It is very difficult to believe that with all the oil people in our State Legislaature they could in any way allow a refinery to shut down. I thought this was an oil state, but there are a bunch who need to be replaced. They give billions of dollars to oil company in tax relief and can’t seem to help a refinery critical to the state of Alaska from shutting down.

The Juneau Empire editorial published in the Feb. 6 Peninsula Clarion caught my eye and stimulated me to reflect on some of my experiences with education in Alaska. I think those experiences speak to a major problem in our approach to educating our children and particularly here in Alaska.

In 1976 the beginning salary for a new teacher in the Kenai Peninsula Borough was about $26,000. This salary was based on the new teacher’s investment of 4 years of study, of thousands of dollars in tuition, living expenses and of four years of lost wages.

I would like to thank Jody King, this year’s KPHA Peninsula Winter Games Tournament Director! She did a wonderful job, and it was her first year! This is a massive, massive job and she managed everything gracefully. Also a big thank you to all the parents and coaches that volunteer! These events count on parents to run the clock, keep score, man the penalty box, manage locker rooms and hospitality rooms, prepare tournament bags and posters, and the list goes on. These parents and coaches give their time for the benefit of our kids.

On Monday, I attended a meeting to give testimony on a Senate Resolution (SJR 9) that would put a measure on the November ballot changing the Alaska Constitution to allow the state to spend public money on private and religious schools. The testimony was overwhelmingly against the resolution. Those opposed were caring, articulate, and most of all, logical. No one thought there should not be choice. If a family wants to send their children to private schools, that’s okay, but public money should be spent on public schools which already provide choice through public charter schools.