Do your homework and include the stakeholders in the process

To the editor:

The 2013 legislative session is over. I extend my thanks to the Education and Finance Committee members who had the wisdom to hold Senate Bills 89, 90 and 100, and House Bill 93 in committee. I would also like to remind our Valley’s state representatives and senators as they continue work for next session that they were not voted in with a mandate to disassemble public education. In fact, far less than a majority voted them into office, hardly a directive from the people. However, when reviewing the flurry of bills and a resolution sponsored by our delegation during this legislative session, it appears they believe differently.

Regarding first SJR9, a resolution to amend the state constitution allowing public money to be spent on private and religious education, then in consideration of SB 89, a bill that would allow tax credits for individual contributions to private and religious schools, and finally in response to SB 100, allowing home-school allotments to be spent on religious materials — I ask our representatives and senators to remember that the separation of church and state is designed not to keep religion out of the state, but to keep the state out of religion.

Then there is HB 93, a bill that would allow a broader spectrum of charter schools to open within a district without local oversight. The bill is transparent in its call for school choice. However, it is not so clear in its consequence for brick and mortar schools, especially in light of the stalling of SSHB 95, which would allow inflation proofing of the base student allotment. Although, after reviewing the other Valley sponsored bills, our neighborhood schools seem to be our delegates’ least concern.

As for SB 90, a bill that would have all public educators fall under state health insurance, I appreciate the patience of the Finance Committee. As the proverb says, “haste makes waste.” I agree; slow down, do your homework and include the stakeholders in the process before deciding to increase (substantially) the number of citizens dependent on state insurance. So, I look forward to our Valley representatives and senators returning home, where we can ask some hard questions in person. If nothing else, I hope to learn what their mission for next year might be, and could it please make more sense than this one did.

Emily Forstner

Wasilla