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Hello and thank you for tuning in. I appreciate this opportunity to speak to you with a message from Juneau. Today I will speak about Increasing Education Funding and my Town Meetings.
Forward Funding Education
In order to address the funding needs of public education, the Senate Finance Committee last week introduced a committee substitute to SB 35, an appropriations bill. SB 35 as amended provided early notification of the increased level of funding K-12 education could expect in the coming fiscal year. The proposed allocation included an additional $82 Million for our public schools.
The bill was introduced early in session in order to address the fact that school districts must notify teachers in March and April of possible layoffs if needed funding will not be available. Early notification of funding would allow school districts to avoid this painful process altogether.
In anticipation of SB 35 passing, last week I introduced an amendment to SB 1 to alter the foundation formula. My amendment results in a Base Student Allocation increase to $4,576 which is an increase of $407 per student.
SB 35 unanimously passed the Senate on reconsideration March 8. The effective date vote failed 11 to 7 (requires two-thirds or 14 votes) and the Constitutional Budget Reserve vote failed 11 to 7 (requires three-quarters or 15 votes). Because the CBR sections failed to pass, SB 35 appropriates the governor's recommended $754,613,200 for public K-12 education and $649,322,300 for the University of Alaska.
The MatSu School District has indicated that SB 35 with the CBR votes and SB1 as amended, the $407 increase to the BSA when combined with full local funding to the state cap would not only hold MatSu harmless from this year's proposed cuts, but would allow MatSu to restore some of last year's cuts. These bills and subsequent assembly action would allow MatSu to lower class sizes in middle school and have all middle schoolers get PE every single day, lower class sizes in high school and add more challenging courses for all students, add new reading programs to ensure that every single third grader is reading at or above grade level by 2006, and protect MatSu's at risk students.
In the meantime, the House has passed legislation that makes a slight increase to the education dollar but gives a huge increase to rural legislators. Special interest projects such as a $100,000 bulldozer for Rampart, $200,000 heavy equipment for Allakaket and $3,400,000 for erosion control at Shishmaref-a community that has be requested to move from the current location.
The Senate majority wants early funding at an all time high student dollar amount-not special interest projects to buy our vote. We support education, not obstructionism.
Town Meetings
Last week I held a town meeting in Wasilla to address Education Funding and Senior Citizen concerns. I also attended the opening of the Wasilla Multi-use Sports Complex. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to meet with my constituents and address their concerns in person. I was delighted by the positive feedback and heard some great suggestions for further issues to look into. I was amazed at the Sports Complex. What an incredible undertaking. I was truly awed by the end result.
Today I will be back in the Valley to speak at the Valley Family Resource Center's luncheon on the theme of "Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility". After lunch I will be at the Palmer Senior Center. On Friday during lunch I will be at the Wasilla Senior Center. There have been many changes to senior programs in recent months, I look forward to hearing from our seniors and making sure their needs are being met.
Next week the capitol will be discussing Percent of Market Value and the Permanent Fund.
I would love to hear from you on any of these topics or anything else we are working on in the capitol.
For information on legislation I am working on, to read district updates, or to send me an email, please find my office on the internet at
You can also call the office directly, 907-465-6600 or toll free in state 1-877-465-6601. Please let me know if you would like to be included on my email distribution list for updates from the office.
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