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LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY
Advancing Our Advocacy Efforts Together
Lon Garrison, Executive Director, AASB
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The upcoming legislative session of the 33rd Alaska Legislature will be the most critical and consequential session public school advocates have ever faced. With the release of the Governor’s budget and the recent comments of DEED Commissioner Bishop, we now know that they are truly opposed to increasing the Base Student Allocation (BSA) as a fundamental way to support the local implementation of public education. Our mission, together as an association and you individually as school boards and communities, is to convince the Legislature, the Governor, and the Commissioner otherwise.
How can we accomplish this and hope to overcome what may seem like impossible odds? AASB is working hard to advance your priorities and help prepare you as advocates for your districts. Let me share with you what AASB has planned.
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AASB LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY EVENTS | | |
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FREE WEBINAR
Strategies for Advocating Effectively
Wednesday, January 17, Noon-1 pm
Delve into the dynamics of the 33rd Legislature and explore strategies designed to help education advocates effectively navigate the upcoming legislative session. We'll examine ways to engage in productive conversations with legislators, the importance of civil discourse in today's polarized political climate, and harnessing the power of data-driven storytelling to highlight the urgent needs of our schools.
Hosted by Lon Garrison, AASB Executive Director, and Norm Wooten, AASB Director of Advocacy, this webinar will focus on school board members' roles in advancing AASB's three legislative priorities: increased investment in education, educator retention and recruitment, and student wellness and safety.
| Visit our website for more Legislative Advocacy resources. |
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LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY EVENT
Calling All District Advocates!
Save the Date - February 9-13
Registration opens
the first week of January
AASB's Leadership Academy & Legislative Fly-In, along with the Youth Advocacy Institute,
will be held February 10-13 at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall in Juneau. More info and registration details are coming soon.
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SPECIAL PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION
Public Education Funding in Alaska
Friday, February 9
You are invited to join us for a special pre-conference session on Public Funding in Alaska and the Concept of Adequacy. This pre-conference session will be part 2 of AASB's School Law & Policy Series (all are welcome to attend, whether or not you attended Part 1).
Topics covered on Friday may include:
- Laws of Education Funding in Alaska
- How Schools are Funded
- Adequacy in Education Funding
- The Role of Data
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Leadership Academy & Legislative Fly-In
Saturday, February 10 – Tuesday, February 13
AASB's Leadership Academy & Legislative Fly-In offers board members & district leaders the opportunity to speak with a unified voice as they meet face-to-face with legislators and governmental officials. Your voice is heard as you collaborate with AASB to identify legislative talking points and provide testimony at committee hearings.
Your Participation Counts!
Given the urgent needs of our schools, we anticipate the participation of every district in this year's Legislative Fly-In. Together, we can create positive change for students in Alaska's public schools.
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Youth Advocacy Institute
Saturday, February 10 – Sunday, February 11
AASB's Youth Advocacy Institute (YAI) is a unique opportunity for high school students from across Alaska to convene in Juneau once a year to learn advocacy skills, share their views on the building blocks for student success, and learn more about the legislative inner workings. Participants learn how a bill becomes a law, discuss key legislative issues influencing education this year, and participate in mock testimony. On Monday, February 12, and Tuesday, February 13, students will advocate alongside their school boards at the Capital.
For more information on YAI contact cplesa@aasb.org
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On behalf of our member school districts statewide, the AASB Board of Directors chose the following three legislative priorities for the second session of the 33rd Alaska Legislature. The Board wanted to focus on three primary areas of concern:
- Sufficient and Sustainable Public Education Funding
- Retention and Recruitment of Teachers, Administrators and Staff
- Student Wellness and School Safety
Click the button below to access a one-page document that briefly describes AASB's priority issues for which we will be aggressively advocating this session.
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BOARD DEVELOPMENT
New School Board Member Orientation
Tiffany Jackson, Director of Membership Services
With elections just behind us, how you orient and onboard your new board members should be on the forefront of your mind. Think back to when you were brand new on the board, what were questions you had? I know I had a lot! What is my role when it comes to: curriculum, the budget, personnel, students! What are the customs of the board, how am I going to get my information on the board, what do I say when people come up to me with concerns? When are the board meetings? Where are the board meetings? What does the board do for professional development? Am I expected to travel, if so when, where, and how?
As lifelong learners, you probably recognize that you are always going to have questions as a board member. That’s why it is so important for the district to have a good orientation and onboarding process.
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CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING
How do families want to hear from schools?
Conditions for Learning Team
AASB recently launched the Alaska Family Engagement Center. As part of this project the Family Advisory Board - or FAB - provides insight and make recommendations that schools can use to develop strong family partnerships.
The group took a look at tips for communicating with families on the Alaska Family Engagement Center website and shared a few tips of their own.
Two-way communication is key. Families want to hear from schools, but they also want opportunities to communicate their needs and experiences back to the school.
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Conversations with staff, such as those that can happen during parent-teacher-student conferences, are one of the ways families prefer to communicate with teachers. | | |
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SUPPORT SOLUTIONS
Lynx Education and AASB:
Partnering with Districts to Achieve their Goals
Jesse Carnahan, CEO, Lynx Education
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Getting quality, timely and reliable assistance with your district’s technology goals has become increasingly difficult in recent years. Finding qualified local technical staff who can support existing classroom and curriculum needs and navigate the complex cybersecurity and future planning areas is particularly challenging in larger communities and even more daunting in smaller villages.
Add to this the quick turnover often seen with technology staff, and it becomes apparent that keeping critical programs running from year to year with institutional knowledge requires a new way of thinking. Rethinking how we plan, implement, deploy and support technology in the classroom has never been more critical for success.
Lynx Education has successfully worked with districts across Alaska to determine the technical and administrative support levels they lack and develop action plans that are cost-effective and sustainable.
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2024 First-term Board Member Webinar Series
January 9, - April 26, 2024
Registration is FREE and Open Now!
Whether you’re just getting started on your board, or want to brush up on the basics, AASB’s First Term Board Member Webinar Series is for you!
This series of 11 webinars, held from January through April, will cover topics such as conducting effective meetings, school finance, working with your community, school law, and more.
Register today! Early registration adds the webinar dates to your calendar to ensure conflict-free attendance! Click Here to register for ALL webinars listed on the schedule below.
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Welcome to the School Board and AASB Board Standards
January 9, 12-1 pm | Register
School Law Basics
January 16, 12-1 pm | Register
Conducting Effective Meetings & Roberts Rules of Order Basics
January 23, 12-1 pm | Register
The Superintendent – Building a Relationship
January 30, 12-1 pm | Register
School Finance with an Expert!
February 6, 12-1 pm | Register
The Board and the Budget
February 20, 12-1 pm | Register
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The Funding Formula with DEED
February 27, 12-1 pm | Register
Board Policy – Development and Governance
March 5, 12-1 pm | Register
Working with Your Board
March 12, 12-1 pm | Register
Working with your Community
March 19, 12-1 pm | Register
Holding Your Meeting Remotely
April 26, 12-1 pm | Register
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AASB 2023-24 June Nelson Scholarship Application
is Now Open!
The Association of Alaska School Boards is proud to announce its 33rd Annual Scholarship Award Competition. This scholarship is made possible and funded by individual contributions of school board members and administrators from across the state!
This 2023-2024 school year, AASB will award up to fifteen $1,500 scholarships to apply toward post-secondary education!
For application guidelines and
more information Click Here.
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2024 School Climate & Connectedness Survey (SCCS)
There's still time to register!
2024 Statewide SCCS Window:
January 22 – March 15
Districts select 1 four-week window
for students & staff
We invite your district to participate in the 2024 School Climate & Connectedness Survey (SCCS). Each year, the majority of Alaska school districts collect and use school climate data to improve and strengthen school environments, relationships, and connections between students, staff and families.
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December Conferences
Resources
If you're an AASB member and attended the December Conferences, you can view slideshows and other resource materials by logging into your AASB Connect account.
Click the button below to go to the AASB Connect login page. If you need help logging in, contact Heather Shaw or call (907) 463-1673.
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Thanks to our PLUS sponsors for making these events possible! | |
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Join Our Growing Team!
At AASB, you can make an impact across Alaska. We are advocates for Alaska’s youth. Join our growing team! AASB is now accepting applications for the following position. Click on the title to see the full job description.
Family Engagement Coordinator
The Family Engagement Coordinator is committed to improving student outcomes through family-school partnerships. This position will work with school districts and educational partners across the state to improve family and school partnerships. An ideal candidate will be able to oversee a multifaceted project and coordinate an internal team to achieve the statewide family engagement center goals.
Fatherhood/Family Partnership Coordinator (Alaska STRONG Project Manager)
A full or part-time position to support school district and community staff working with fathers and co-parents to engage in culturally responsive learning and play with their child. A successful applicant would have experience and passion for family and school partnership, strengthening the roles of fathers, enjoy collaborating with state and federal partners, and appreciate local knowledge/contexts. The goal is to strengthen fatherhood skills, deepen family/school partnerships, and improve co-parenting relationships.
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Herring Fishing, Education Law,
and The New Frontier
Part 5 of the series “The Last Frontier facing the New Frontier.”
John Sedor, Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans & Filippi, LLC
Here in the “Last Frontier,” we are familiar with fishing – it is part of our shared experience be it sport fishing, commercial fishing, or the industry that provides a significant source of revenue toward the operation of our State and local government. (In 2019, the Alaska seafood industry collected more than $163 million of which $81 million went to the state government and $45 million went to local governments.)
But what does fishing have to do with education and school district legal decision-making?
As 2023 comes to an end and 2024 unfolds, we will find out. In less than one month, on January 17, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in a case named Loper Bright Enterprises vs. Raimondo. The case is about commercial herring fishing in New England.
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Suspend the rules with extreme caution
Ann Macfarlane, Professional Parliamentarian
The motion to Suspend the Rules is a trap for the unwary. Be careful in using this motion and avoid doing things that may get you into big trouble.
David Baker, Mayor of Kenmore, Washington, once said to me, “The rule is there for a reason. When you suspend the rule, you give up on the reason, and you don’t know what may happen as a result.” Experience in meetings has led him to recommend that city councils avoid the use of Suspend the Rules if at all possible. Nonprofit boards should also be very cautious.
Rules you can’t suspend. You can’t use this motion to...
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Can the Board Chair call The Question to close debate and lead to vote on a motion?
Or does The Question need to come from a different member? Does it need to be in the form of a motion?
Answer: The Chair would not need to call the question to end debate. They would just end debate (though they could be overturned by the membership if they weren’t ready to end debate).
The motion to “call the question” should come from another member. When a member says “I call the question”, it’s just another accepted way of saying “I move to call the question”.
This does NOT automatically end debate.
Once a member calls the question, the chair should say something along the lines of “Member A has moved to call the question, which would end debate on this issue. All those in favor of ending debate please say aye (wait for vote). All those opposed to ending debate please say nay (wait for vote).
If the Aye’s have it, the chair would then proceed by saying something like “The Aye’s have it, debate is ended. We will now vote on the main motion (and proceed as normal)".
If the Nay’s have it, the chair would say “The Nay’s have it, debate is not ended, and may continue" (and proceed with the debate).
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3rd Annual Alaska Science of Reading Symposium
April, 19 - 21
Our goal is to integrate reading science with classroom and leadership practices to boost student reading proficiency and celebrate statewide progress. National experts in the science of reading will discuss best practices and theories, providing stakeholders with evidence-based strategies for application in districts, schools, and classrooms.
Registration Now Open
Register Here More Info Here
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Agenda
Day 1: Friday, April 19 - Know Better, Do Better
Day 2: Saturday, April 20 - Collaboration and Courage
Day 3: Sunday, April 21 - Walk the Talk
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2025 Alaska Teacher of the Year Nominations Open
Recognize skilled and accomplished teachers in your school by nominating them for Alaska Teacher of the Year. Eligible nominees should have over five years of educational experience and be teaching during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. The winner represents Alaska as 2025 State Teacher of the Year.
Nomination Deadline: January 31, 2024
Nomination Form
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CDC Action Guide Promotes Mental Health in Schools
The CDC has created an action guide to help school and district leaders promote students’ mental health and find new strategies to fill in gaps. The action guide, on their Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools webpage, describes 6 in-school strategies that are proven to promote and support mental health and well-being.
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Alaska Native Education Program (ANEP)
Applications Open
The U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications for ANEP, aimed at improving educational outcomes for Alaska Natives. Eligible: Alaska Native organizations/entities with relevant experience/partnerships. Funding: approx. $15.9 million, grants $300,000 to $1.5 million.
Application Deadline: February 13, 2024
More info at https://www.grants.gov
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2024-25 School Ambassador Fellowship Program
Application Period Open
The U.S. Department of Education is seeking applications for their School Ambassador Fellowship for the 2024-25 school year. The program is intended to leverage the experiences of outstanding educators to inform the Department on various issues, increase student achievement nationwide, engage in national discussions, and learn about federal education policies and programs. The program is open to teachers, administrators, counselors, psychologists, social workers and other school staff.
Application Deadline: February 5, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST
More info here or email SAF@ed.gov
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2024 iDidaContest
Digital Media Showcase for Students/Teachers
Now accepting submissions for digital media including photos, movies, documentaries, podcasts, music, books, and more.
New this year: Digital Art and AI categories, plus special Social Studies-themed categories in partnership with the Alaska Council for Social Studies.
Submission Deadline: January 31, 2024
Details on ASTE iDidaContest website.
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Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s budget
has millions for education, but no increase to funding per student
Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said education is among his top priorities in the coming fiscal year. He proposed spending millions on education, but did not include an increase to per student funding, known as the base student allocation, in his proposed budget.
His proposed budget puts $1,267,522,300 to the education department, a 9% decrease from last year, due to shrinking enrollment.
“I want the public to understand that, as a former educator, I understand that schools cost money, education costs money, there’s no doubt about it,” Dunleavy said. “The question has always been whether we put money in the BSA, and that’s the base student allocation that’s part of the formula for funding, or whether we put money into the education world, in various forms and for various purposes.”
He specified that, though his proposed budget contains no increase in the BSA, it does not rule out an increase as the legislative process plays out.
Read More
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Anchorage – OPINION: Dunleavy’s budget falls short of what Alaska schools need to succeed – Jharrett Bryantt, ASD Superintendent, ADN
Bering Strait – Little Diomede school struck by collapsing building closed indefinitely – Ava White, KNOM, Nome
Juneau – State says Juneau School District can keep last year’s additional city funding – Katie Anastas, KTOO
Delta Greely – Teacher remembered fondly by colleagues – Denise Wilhelm, Delta Wind
Fairbanks - School board talks advocacy game plan at legislative committee meeting – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Kenai – School funding, accountability dominate school board work session with lawmakers – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion
Ketchikan – School Board closes out ’23 with reports, plan for superintendent evaluation – Sam Stockbridge, Ketchikan Daily News
Lower Kuskokwim – Superintendent Kimberly Hankins is retiring – Sunni Bean, KYUK Bethel
Mat-Su – Students file lawsuit against Mat-Su school district over free speech violations – Amy Bushatz, ADN
Nome – Superintendent delivers state of the schools report – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget
Petersburg – Petersburg School Board to look at revised 2024 budget – Hannah Flor, KFSK
More Alaska School District News
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School board association, legislators, superintendent weigh in on education funding in governor’s budget – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News Miner
Alaska’s education spending lags behind national average when costs are factored in, economists say – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
OPINION: The state of our schools and their never-ending budget battles – Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Editorial
OPINION: What a tour of Anchorage schools taught me – Rep. Cliff Groh
Rep. Ruffridge predicts school funding, energy security will be top issues in Juneau next session – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion
Interior legislators talk priorities for next session – Haley Lehman, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
State seeks to change rules for ‘local contribution’ funds to school districts beyond the ‘cap’ – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire
Same data, gentler framing: State publishes previously suppressed wage analysis for teachers – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon
UAF secures $14.9 million to mentor teachers new to Alaska – UAF
Lacking counselors, US schools turn to the booming business of online therapy – Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press
Alaska organizations teach kids how to avoid online predators – Rachel Cassandra, Alaska Public Media
More State and Federal News
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Looking for a New Superintendent?
The Association of Alaska School Boards has been conducting successful and economical superintendent searches for over twenty years. Our Superintendent Search Service provides expert facilitation of the entire search process, including identifying the needs of the district, recruiting candidates, conducting background searches, facilitating interviews, and all the steps to help with the hiring process.
If you would like AASB to conduct a superintendent search for your district, or have questions, Learn More or Contact Us
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Association of Alaska School Boards | aasb.org | |
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