Education Stability Matters for Alaska’s Communities

As the Alaska Legislature convenes for a new session, it carries a serious responsibility on behalf of the people of this state. The decisions made in the coming months will shape Alaska’s future for years to come.

Education must be part of that focus.

I write this as a lifelong Alaskan educator, president of the Mat-Su Classified Employees Association, and the Education Support Professional (ESP) Director on the NEA-Alaska Board of Directors, as well as a candidate for NEA-Alaska President. I represent education support professionals across the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and statewide, and I have spent my career working in our schools and advocating for practical, fiscally responsible, results-driven solutions that strengthen classrooms, support staff, and serve students well.

For too long, discussions around public education have been framed as a fight — educators versus lawmakers, unions versus reform, schools versus the budget. That framing is not only inaccurate; it is unhelpful. Educators are not the enemy. Neither are the leaders who represent them.

Alaska’s teachers and education support professionals live in the communities they serve. They raise families here, coach our kids, volunteer, and pay the same rising costs every Alaskan feels. When schools struggle, communities feel it. When schools are stable and supported, Alaska benefits.

Two issues deserve serious, good-faith attention this session.

First, Alaska must confront the reality of retirement security. A defined benefit retirement is not a perk — it is a workforce stability tool. States across the country have recognized that competitive retirement systems help attract and retain experienced professionals. Alaska’s education system will continue to struggle with recruitment and retention until we acknowledge that reality and act accordingly.

Second, education funding must be treated with the same logic applied to other state services. Most departments see adjustments tied to inflation. Education should be no different. Linking education funding to the Consumer Price Index is not unusual — it is responsible budgeting because it simply maintains purchasing power over time. When funding does not keep pace with inflation, schools are forced to absorb higher costs for utilities, transportation, health care, and basic supplies without any increase in resources. That results in cuts to programs, larger class sizes, deferred maintenance, and higher turnover — even when funding appears level. CPI-linked adjustments don’t create new spending priorities; they prevent erosion of existing ones and allow districts to plan responsibly, just as other state departments already do.

Educators and their organizations are ready to be partners. We are prepared to work with legislators from both sides of the aisle. We bring real-world experience, data, and practical solutions. We want strong schools, accountable systems, and sustainable policies.

What we do not want is continued vilification. Casting educators or their advocates as adversaries may score political points, but it does nothing to solve the challenges facing Alaska’s children or its workforce.

This session presents an opportunity to reset the tone.

Let’s focus on what works.

Let’s ground policy in reality.

And let’s remember that strong public schools are not a partisan issue — they are an Alaskan one.

I hope this Legislature focuses on solutions that work for students, families, and educators, because lasting success is measured by results, not talking points.

Rick Morgan is president of the Mat-Su Classified Employees Association, serves as the Education Support Professional (ESP) Director on the NEA-Alaska Board of Directors, and is a candidate for NEA-Alaska President.