the number one, consistent and sustainable resource in our state. Students should be supported and not be caught in the middle of a larger political issue.”
The KPBSD Board of Education’s number one priority is a reliable, multi-revenue fiscal plan for the State of Alaska. Please join district administration to advocate for adequate school funding by contacting your legislators.
Links
- KPBSD and The Legislature webpage (includes letters to the legislature about specific bills.)
- KPBSD Communications blog
- Flyer:2017 KPBSD Legislative Priorities
- Flyer:KPBSD Budget 101 and Fiscal Reality Spring 2017
- Annual Report with many KPBSD facts and stories
- The Alaska Legislature website
- KPBSD finance webpage
*Legislator contacts and KPBSD schools represented:
Senator Peter Micciche, District O | Senator.Peter.Micciche@akleg.gov
https://www.facebook.com/SenatorPeterMicciche/ https://twitter.com/AKSenMajority
Schools: Aurora Borealis Charter, Cooper Landing School, Hope School, Kaleidoscope Charter, K-Beach Elementary, Kenai Alternative, Kenai Central High, Kenai Middle, Marathon School, Moose Pass School, Mountain View Elementary, Nikiski Middle-High, Nikiski North Star Elementary, River City Academy, Skyview Middle, Soldotna Elementary, Soldotna High, Soldotna Montessori, Seward Elementary, Seward High, Seward Middle, Sterling Elementary, Connections Homeschool Program
Senator Gary Stevens, District P | Senator.Gary.Stevens@akleg.gov
https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaSenateMajority
Schools: Chapman School, Fireweed Academy Charter, Homer Flex, Homer High, Homer Middle, Kachemak-Selo, McNeil Canyon Elementary, Nikolaevsk, Ninilchik, Paul Banks Elementary, Razdolna, Susan B. English, Tustumena Elementary, Voznesenka, West Homer Elementary, Connections Homeschool Program
Representative Mike Chenault, District 29 | Representative.Mike.Chenault@akleg.gov
https://www.facebook.com/repmikechenault/ https://twitter.com/ChenaultRep
Schools: Cooper Landing School, Hope School, Moose Pass School, Nikiski Middle-High, Nikiski North Star Elementary, Seward Elementary, Seward High, Seward Middle, Sterling Elementary, Connections Homeschool Program
Representative Gary Knopp, District 30 | Representative.Gary.Knopp@akleg.gov
Schools: Aurora Borealis Charter, Kaleidoscope Charter, K-Beach Elementary, Kenai Alternative, Kenai Central High, Kenai Middle School, Marathon School, Mountain View Elementary, Redoubt Elementary, River City Academy, Skyview Middle School, Soldotna Elementary, Soldotna High, Soldotna Montessori, Connections Homeschool Program
Representative Paul Seaton, District 31 | Representative.Paul.Seaton@akleg.gov
https://twitter.com/RepPaulSeaton https://twitter.com/AKCoalition
Schools: Chapman, Fireweed Academy Charter, Homer Flex, Homer High, Homer Middle, Kachemak-Selo, McNeil Canyon, Nikolaevsk, Ninilchik, Paul Banks Elementary, Razdolna, Tustumena, Voznesenka, West Homer Elementary, Connections Homeschool Program
Representative: Louise Stutes, District 32 | Representative.Louise.Stutes@akleg.gov
https://www.facebook.com/RepLouiseStutes/ https://twitter.com/AKCoalition
Schools: Nanwalek School, Port Graham School, Tebughna School, Susan B. English, Connections Homeschool Program
