‘Gross Misrepresentation’: Superintendent addresses Mat-Su Borough Assembly regarding proposed budget cuts

PALMER — Mat-Su Borough School District Superintendent Dr. Monica Goyette presented the impacts of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget to the Mat-Su Borough Assembly on Tuesday at a special budget meeting.

Goyette painted a picture of what the effects of the proposed cuts would look like on the MSBSD’s 47 schools, staff, and students. Goyette and members of the assembly noted that they do not believe the budget will pass as presented, and there will be seismic changes to the budget.

“The Office of Management and Budget Director put out that only 54 percent of state funds are reaching classrooms. This is a gross misrepresentation on the part of the director,” Goyette said.

In defending the performance of the MSBSD, Goyette also noted that the state had a previous statute requiring 70 percent of funding be used toward instruction. Goyette said that MSBSD averages 77 to 78 percent.

“When director (Donna) Arduin talked about 54, that’s inaccurate. Statewide it’s 74 percent. There’s only six districts that fall below that 70 percent threshold,” Goyette said.

Goyette praised Assistant Superintendent Amy Spargo for facilitating the ability for every junior in MSBSD to have the opportunity to take the ACT in conjunction with the University of Alaska Anchorage. MSBSD students performed above state and national scores on each subtest and in the composite score, ranking 7 percent higher than national and Alaska rankings.

Goyette presented a snapshot of the improving MSBSD performance rates, noting 13 percent increases in graduation rates in the MSBSD from 2010 to 2018.

“It’s a systemic improvement that we have implemented across our district,” Goyette said.

Goyette noted that the expenses for the district office were only 5.5 percent of the MSBSD budget, and there have been previous efforts to reduce costs at the district office. Goyette noted that the district would have to follow non-tenured negotiations, limiting who would be able to be cut if the MSBSD budget was significantly reduced. Goyette said that Dunleavy’s budget underfunded the BSA by $1,050.

“It’s an underfunding of the BSA and why that’s important is, if they underfund it it doesn’t impact the local contribution, and really you see that as a theme in this budget is that isn’t all reductions, there really is a shifting to local communities,” Goyette said.

Goyette rattled off statistics on the budget impacts. The budget reduces public education by 25 percent and increases the Permanent Fund Dividend by 90 percent. The cost shifting to local government accounts for 60 percent and 37 percent of state revenues would go toward the PFD.

Goyette echoed what Sen. Natasha Von Imhof said in a Senate Finance Committee meeting last week.

“I think the debate across the state of Alaska over the next three months is really going to be about priorities around what people want to pay for services versus what they want for disposable income,” Goyette said.

Goyette said that the budget cuts would have a particularly rough impact on charter schools, which often don’t have the supplemental staff such as counselors, custodians, and nurses, and rely on the help of parents. Assembly member George McKee said that Goyette’s presentation floored him.

“The whole purpose of the school district is to have teachers to provide instruction to the students. The purpose is not to provide employment for other administrative people, I’m sorry it isn’t,” McKee said.

Goyette noted that no matter how effective a multiplication lesson may be, a student who had gone hungry would not be able to properly learn it, necessitating nutrition services, counselors and nurses.

“We have to meet all sorts of primary needs for students so that we can achieve our goal for learning,” Goyette said.

Goyette said that the pupil-to-teacher ratio (PTR) would increase by six across the district, and high schools could see classes as large as 50. Goyette said that MSBSD has some of the highest PTR in the state, and that MSBSD has reached out to fire marshal's to inquire as to the legality of putting that many students in one room.

“We are already at a critical mass at our PTR, and to be increasing that by six, it will have a significant impact to the quality of education,” Goyette said.

Goyette had little confidence in the ability of the governor and legislature to pass a budget in the allotted 90 days or even the constitutionally allowed 120 days. Mat-Su students are set to get out on May 22, and if a budget had not been passed, MSBSD would have to issue layoff notices. If a budget were passed after the contract agreement deadlines, teachers needed to fill vacant positions may have already left the state to seek more secure employment.

“Regardless of where this budget scenario ends up, we will be forced to organize around the governor’s budget until those decisions are made,” Goyette said.

Goyette noted that of the $9.9 million in the unassigned fund balance, she will be recommending in the upcoming MSBSD budget process that they use $2.5 million of that. The unassigned fund balance currently represents 4 percent of the total budget.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.