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These are dark and uncertain times for the future of education in Alaska. The Governor made the tragic mistake and wrong choice of vetoing SB140, a historic bipartisan public education bill. His actions have thrown our entire public education system into a political storm, with uncertain outcomes but profound implications for the future of Alaska's children and Alaska's economy.
Every year is important in public education. This year, thousands of Alaska children will experience kindergarten for the only time in their lives. Thousands of others will be taking a third-grade reading class for the first time ever. Their lives will be on track as a result of the quality education they will experience this year. It is unacceptable to wait until the next election cycle to gain political resolve to adequately fund education.
The governor said he vetoed SB140 because there was “no alternative approach other than increased funding to improve educational outcomes.”
New approaches are constantly being introduced in Alaska's public schools by educators who are always looking for new ways to improve the way education is delivered in the 21st century. Is the governor misrepresenting what he knows to be true, or is he so disconnected from reality that he has truly lost touch with what is happening in Alaska's classrooms and communities across the state? Is it gone?
If the governor takes the time to talk to school board members, he will be hearing from a group of people elected and held accountable by his fellow voters. They will be spending most of their waking hours finding the best way to provide knowledge to the children of Alaska. When he talks to teachers, he doesn't see them as a “special interest group,” but rather as driven by a personal passion for helping each Alaskan child reach his or her full potential. They will see you as a dedicated professional. They are not enemies, but experts who can light the way forward. They are not the causes of the current crisis, but the heroes who persevere despite state-imposed austerity.
Our talented Alaskan teachers are able to achieve extraordinary results, even under difficult circumstances. They constantly innovate, adapt and strive to improve. I always feel grateful and in awe. But I know enough to recognize the House on the Sand they currently occupy. Flat funding and rising costs have forced compromises, and now many students are on the lookout, wondering if this is the year to cut back and cut out Alaska's crumbling public education system. .
The Legislature should override the Governor’s short-sighted veto of SB140 and then prepare to override the Governor’s predictable line-item veto of funding accompanying SB140. We must also pass SB88, reinstating a viable retirement system for teachers and other public employees (and overriding the governor's likely veto of that necessary bill). Only then will educators be able to focus on educating children without second-guessing their escape from Alaska. A positive outlook for Alaska's education system will bring families back to the state, light the way for a growing Alaskan economy, and lead us all to a prosperous future.
Rep. Alice Galvin He is a member of the Alaska House of Representatives and co-founder of Great Alaska Schools, an education advocacy group.
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