Educators react to School Bond Debt Reimbursement veto

PALMER — For the second of each of his two years in office, Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed School Bond Debt Reimbursement funds headed toward the Mat-Su Borough. This year, $16 million of funding was vetoed from the state funded portion of the Borough budget, and educators called in to each of the three budget public hearings by the Assembly to ask the Assembly not to hand the $16 million burden off to the Mat-Su Borough School Board School district.

“We already have the largest class sizes in the state and have trouble attracting educators to the Valley. Please continue your support of our schools,” said Dianne Shibe.

The assembly heard budget public testimony on April 23, 28 and 30 and have regular meetings scheduled for May 5 and May 19. The assembly will hold their final budget public hearings on May 26 and 28, and canceled their May 7 and May 12 budget meetings to allow for more time for possible action by the legislature on the proposed funding. Participating telephonically, dozens of educators called in to express their concern with a lack of funding for School Bond Debt Reimbursement from the state.

“It seems that we have continued to reduce our operating budget making it harder and harder and harder each year,” said Mike Evans.

Mat-Su Borough Mayor Vern Halter expressed early in 2020 that he would like to see the state fund half of the school bond debt reimbursement funds, but the veto leaves the Borough with $16 million left to pay. Of the teachers that called in to flood public comment with educators distraught over the lack of funding from the state, Michelle Carrington offered a quote from Ben Franklin.

“Education is the investment with the greatest return,” Carrington said.

As the spread of COVID-19 shut down Alaska schools after spring break, educators have been working to distance deliver education to their students. Teachers expressed pride in their ability to adapt to the situation and continue educating, but hoped not to have uncertain funding for schools become a habitual problem.

“I am exceptionally proud to belong to a borough and a district that was ready for this particular crisis,” said Kim Strassel.