There is a public hearing early this evening in front of the House Education Committee in Juneau, for House Bill HB 65. It increases the Base Student Allocation (BSA) by $1,250. Right now the BSA is $5,960 per Alaska student. (to $7,210). The BSA has been flat since 2016, except for a $30 (to provide $5,960 per student) increase that will take effect this July.
The Alaska Council of School Administrators is asking families to call in to the hearing between 5:15 and 7:15 to ask that the BSA be increased.
That’s also a strategy for the school district in Fairbanks. Recently, Chief School Administrator, Karen Melin asked for public appeals to the legislature in a video message:
“And a part of our process this year in our budget season is advocacy for public education in Alaska; there is some information about how you can be an advocate for public education as well.”
Melin has already been to Juneau with district finance staffers and lobbyist, to tell legislators that the Fairbanks district has a $17 million deficit going in to fiscal 2024. Last year, 48 jobs were eliminated in the budget but many were temporarily restored using federal CARES Act funding. This year’s budget proposes using $4.3 million in CARES Act money to pay for 37 teachers. But this will be the last budget that will have that buffer, and even with it the district is expecting to cut 83 positions.
Chrya Sanderson, the board president, also made a video statement, and she was joined by Olivia Smith, the Student Council representative on the Board of Education.
“As president of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board, it's time to fully fund education so that our children can be successful no matter what educational path they choose. Please join us in showing support for your student and school district.”
“How can you show support for education in our community? Share a public opinion message with all legislators, contact your areas legislators. Email the governor and legislators gov dot all legislators alaska.gov. Thank you for supporting our education.”
In addition to House Bill 65, there is a Senate versionc that would increase the Base Student Allocation by $1,000.
The state funds about 65% percent of the Fairbanks School District, but nearly 30% is paid with local property taxes.
Borough Mayor Bryce Ward has a resolution in front of the Borough Assembly for this Thursday’s meeting to approve 55,540,000. in local contribution. The resolution calls out the high sales value of housing in the area causing the increased taxable value. It declares the Assembly will up the local contribution by at least $3,444,232.
(In the current fiscal year, the Assembly-approved local contribution is $52,095,400)
The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District board of education is expected to finalize the district budget this week; after its regular meeting Tuesday night, there may be special meetings on Wednesday and Thursday to finish the work. The budget is due to the Borough Assembly by April 1. The district has posted the budget proposal at k12northstar.org/budget.
