Students remain top priority

As federal mandates flourish and federal funding for education fizzles, it becomes increasingly critical for states and local governments to pick up the load. Board members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District went to Juneau this month to lobby for much-needed finances.

Sammy Crawford, board president, said they got some "interesting feedback from legislators" on their visit.

"We blanketed the Capitol. We split up into groups and talked to everyone we could and gave them our information," Crawford said.

"Things are better than when we started," she said.

Crawford said the budget is improving for education little by little.

"If we got what AASB (Alaska Association of School Boards) asked for, there would be $85 million for education. But right now, it's just a little more than the governor's proposed $65 million. It's improving and moving fast," she said.

"We laid off 132 teachers last year, and we brought all but 11 back. We don't want to have to do that this year. So the hope is to get this through as soon as possible so that we'll know what to tell our teachers."

Crawford and other members of the board testified to the Health and Social Services Committee and the Finance Committee.

"We talked to every member of the House and Senate Finance committees and saw 37 legislators and every member from House and Senate finance committees," she said.

Board member Sunni Hilts had mixed feelings about the trip to Juneau. Her primary speaking point topped the list of the district legislative priorities, to make children the top priority of the state.

"The first two days were inspirational, then it got a little disappointing. Making children the priority is actually a pretty hard sell," she said.

Debra Mullins, board clerk, said the board is still prepared to stand by that priority.

"This isn't just a bumper sticker," she said.

The school board went against the Alaska Association of School Board's settled request for $4,995 base student allocation funds and instead requested what the district actually needs. That sum is $5,200 per student.

Sandra Wassilie, vice president of the board, said legislators were impressed with that action.

"They were impressed with our organization and that we didn't ask for what we thought we could get. We can defend those numbers," she said. "We laid the groundwork."

Crawford added that both the board and legislators remain "cautiously optimistic."