School district addresses potential fiscal challenges

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough School District offered the first look at how Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget would affect Valley schools if passed as presented. MSBSD Superintendent Monica Goyette did not panic, and stated that the governor’s budget was still subject to approval from the State House of Representatives and State Senate and was not yet finalized.

Goyette also noted that February is School Board appreciation month.

“This is probably one of the most challenging times I’ve seen fiscally in education and all the more important for the role of the school board and how much I appreciate the longevity of board members and also our new board members who bring a new perspective and really the history we have of having such a high performing board that has the clarity of vision that allows the district to function in such difficult times,” Goyette said.

Goyette detailed the impacts of nearly $40 million in cuts dispersed evenly across the school district. The Base Student Allocation funding of $5,390 was not reduced, but the equivalent in cuts would be nearly $1,000 per student. Goyette said that if the budget passes as presented, 356 full time employees would lose their jobs. Classes may balloon up to 50 students.

“At this point it becomes a capacity issue. It would be very difficult in our standard classroom to fit 50 student desks and chairs so that is a challenge under meeting this budget, not to mention all of the other compromises that would come from such a high pupil-teacher ratio,” Goyette said.

During public comment, Mike Coons was pleased with the budget and asked the school board to make necessary cuts.

“Your budget shows that you don’t care about the cost of poor education being last in the nation but are more concerned with maintaining the status quo of the past years,” Coons said. “This governor will not back down and he will use his veto pen this school board has a long history along with others of violating negotiation practices by allowing teachers to complain about pay and benefits when the unions are to do that.”

Coons stated that he believes that there are four administrative positions for every one teacher.

“If you really care about the students you would take the governor up on his plans,” Coons said.

Goyette corrected the numbers, stating that the ratio is closer to one administrator for every 16 teachers.

“I believe, as the board does, that the money should be in classrooms with kids and I believe that our budget does reflect that and we’re going to continue to try and divert as many resources as we can to that,” Goyette said.

Goyette detailed the timelines for notifying staff that they would or would not be returning to their positions by classification. School board member Ray Michaelson noted that he had been paying attention to Senate Finance Committee hearings and heard that lawmakers were claiming that only half of the funds allocated are used directly for education. Goyette said that a state statute requiring 70 percent of funds to be directed towards instruction was repealed, but that MSBSD has a goal of 80 percent of funding being used for instruction. Goyette notified the board that 78 percent of the budget is classified as instruction, and that does not include secretary staff or heating costs that are necessary for schools to offer instruction. Assistant Superintendent Luke Fulp detailed that about six percent of the general fund budget goes toward administrative personnel.

“This tremendous of a cut would make it very challenging but I’m sure that this administration and board is up to that challenge if it went through that way,” board member Ole Larson said.

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