School issues, quality of life

taking spotlight

It's a big week for Valley residents and their families, especially those who are involved with schools. Two public meetings that have the potential to affect the quality of life here in the Mat-Su have schools issues in spotlight.

The first is Tuesday, when the borough assembly holds an out-of-cycle meeting at 6 p.m. at the Borough Administration Building in Palmer to consider overriding the mayor's veto of the scheduled special election for new school bonds. The mayor's action last week set off an emotionally charged wave of opposition, and much lobbying has been done since in an attempt to shore up the five votes needed to override the veto.

As is usually the case when emotions - and political opportunism - run high, rhetoric has been long on alarmism and short on rational, factual presentation of facts. Everyone agrees that new schools are needed. The Valley is growing rapidly, and no amount of wishful thinking is going to make the children stop coming.

The controversy stems from the scheduling of the special election so soon after voters said no to the school bonds in October. While the question of when it's proper to put the question before voters again seems to be the only one in need of answering now, it's still only half the battle in getting the bonds approved before the state's offer of up to 70 percent debt reimbursement expires Oct. 31.

Whether a vote, ultimately, is held this spring or not until the fall, a bigger lobbying effort awaits everyone involved. Getting the word out that new schools are not a luxury, that they are not optional, is the challenge that lies ahead.

Part of that challenge is further evidence of the crossroads that is on the near horizon for Alaskans. More than ever, the free lunch that longtime residents have grown accustomed to is not a part of the reality we all face today. With state aid to communities dwindling and voters and those they elect unwilling to consider new and diverse revenue streams, property owners are taking on an ever-increasing share of the burden of funding government.

With one new school a year needed for the foreseeable future, it is not an issue that is going away anytime soon. Needs are many. The means to satisfy those needs are limited, especially now with a tax cap in place. Tough choices are going to have to be made.

Seeing this writing on the wall, the school district has put a zero-increase budget on the table. Unfortunately, school district costs, a huge chunk of which is retirement and health-care plans that are not controlled in district, are increasing.

To combat this, the district has proposed privatizing custodial services. At Wednesday night's meeting of the school board, 6 p.m. at Palmer High School, the public is invited to weigh in on the matter prior to the board's vote.

It is another issue that has emotions high on both sides. Parents and teachers have rallied to the cause, claiming custodians are a valuable part of the education team whose loyalty and quality of service to the overall educational experience will be lost if private contractors are brought in. It is hard to disagree.

But it is incumbent on those who oppose the district's plan to either come up with a responsible alternative or be willing to bite the bullet and pay for the privilege of maintaining this segment of the school district's payroll.

Tough choices have to be made. Beginning this week. Don't miss out on a chance to have your voice heard.