Support SB52
Dear Editor: This week, Alaska has a chance to make progress on the perennial school budget issues that affect our students, schools, and municipalities. Senate Bill 52, just introduced by the bipartisan Senate majority, would increase the Base Student Allocation by $1,000 per student.
The BSA – baseline funding the state provides school districts – has not been raised in Alaska since 2017, not even to keep up with huge jumps in inflation. This has resulted in cuts to programs and staff, larger class sizes, and school closures in Anchorage. Meanwhile, municipalities have been forced to allocate larger and larger portions of their local budgets to fund education.
The Alaska Senate is now poised to increase school funding. How can you make it happen? Send a statement of support for Senate Bill 52 to Senate.Education@akleg.gov. You can also go to the Sitka Legislative Information Office (201 Katlian Street, Totem Square) at 3:15 on Wednesday, Feb. 8, to testify live before the Senate Education Committee.
Beth Short-Rhoads, Sitka
