I was proud to stand with other local and state leaders on Saturday, supporting our invaluable students, teachers, and families who came together in solidarity to advocate for raising the Alaska BSA!
Alaska’s public education system has been frozen in time since 2016 and, ever since, has faced the challenge of flat funding, where school districts have been receiving approximately the same amount of money annually. In the following years, inflation has soared by over 28%, significantly straining educational resources.
This economic squeeze has led to the closure of schools, diminished educational opportunities for students, and placed our dedicated educators and paraprofessionals in a precarious financial position, struggling to meet basic needs.
In response to these challenges, the School Board and administration have taken proactive steps, including reducing ASD’s administrative overhead, curbing the growth in labor costs, pursuing school consolidation, implementing additional efficiencies, and identifying new revenue opportunities.
It is not enough.
We all want better wages for educators, smaller class sizes for students, and transformational opportunities for our kids. Those things are unlikely to happen without a substantial permanent increase in education funding.
Advocacy for the funding required to provide quality services to our children is a key responsibility of the Anchorage School Board.
As an elected leader of ASD, I’ve worked hard to educate lawmakers on the importance of regular increases to the BSA, including testifying before the Senate Finance Committee last April, highlighting the potentially devastating impacts that continued underfunding of education could have on the Anchorage School District.
I want you to know that I am steadfast in my commitment to fight for adequate and predictable public education funding, ensuring that we equip the next generation of Alaska’s workforce with the tools they need for lifelong success.
With gratitude,
Carl
