Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued an ultimatum to state lawmakers on Tuesday, vetoing a multicomponent education funding bill unless they pass a separate bill with education priorities. He said it would be activated.
In his office in Anchorage, the governor gave lawmakers two weeks to reconsider two items that were rejected during Senate Bill 140's education bill: teacher bonuses and changes to how charter schools are approved. He said it was given.
If they don't take action, Dunleavy said he intends to veto SB140, overriding the permanent funding formula increase sought by education advocacy groups across Alaska. Lawmakers can override the veto, but it is unclear whether they will do so.
“I want to thank Congress, especially the House and Senate, for passing our bill. (But) this is a half point. This is a three-legged horse, which means it can't run very far. '' Dunleavy said.
The governor's statement comes as school districts across the state are preparing their budgets for the 2024-2025 school year.
Some of the state's largest school districts, including Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, are considering closing schools or drastically reducing the number of classes they offer. Many plan to increase the funding included in SB140.
“When Senate Bill 140 passed Congress, the relief on Capitol Hill was palpable,” said Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham. “There's been a real buzz around this in recent weeks. But the district's sense of relief and gratitude has been even more pronounced. Now we're back in a time of uncertainty and bewilderment.”
Dunleavy's ultimatum to lawmakers was broadcast online and viewed by lawmakers across the Capitol, several of whom said it was unlike anything in recent memory.
“I've never seen anything quite like what I just witnessed,” said Sen. Bill Wilechowski, D-Anchorage, a 17-year veteran of the Capitol.
So did Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak), who has been in Congress for 24 years.
Rep. Jamie Allard, an Eagle River Republican and co-chairman of the House Education Committee, said he thinks Dunleavy is “100 percent correct.” He said he believes he has support in the House to realize some of his priorities through the legislative process within the next two weeks.
“Can we do it? Where there's a will, there's a way,” said House Speaker Kathy Tilton (R-Wasilla). “Practical and easy? No.”
Both chambers passed SB 140 by wide margins, 38-2 in the House and 18-1 in the Senate. The total of 56 yes votes is enough to clear the 40-vote requirement to override the governor's veto, but some Republicans who voted for the bill could vote to uphold the veto. He said that there is a sex.
While the governor emphasized the need for teacher bonuses and charter school language, lawmakers said his demands lacked specificity.
Rep. Will Stapp (R-Fairbanks) said it's clear the governor wants some kind of bonus for teachers and grants for charter schools. Like, I say. ”
If passed, SB 140 would represent a $246 million annual increase in line items for the state's public schools. $680 for student transportation costs, correspondence programs for home-schooled students, improved internet access in rural schools, and the Base Student Allocation, the per-student funding allocation that is the centerpiece of the state's public education budget. Funds are being invested to increase the amount of This bill would establish education policy for the state. Even if the bill becomes law, whether those amounts will be included in next year's budget depends on what is included in the annual budget bill, which is typically not passed until later in the session.
The governor had proposed paying annual cash bonuses of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 per teacher, but the idea died on a 20-20 vote in the House. Dunleavy said that without the bonus plan, the bill would do “absolutely nothing for teacher recruitment and retention.”
A recently completed state analysis found bonuses were the most likely proposal for hiring, but senators on Tuesday expressed concerns about the cost of the governor's plan, saying it would require the state to not only hire teachers. I asked if it would help me maintain it.
“There's not a lot of discussion about how good of an idea it is to bring in people from the Philippines or couples from the Lower 48, have them teach for three years, earn a $90,000 bonus, and then leave the state.” Mr. Erechovsky mentioned the total amount that a pair of teachers at a remote school would receive over a three-year period.
Dunleavy also said SB140 does not go far enough to expand the state's ability to increase charter schools. Charters are currently approved and administered by local districts. His proposal was to allow appointees to the state Education Early Development Commission to approve as well.
“It's clear that charter schools are working well and are worth focusing on and expanding,” Dunleavy said.
The governor is absent from the Capitol and is not expected to return until next week, so negotiations will be conducted by phone or through an intermediary.
Charter parents and administrators aren't all on board with Dunleavy's plan to expand the charter. Brandi Harty, president of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, sends her children to a charter school within the district. As a charter parent, she said Dunleavy's proposal does nothing to help current charters and doesn't go far enough to encourage new charters.
“Charter schools are feeling the same underfunding as the rest of the district,” she said. The Fairbanks district is considering closing schools and expanding classroom sizes next year.
“Instead of looking at opening new charters without a BSA increase, we’re looking at charters closing for the same reason neighborhood schools close: because they can’t afford to keep their schools open. ” she said.
He said the existing charter would be better if there was a point of contact in the state Department of Education and Early Development. But he agreed with the governor that the state should be proud of charter schools' test scores.
Meanwhile, local schools need to apply for grants for internet costs, and time is running out. Wednesday is the deadline for requests for proposals from Internet service providers for next year.
Currently, schools must submit requests for two service levels, 25 Mbit or 100 Mbit, and accept the appropriate proposal in late March, depending on whether SB 140 becomes law or is vetoed. .
If lawmakers are unable or unwilling to comply with the governor's request, and Dunleavy vetoes the bill, the Alaska Constitution requires the Legislature to meet in a joint session within five days to uphold or override the veto. requires voting on changes. .
For the bill to pass, 40 of the 60 members of Congress would need to vote in favor of an override. Stevens said senators have not yet begun discussing that prospect and are focused on working with the governor for now.
“We're willing to talk. “We're willing to listen and see how far we can go,” Stevens said. “But I'm a little concerned about the governor saying, 'It's my way or the highway.'”
Get the morning headlines delivered to your inbox
