Budget meetings bring mixed emotions

PALMER -- Budget crisis meetings last week, set up to explain and answer questions about the school district's proposed budget cuts for FY05, were held in both Palmer and Wasilla, and public comment ran the gamut of emotions. While some felt the district has no choice but to make the cuts, others questioned the district's financial state and the way the cuts were doled out.

"I don't know how you've determined [the cuts], somehow with some magic formula, and I'd like to know how you chose the schools to cut nurses and librarians," asked one community member at the Wasilla meeting, held Friday night.

Cuts to nurse's hours and the laying off of librarians are just part of the proposed package, which was presented to the Mat-Su Borough School Board last week. Also on the chopping block are elementary and middle school co-curricular funding, high school co-curricular travel funding, numerous administration positions and custodian work times.

Chief school administrator Bob Doyle ran both meetings, and answered questions about both the cuts and how the Valley can help raise the amount of funding the state provides the district. The school board has no way of raising funds for the district, and the Mat-Su Borough has funded education at 100 percent allowed by law for the last three years.

"If you think we can do what we've done before with the funding we have, you're in denial," Doyle said.

To combat the lack of funding for this and other school districts, a local grassroots group has emerged, pledging to let the state Legislature know that education needs more funding, and that they, as Alaskans, are willing to pay for it. Kris Moore, a member of the effort, has sent out a written statement explaining that an action plan will be developed soon.

"It's time to unite our voice and put into action solutions that will offer our children the opportunity of a quality education," wrote Moore.

Doyle has spent the majority of this week meeting with district employees about the budget cuts; Kim Floyd, the district's public information specialist, said that the first regional staff meeting was attended by around 80 employees, and that the meeting resulted in some positive encouragement from the staff.

"It went really well," Floyd said.

Since the proposed budget cuts were first released, the Mat-Su Borough School District has been adamant about the responsibility of the people to talk with their legislators about the lack of funding for education. Doyle has stressed numerous times that if the public doesn't voice that they are willing to pay for education, i.e. through taxes or some other form of payment, such as giving up the dividend, funding will not increase.

"There is no alternative if there is no additional money," Doyle said. "I really don't think anything will happen in the Legislature if the vote in November will turn it down."