Sen. Green takes positive step for education

Frontiersman editorial board

The Frontiersman has often called into question the commitment and resolve of some of our Valley legislators. We've taken legislators to task for ignoring the concerns of constituents and for failing to show decisiveness and leadership at crucial times.

It's only fair to shine the spotlight on a legislator who has demonstrated resolve and courage when it counts. Last week, Sen. Lyda Green took the Senate floor and delivered an impassioned speech that helped lead the charge for the passage of Senate Bill 35. That bill, if it clears hurdles in the House and then receives the governor's signature, will open a window that could lead to additional funding for Alaska schools. The bill is not yet law, and even if it becomes law, there's no guarantee schools will receive better funding.

What counts here is that SB 35 was a necessary first step in the effort to save struggling school districts in the state -- the Mat-Su School District will face an $8 million dollar shortage and Draconian budget cuts next year if the state doesn't intervene. What also counts is that Green's address to the Senate was heartfelt and persuasive. It counts that she presented and championed an amendment to the bill that recommends a per-student funding increase of $407 per student over 2003 levels. It's a stunning increase that received strong praise from Mat-Su School District representative Kim Floyd.

It's not the first time Green has stepped up to the plate for public education, either. The senator has a reputation for standing firm in defense of education, and for fighting hard for better funding for our schools, and she deserves praise, not just from the district, but from the entire community for that consistent resolve.

We hope our representatives in the House will stand just as strong on this important issue. We hope the House will pass this bill and move it to the governor's desk. We also urge the governor to sign the bill and begin the process to increase education funding to levels that make sense.

If the rest of the Legislature wants direction on the issue of public education, we say, follow Lyda. If the governor is looking for the words to describe how important education is to Alaskans, we say, listen

to Lyda. If voters in the Mat-Su have been looking for some positive news about

our own legislators, we say, look at Lyda. She stood up for something we can all believe in.