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LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY
The Public Charter School Impasse
Lon Garrison, AASB Executive Director
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Unfortunately, the campaign for increased funding for public education has reached an impasse with the governor’s insistence on reforming the charter school approval process. This reform would allow charter schools to bypass the approval of local school districts and instead go directly to the State Board of Education. It is the first and most significant step in a plan to reduce the power of local authorities and provide opportunities for private and religious schools to access public funds. AASB strongly opposes this reform through its resolutions.
Resolution 1.3 MAINTAINING LOCAL CONTROL IN CHARTER SCHOOL FORMATION
AASB recognizes charter schools as a locally developed alternative to the standard education program. AASB urges the Department of Education & Early Development to work in partnership with local school districts in the formation of new charter schools. AASB supports charter schools as long as the local school board:
a) Retains the sole authority to initiate the approval or rejection of the charter;
b) Retains options to terminate the charter of any school that fails to meet criteria set forth in the charter or as otherwise specified by the local school board;
c) Maintains authority to require and enforce accountability, including determining the criteria, standards, or outcomes that will be used in establishing the charter;
d) Ensures that a charter does not foster racial, social, religious or economic segregation or segregation of children with disabilities.
AASB has a long history of supporting local public education opportunities, such as charter schools, correspondence schools, alternative schools, and other special public school programs, that meet the diverse needs of students and their parents or guardians.
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AASB '24 Legislative Priorities
On behalf of our member school districts statewide, the AASB Board of Directors has adopted three legislative priorities for 2024:
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Sufficient and Sustainable Public Education Funding - an increase to the BSA for FY2025 of not less than $1,413 to account for inflation (Alaska-Urban CPI)
- Retention and Recruitment of Teachers, Administrators & Staff
- Student Wellness and School Safety
In addition to the three top priorities, AASB will continue to advocate for any issue which may be addressed by the resolutions of the membership approved on November 12, 2023. Those resolutions can be found at the following links:
Where We Stand 2024 – Online version
Where We Stand 2024 – PDF version
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Click the button to access a one-page document that briefly describes AASB priority issues for which we will be aggressively advocating this session. | | |
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In Memoriam
David Totemoff Sr.
June 22, 1945 - March 18, 2024
It is with sadness we share the news that David Totemoff Sr., a champion for youth and education in Alaska, passed away on March 18, 2024. A resident of the Village of Tatitlek in Prince William Sound, David's life was deeply rooted in his community and its people.
David served on the Chugach School Board since 2015 and was a constant presence at AASB events. In 2022, his dedication to Alaska's youth was honored with the Carl Rose Governance Award.
He held key roles on the Chugach Alaska Corporation Board since 1979, including Corporate Secretary and Lands Committee Chair, and remained a board member until his passing. Chugach Alaska Chair Sheri Buretta shared these kind words about David:
"At every step of his life and career, David imparted invaluable knowledge, guidance, and love to generations, nurturing our cultural heritage and strengthening the bonds that unite us. As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate his life—a life marked by selflessness, service, and profound respect for our traditions. The values that David upheld are the cornerstone of our community, our culture, and our way of life. He will be remembered fondly for his wisdom, laughter, and unwavering spirit. He also shared his delicious, dried fish with many." Read More
| (Left) David Totemoff Sr. receiving the Carl Rose Governance Award at AASB's 2022 Annual Conference. | | |
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BOARD DEVELOPMENT
In Search of Excellence: Board and Superintendent Leadership Teams
Katie Oliver, Policy and Superintendent Search Manager
This month, the AASB Superintendent Search team is facilitating searches for two great districts in western Alaska, capping off a season that had us leading executive searches for school districts around the state.
It has been such a privilege to work with school boards to envision and articulate the skills and experiences they are seeking in new leadership, to draft and develop interview questions, and to engage with students, staff, and community members in meet-the-candidate opportunities. The dedication and leadership of school board members are especially evident when it comes to this most important decision-making process. These school boards have prioritized a selection process that matches district culture, needs, and goals with the superintendent’s experience, skills, and leadership style.
However, the journey doesn’t end with the hiring agreement.
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CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING
Building Social Emotional Competency in Alaskan Students
Conditions for Learning Team
"Everyone needs to calm down– we should do some soup breathing.”
These words we might expect to hear from a teacher or parent were actually spoken by an Alaskan 1st grader, who then invited the office staff of his elementary school to join in a breathing exercise. Mindful breathing is one of many self regulation strategies being taught to students across the state as schools strive to cultivate social emotional competency for students and implement the trauma engaged schools approach promoted in Transforming Schools: A Framework for Trauma Engaged Practices in Alaska published by AASB and DEED in 2019.
Following the disruptions of the pandemic, this work is more important than ever. Schools across the state and nation are struggling with mental health and behavior challenges at the same time that many schools are also struggling with staffing vacancies. The CDC recently released a guide recognizing the importance of supporting well-being in schools and offering strategies. It can be hard for schools to take time away from academics, especially while worrying about learning losses post-COVID. However, as the guide reminds us “the work schools do to promote student mental health and well-being helps them achieve their educational mission” because this work optimizes conditions for learning.
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APPLICATION DEADLINE:
April 1, 2024 by 5:00 pm AKST
The Association of Alaska School Boards is proud to announce its 33rd Annual Scholarship Award Competition. The June Nelson Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of the late June Nelson, a longtime school board member from Kotzebue. June contributed much to the cause of education and will be remembered for her outstanding service on behalf of Alaska’s children. 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! Up to two of these may be awarded to returning college sophomores. Up to two scholarships may specifically be given to students planning to attend trade/vocational schools.
For application guidelines and more information, click here.
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Application Deadline:
April 1, 2024 by 5:00 pm AKST
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Essay Prompt:
Who or what in your educational experience has influenced your direction in life?
Required Information & Documents (PDFs only):
- Required Information & Documents (PDF's only)
- Student and school information
- Response to the essay question up to 750 words in length
- Student Activities
- Copy of your high school transcript with cumulative GPA
- Acceptance letter from a business, trade, or college institution.
- Two letters of recommendation, one from a community member and one from a teacher.
- SAT or ACT scores
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Returning 2022-2023 Winners
Winners from last year’s competition are eligible to apply for a second-year scholarship. Please note that this is a separate application with a different essay prompt. Returning winners, click the button below to apply!
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If you have any difficulties or questions about the application, please call (907) 463-1660 or email us at aasb@aasb.org. | |
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AASB Spring Boardsmanship Academy
April 20-21 - Anchorage
Registration Now Open!
Don't miss out on AASB's Spring Boardsmanship Academy! Join us at the Clarion Suites Downtown Anchorage on April 20-21, 2024, to enhance your boardsmanship skills. Learn about effective meetings, board standards, legislative advocacy, and more.
This academy has been developed from input from school board members around the state. We hope you will join us in Anchorage to:
- Continue conversations around AASB’s Legislative Priorities and how to continue to advocate!
- Build your boardsmanship skills (how to hold effective meetings, board standards, and board member tips).
- Hear Education updates from around the state (including Special Education Services and DEED).
- Connect with school board members from around the state!
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Thank you to our Sponsors! | |
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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.
Transitions Coordinator
The ideal candidate will be experienced with early childhood development and postsecondary preparation. Preferred Qualifications: Background in early childhood education or early childhood development preferred. Other degrees in related content areas would be considered.
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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Students in the Alaska Rural Aviation Academy explore the flight deck of a Saab 340. Photo courtesy BBRCTE. | Read more about the Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education Program (BBRCTE) and other 2024 Magna Award Winners. |
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BBRCTE Earns Honor in 2024 Magna Awards Program for Innovation
Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education Program
The Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education Program (BBRCTE) has been honored as a winner of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) 2024 Magna Award, recognizing its innovative approach to career and technical education across four remote Alaskan school districts. BBRCTE is among 18 awardees nationwide in the 29th annual awards program sponsored by the NSBA's American School Board Journal. The awards highlight school district programs that creatively address challenges with unique strategies.
The BBRCTE program was developed to address the lack of accessible hands-on, vocational courses for students due to funding and logistical constraints. A consortium of four school districts—Lake and Peninsula, Bristol Bay Borough, Dillingham City, and Southwest Region—now offer intensive career and technical education (CTE) courses, distance learning, apprenticeships, and career guidance. This approach has revitalized vocational education in 22 communities in Southwest Alaska, providing critical opportunities for local students.
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For information about how Alaska Be SMART volunteers can support your school and community in keeping kids safe, email us at:
AlaskaBeSMARTforKids@gmail.com
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Be SMART to keep kids safe, prevent unintentional child shootings, reduce suicide
Sally Rue & Rochelle Parker, Be SMART for Kids in Alaska
Guns are everyday tools for many Alaskans—they help us feed our families and communities, give us a sense of security, and are associated with outdoor recreational activities that many families enjoy together. Firearms are also associated with too many preventable tragedies in our families and communities, and guns are now the leading cause of death for Alaska’s children and teens.
As school board members you can help save lives by increasing awareness in your communities about the importance of storing guns locked. At AASB’s 2023 conference, the membership adopted Resolution 5.36 Safe and Secure Storage of Firearms supporting education on secure gun storage through the Be SMART for Kids program. Some school districts have also adopted local resolutions supporting education about secure gun storage, and have distributed information to families and community members.
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Expression of free speech or suppression of speech?
The Supreme Court establishes a two-prong test for drawing the line between state action and private action by government officials moderating social media content.
Lea Filippi, Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans & Filippi, LLC
Part 8 of the series “The Last Frontier facing the New Frontier.”
In November, my colleague Clint Campion wrote a column for this very publication discussing development of the law regarding use of personal social media accounts by public officials. He predicted that the United States Supreme Court would have to address the question of when public officials speak as private citizens. The predicted day has come.
On March 15, Justice Barrett delivered an opinion in Lindke v. Freed which established a two-part test for determining whether a government official who blocks users or deletes comments from social media is taking state action or exercising their own rights of free speech.
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When public pressure is intense, what can you do?
Ann Macfarlane, Professional Parliamentarian
At a recent workshop, a director from a school board split by pandemic-related decisions asked me what board members can do in the face of intense public pressure. These are tough times for local non-partisan government bodies, for sure.
Here are some thoughts about what can be done.
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When can someone ask for a reconsideration of their vote made during a meeting, and how does reconsidering a vote work?
Answer: To reconsider a motion has two steps:
- A member moves to reconsider. The member moving to reconsider the vote must have been on the prevailing side of the vote.
- If the body agrees, the previous decision is canceled, and the body takes up the matter where it was just before the vote was taken.
According to Robert’s Rules of Order, the motion “to Reconsider” can be made ONLY on the same day or the next day, if a meeting continues to a second day.
The Board cannot reconsider a motion when something has been done, as a result of the vote on the main motion, that it is impossible to undo.
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3rd Annual Alaska Science of Reading Symposium
April, 19 - 21, 2024
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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U.S. Department of Education National Student Privacy & Data Security Spring Webinar Series
The Student Privacy Policy Office, through its Privacy Technical Assistance Center, will offer a three-day webinar series on student privacy and data security. The series will provide the education community with opportunities to learn more about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), data security, data breach preparedness and response, transparency, and more.
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State of Alaska Code of Ethics
of the Education Profession
Communication whether in person or via any communications device is expected to be professional, responsible, reasonable, and appropriate. It’s important to consider how one might have to defend one’s communication as educationally sound, or for student or staff health or safety. Locate, review, and become familiar with School Board Policy and communication expectations.
Read the Code of Ethics
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New Workforce Plan To Meet
Alaska Workforce Shortages
Schools aren't the only employers struggling to hire. More than 10,000 posted jobs are unfilled in Alaska today, and another 10,000 new jobs are expected to be created in the next two years. The Alaska Safety Alliance and the State of Alaska, with support from the Denali Commission, are creating a cross-industry workforce development plan to address critical labor shortages that impact every industry, nonprofit, government agency, and community in Alaska.
There are several ways to provide input to this workforce plan, including completing an online Employer Survey, which takes about 30 minutes. There is also an online Student Survey that takes less than 10 minutes, and you may join various interest groups to give feedback. For more information, including how to deploy the student survey, please visit the Workforce 2030 Plan website at alaskaworkforce.org or contact Marcia Olson at marcia@thewritedetails.com.
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Anchorage – After education bill veto override fails, major cuts to Anchorage schools back on table – Annie Berman, ADN
Cordova – The sixth graders of Cordova may be gearing up for a big change – Kasandra Kruithof, The Cordova Times
Dillingham – Following override fail, school district looks to tough budget choices – Riley Board, KDLL
Fairbanks – Ben Eielson Jr./Sr. High School to be closed this year – Robyne, KUAC
Juneau – School board passes budget that cuts staff 12%, hopes for BSA increase that will save some jobs – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire
Kenai – School district committee builds multiple budget scenarios amid uncertain state funding – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion
Ketchikan – House Speaker Tilton explains votes on SB140, AMHOB with KDN during Ketchikan visit – Sam Stockbridge, Ketchikan Daily News
Kodiak – “I had a few tears” KIBSD faces another year of flat funding after Dunleavy vetoes education bill – Brian Venua, KMXT Kodiak
Kuspuk – As their public school deteriorates, Sleetmute residents worry their community isn’t far behind – Emily Schwing, KYUK Bethel
Mat-Su – Mat-Su schools face $30 million deficit unless state funding is increased, Supt. Trani says – Tim Bradner, Frontiersman
Nome – Potential teacher layoffs spark community response – Anna Lionas, The Nome Nugget
Unalaska – Unalaska elementary school to house fifth grade class starting next year – By Maggie Nelson, KUCB
Yupiit – Former Akiachak teacher sentenced to 86 years in prison for child sex abuse – Evan Erickson, KYUK
More Alaska School District News
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Dunleavy signs bill increasing internet speeds at many Alaska public schools – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
With hope fading for additional state education funding, Alaska’s rural school districts prepare to make difficult cuts – Annie Berman, Alena Naiden, Anchorage Daily News
Alaska Senate panel advances resolution to lower threshold for overriding governor’s budget vetoes – Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News
After failed override vote, what’s next in the fight over Alaska education funding? – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
‘The ball is now very clearly in their court’ - Senate looks to House on next steps for education funding – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion
No Alaska governor has ever so boldly held schools and students as political hostages – Larry Persily, Alaska Beacon
By one vote, Alaska Legislature fails to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s education veto – Twenty Republicans side with the governor to kill permanent increase for public-school funding formula – James Brooks & Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon
Flaws found in study cited by Dunleavy claiming Alaska ranks second in adequately funding schools – “I’m definitely saying don’t take it at face value,” study’s co-author says – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire
Many Alaska charter school principals oppose Dunleavy’s plan for state approval option - Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media
Factoring in cost of living, Alaska teacher salaries not competitive compared to national average, UAA study finds – Annie Herman, Anchorage Daily News
House spending plan includes funding for experimental Alaska reading institute despite lawmakers’ misgivings – Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News
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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