Stop gaslighting educators: We see what you’re doing

As the President of the Mat-Su Classified Employees’ Association, I am done watching educators and school staff take a beating in the conservative press. Education and public safety are the two most vital responsibilities of the government, yet those who dedicate their lives to these missions are under attack. We demand accountability, transparency, and respect—because without us, schools don’t function, and students don’t succeed.

The bottom line is Our schools don’t generate income. They rely on state and local funding, and our leaders have a duty to allocate those funds responsibly. But let’s be clear—this is not an easy task. Inflation has driven costs to historic highs over the last four years, impacting everyone, from administrators to paraeducators to custodians. We bargain hard to offset these rising costs for our members, but who is standing up for the schools themselves? Who is ensuring they have what they need to provide a stable and effective education system?

The Challenge of School Funding

Let’s talk about House Bill 69 (HB 69), a half-measure attempt to patch our broken funding system. While it boosts school funding, it shamefully removed the link to the consumer price index for inflation-proofing. That was a mistake. Instead of guaranteeing steady, reliable funding, it forces schools into a political tug-of-war every year. A smarter move would have been adjusting the Base Student Allocation (BSA) lower while keeping inflation-proofing intact—removing education funding from the hands of politicians looking to score points.

The concerns about HB 69 are valid. Federal COVID relief money temporarily propped up budgets, but much of it was squandered—ballooning administrative costs rather than addressing long-term needs. And let’s be honest: public funds should never be used for outrageous “performance incentives” reaching $80,000 while students and classrooms go underfunded. Meanwhile, our state’s overall education outcomes are lagging, even as Mat-Su Valley schools continue to improve. Throwing money at the same failing strategies isn’t a plan—it’s negligence.

Who Pays for It? The Truth They Won’t Tell You

The money has to come from somewhere. And here’s what lawmakers in Juneau don’t want to say out loud: they aren’t proposing real budget cuts, and the only sustainable long-term revenue sources for increased education spending are the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) and a statewide income tax. Instead of having an honest debate, House leadership blocked discussions on these funding sources, dodging accountability.

Alaskans aren’t stupid. We see the game being played. Our leaders need to stop pretending there’s a magic solution that won’t cost anything. Either we fund education properly, or we don’t. Hiding behind procedure won’t change that reality.

A Call for Real Leadership and Solutions

Enough with the political games. We demand transparency in education funding and a real conversation about solutions. We need bold ideas, not just more bureaucracy. Should we cut administrative bloat? Should we explore outsourcing district administration to reduce costs? No option should be off the table.

Most importantly—stop gaslighting us. Educators, school staff, parents, business owners, and community stakeholders must be included in these conversations. We are the ones in the trenches. We know what our students need. We won’t be ignored.

Alaska’s students deserve better. Our schools deserve better. And if lawmakers won’t engage in an honest conversation, we’ll hold them accountable. Enough is enough.

Rick Morgan is the president of the Classified Employees’ Association.