LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY

Our Future Depends on Us

Lon Garrison, Executive Director, AASB

It is the end of August, which means school has started, and once again, we begin the cycle of another school year. For many, especially students, this is usually a time of excitement and anxious optimism for what lies ahead. For students, it may be learning new things, making new friends, trying new activities, or returning to those activities and classes they love and reconnecting with friends. 

In years past, staff and school boards also felt a similar excitement and sense of renewal and opportunity. I distinctly remember from my time on the Sitka school board. My hope is that it is still that way. However, I know there is great trepidation and concern about the work to be done with fewer resources. Many school boards, superintendents, principals, and teachers are struggling mightily. Many school districts suffer from acute staffing shortages and the consequences of increased class size or the elimination of entire programs due to budget cuts. It is hard, but Alaska’s future, our children’s and grandchildren’s future, depend on us to keep public education working for all students. 

BOARD DEVELOPMENT

Resolutions address issues facing your school board and public education

Tiffany Jackson, Director of Membership Services

It’s the beginning of the school year, and this means for your districts in preparing to serve your students at the Association of Alaska School Boards this means the Resolution process has started. You may be asking yourself, why is the Resolution process so important? The Where We Stand document is really long, and it takes some serious time for our school board to review and make recommendations.  

The work you do on resolutions is critical to the work of AASB. AASB will not take a position on any item that the membership of the association hasn’t resolved itself around. The resolutions the membership passes in November will be used to set the legislative agenda for AASB for the upcoming year, and set the tone for the Association.

CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING

Starting the School Year off Strong with Families

Lisa Worl, Partnership Coordinator

Family engagement in a child’s education is the most accurate predictor of student achievement regardless of family income or socioeconomic status. Research shows that when families are

actively involved in their child’s education, the child has higher academic achievement, better attendance, higher graduation, and improved social skills and behavior.

As schools start back, many districts are considering their family engagement approaches. How do we build relationships? How do we build staff capacity for family engagement? How do we link families to learning?

A new report examines how to improve Alaska’s postsecondary outcomes

The Alaska College and Career Guidance Interview Findings and Guidance looks at why Alaska has among the lowest rates of postsecondary attainment in the nation and high rates of disconnected youth. Currently, one in five young adults in Alaska (ages 16-24) is not engaged in school or work. 

The report, which was commissioned by AASB from the McKinley Research Group, finds that Alaska has many strengths to draw on – such as tight-knit communities, strong cultural traditions, Tribes and Alaska Native entities, and a resourceful and resilient ethos. Alaskans also have relatively low-cost education and training opportunities, and potential access to significant untapped aid. 

The report and its appendix, the Bridging to the Future Framework, identify strategies and tools that career guides, school boards, and leaders can use to improve postsecondary outcomes. 

Alaska Charter School Academy

September 29-30

We are excited to be bringing back the Alaska Charter School Academy — the only statewide dedicated conference for charter school leaders!

This year, AASB, in partnership with Anchorage School District, will be hosting the Charter School Academy for charter school APC members and principals in Anchorage.

• September 29: Charter School Principals
• September 30: APC members & Principals

AASB Maintenance Employees Conference

October 4-5

AASB and Alaska Public Entity Insurance (APEI) is teaming up to bring you the 10th annual Maintenance Employees Conference, October 4-5, 2023, at the Clarion Suites Anchorage.

The 2-day conference will provide content centered on school district maintenance issues and safety. Attendees will learn from experts and peers, and network with other maintenance employees from across the state.

AASB's Annual Conference!

November 9-12

We invite you to be a part of AASB's 70th Annual Conference, November 9-12, 2023 at the Anchorage Hilton. Registration for the event opens Monday, September 18.

This year’s conference theme is “Partnering for Student Success” and will feature two general sessions, over 15 breakout sessions, networking opportunities. Snapshot Sessions, Roundtables, June Nelson Scholarship Fundraiser, Delegate Assembly, an Exhibitor Hall, and more! We look forward to seeing you there!

GUEST COLUMN

Alaska 529, Something for Everyone

Lael Oldmixon, Executive Director, Alaska 529

My team and I are very excited about the partnership we’ve formed this year with the Association of Alaska School Boards. Our missions are very much aligned. We are both working hard to ensure that every youth in Alaska is able to achieve their potential and is able to secure the education they need to get there.

Education, in its many forms, is the foundation that all the achievements we want for our kids is built on. Some planning is needed to ensure that students are able to cover the costs of education and training after high school. This is where Alaska 529 can be a valuable resource.

For those of you not familiar with Alaska 529, let me share the basics.

GUEST COLUMN

CISA Helps Schools Reinforce Mental and Physical Safety

Patrick Massey, CISA Region 10 Regional Director, CISARegion10@cisa.dhs.gov

Schools provide the foundation of our nation’s success and play a vital role not just in learning, but also in the development of a student’s social, emotional, and interpersonal skills. To ensure the academic success and emotional well-being of all students schools must be safe spaces.

Student safety can mean a couple of things; emotional safety – ensuring mental wellness is not threatened; and physical safety – a space free from physical harm.

K-12 school communities increasingly contend with an evolving and unique set of threats, hazards, and security challenges, oftentimes with limited resources. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is dedicated to working alongside school districts to improve the physical security of our nation’s schools. 

CISA is focused on helping schools build resiliency to outside threats. That’s why we developed the K-12 School Security Guide Suite in our continued efforts to assist schools in conducting more robust vulnerability assessments and implementing layered physical security elements across K–12 districts and campuses.

No Due Process? Online Learning to Remove Disruptive Students from the Classroom

Part 1 of the series “The Last Frontier facing the New Frontier.”

Clinton Campion, Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans & Filippi, LLC

This school year, our monthly commentaries will focus on modern challenges facing Alaska's schools. This year's theme is "The Last Frontier Facing the New Frontier." As we did last year, our commentaries will include practice pointers.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, school districts across Alaska were compelled to develop virtual, online learning platforms in order to reach students who were at home without access to in-person classroom instruction. Virtual or online student instruction worked for some students and families, but student learning largely suffered, with poor engagement and poorer outcomes.

As schools have returned to in-person instruction, virtual or online instruction has faded into the background in Alaska though many school districts continue to offer virtual instruction as an alternative to in-person attendance. Across the country, school districts are also using online or virtual instruction as an alternative to student discipline, forcing disruptive or troubled students back into virtual learning platforms. Other school districts are using assignments to virtual learning as an alternative form of student discipline.

How can I start running better meetings with Robert’s Rules?

Ann Macfarlane, Professional Parliamentarian

For people who aren’t familiar with it, Robert’s Rules of Order is an intimidating book. That’s why we help make it easy for you to get started with the most important information for running better meetings. Here are some tips on how to equip yourself with the fundamentals, educate your board, and keep learning.

When we appoint a new school board member to take over for someone who has stepped down, are they appointed to fill the entire length of that board member's term?

Answer: The appointed members only hold the seat UNTIL the next election cycle. They can then run as others do to keep the seat moving forward.

Got a question? Email Timi Tullis, Tiffany Jackson, or Jenni Lefing

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