Assembly vote hurt schools

To the editor:

It’s a sad day in the Mat-Su. I’m disappointed and more than a little concerned that Pete Houston doesn’t see the long-term affects of his proposal. While in attendance at the borough budget meeting I got the distinct impression that not all assembly members understand or appreciated the enormity of the school district’s financial need.

I’m concerned that votes are being cast and decisions are being made without adequate knowledge, resulting in far-reaching negative affects across our entire community. Every service in the Mat-Su from police to libraries and everything in between will be affected by a school system that is not able to produce. Assembly members on Wednesday said they hoped the stimulus funding would offset their cut, how irresponsible that the assembly would suggest we rely on stimulus money to maintain our schools. The Mat-Su School District has a very long way to go before they are adequately funded, their budget request reflected a minimum need. This decision, not to provide the funding necessary to operate our schools, ensures that Mat-Su will be regarded as a district where education is not a top priority.

What a slap in the face to teachers, parents, students, administrators, community organizers, businesses and volunteer advocates who work tirelessly to compensate for an already diminishing educational system.

My vision was to see the schools continue to grow and improve and keep up with the rest of the nation or even the world by providing opportunities so all students might achieve success in school and beyond. Many residents share that vision and they showed up in mass numbers to speak out at the budget meetings only to have their testimonies fall on deaf ears. Alaska students have a fundamental right to an education K-12 that provides them with the tools to be competitive. As a community we should support that effort.

Mat-Su Borough elected officials, Pete Houston, Lynne Woods, Michelle Church and Cindy Bettine sent a message with their vote: They don’t value quality education; it’s not their top priority.

I’m a taxpayer and my contribution last year was more than double the average and I want my money spent on education because it is the core of my community. It makes me sad, no sick, when I reflect back a decade or more when Alaska was the place to live, spend money, buy a house, have a job, raise a family, and above all put your kids in the best schools. Mat-Su schools were first in piloting federal programs. Quality instruction was rewarded in Alaska through adequate salaries and the opportunity to work and live in a state that valued education. It’s a very, very sad day.

Pamela Speer

Partner In Education