Future of Alaska education bill unknown, hours left until Governor Dunleavy's deadline

JUNEAU — With hours left until Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy's deadline to veto a widely supported education bill or allow it to become law, the governor announced Thursday He did not say how he would act.

Last month, Dunleavy announced a $175 million increase to Alaska's $1.2 billion education budget, as well as increased spending for home-schooled students and funding to improve internet speeds for eligible schools. The ultimatum was issued after Senate Bill 140, which includes the

The hallways of the state Capitol were filled with rumors about what Dunleavy would do Thursday. On February 27, he vetoed the bill unless lawmakers promised more action to pass education priorities, including a path to increasing the number of charter schools in Alaska and a three-year teacher bonus. He said he intended to activate it. The program costs an estimated $58 million annually.

Lawmakers said this week they tried to negotiate a deal to meet Dunleavy's demands before the deadline, but no deal was reached. By late Thursday afternoon, there was no sign of a breakthrough or any indication of intentions from Dunleavy.

“In terms of any type of veto on SB 140, I don't have any information on that,” House Speaker Kathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, told reporters at a news conference just before 4 p.m. The governor's office is said to be open until midnight tonight, so we may not know anything for a while. ”

Tilton went on to say that if Dunleavy vetoes the bill, lawmakers will likely convene Monday to consider overriding the veto. For that to happen, 40 of Alaska's 60 senators would need to vote in favor of overriding it. More than two-thirds of lawmakers voted in favor of the original bill in February, but it remains unclear whether it will meet that threshold again.

If Dunleavy chooses to allow the bill to become law, he will either have to sign it by midnight or allow it to become law without a signature. The governor has not publicly announced the measure or the conversations he has had with lawmakers about it since his Feb. 27 press conference.

Dunleavy also said he could veto some education funding from the budget if it passes, even though a bill passed last month increases the state's $5,960 base student allotment by $680. he suggested. Even if that happens, it is likely to happen after the Diet session is over.

The spending increase passed 38-2 in the House and 18-1 in the Senate. The amount passed represents about half of the increase that education advocates have argued is needed to make up for seven years without a significant increase in the base student allocation, which determines per-student funding. Some school districts faced multi-million dollar deficits this year.

The House Education Committee introduced a bill Thursday that incorporates the governor's proposal to authorize a state board appointed by the governor to authorize new charter schools. Rep. Jamie Allard, an Eagle River Republican who co-chairs the Education Committee, said the bill was introduced at the governor's request.

“I think the governor is very supportive of charter schools, so we’re going to pass this bill as soon as possible,” she said. Asked whether the bill was filed as an agreement with the governor to avoid a veto of SB 140, Allard said, “I can't speak for the executive branch, sorry.”

The first hearing on the governor's charter school bill is scheduled for Wednesday in the House Education Committee.

House Education Co-Chairman Justin Loughridge, R-Soldotna, said concerns that the governor's plan could curb the power of local school boards will be a big topic of discussion. Loughridge said he believed that for the bill to move forward, it “needs to establish that local control remains the primary concern.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Sean Maguire reported from Juneau and Iris Samuels from Anchorage.

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