Dear Editor: As you may know, Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed House/Senate Bill 69 which included a $1,000 increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA). He has countered with an increase to the BSA of $560 with some additional one-time funding. House/Senate Bill 69 now returns to the Legislature where, on Tuesday, April 22, at 2 p.m., they will vote to override the governor’s veto. Because this is an appropriation bill, the Legislature needs a three-quarter margin to override – that is 45 of the 60 members.
One of the Nay votes on HB/SB 69 was our own Sen. Bert Stedman. If you feel compelled to contact your elected Senator who voted NO on the increase to the Base Student Allocation his phone number at the capitol is 907 465-3873 or toll free 877 465-3873. His interim contact information is 907 225-8088 (in case he is away from the capitol). His email is Sen.Bert.Stedman@akleg.gov.
The Sitka School Board was presented a balanced budget last Wednesday based on an increase to the BSA of $680 from the state and the city’s generous offer to fund to the cap ALSO BASED ON THAT $680 INCREASE. And while the budget was balanced, it was balanced by cutting four staff members on top of the 19 certified and six classified staff let go last year. It was balanced by cutting teaching supplies, curriculum, and technology. If we receive an increase to the BSA of $560 we will have to look at further cuts.
Education has been flat funded for so long that it would take an increase to the BSA of $1,460 to maintain our status quo in programming, class sizes, activities, and support staff, which is already bare bones. Inflation has not been flat over this same period. By raising the BSA $1000 we have an opportunity to claw out of the deficit hole we have been thrown into. As a school district we cannot raise revenue. As a city, we have given the maximum allowable. It is at the state level where we have fallen short. It is constitutionally mandated that the state provide adequate funding to educate every Alaskan child. Please take a moment to contact Senator Stedman (Sen.Bert.Stedman@akleg.gov) and ask him to reconsider his vote on the $1,000 BSA increase. Please take a moment to thank Rep. Himschoot for co-sponsoring HB 69 (Rep. Rebecca.Himschoot@akleg.gov). And if you have family in other communities, please consider asking them to contact their duly elected officials.
This is our opportunity to put our children’s education first. This is our chance to show our young people how much we value them. This is the time to say, “we cherish you above everything else”.
Phil Burdick,
Sitka School Board President
