Juneau School District leaders say the increase in education funding approved by the Legislature this week will cut the district's budget deficit in half.
Juneau schools are facing a $10 million budget deficit next year.District officials announce plans to close schools approved by the board last week The district will save approximately $3 million.
The legislature is approved the education bill It includes a $680 increase to the base pupil allocation, which is part of the formula that determines state funding for schools. This will give the Juneau School District more than $5 million in additional state funding.
“No one can say that the Juneau School District and this school board are not doing their part to balance the budget,” Superintendent Frank Hauser said during Tuesday's school board meeting. “The Legislature also did its part. The next part will focus solely on the governor.”
Governor Mike Dunleavy said at a press conference on Tuesday. The bill omits some of his priorities. He wants to include teacher retention bonuses and a new approval process for charter schools.
“We have 15 days before it becomes law or I veto it. And I've made it clear that I won't sign the bill unless it has certain elements in it.” “I will exercise my veto.”
Hauser said the veto would mean the following: Further job cuts in Juneau To balance the budget. School districts must also increase student-teacher ratios, also known as PTRs, and substantially increase class sizes.
“If the governor vetoes the BSA increase, we would likely have to significantly increase the PTR since 90% of the district budget goes to salaries and benefits,” Hauser said. “Without the BSA increase, the district is considering increasing the PTR to balance the troop reduction and budget.”
Dunleavy has until March 14 to sign or veto the education bill. School districts have until March 15 to notify tenured teachers of the layoffs.
