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Candidate Survey

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The following questions were provided to the candidates who were asked to limit their written responses to 50 words or less.

1. PERS/TRS cost Increases for Employers

The state’s actuary consultant has indicated the statewide unfunded liability for the PERS and TRS retirement systems is $6.9 billion as of June 30, 2005. The Alaska Retirement Management Board recently established employer contribution rates for the Anchorage School District for FY 2008 to be 40.89% for PERS and 54.03% for TRS. This equates to approximately $80 million increase in retirement costs for all funds in the Anchorage School District compared to the current year.

a.	Will you support full state funding of the state-mandated employer cost increased to PERS/TRS within the first 60 days of the legislative session so districts are not forced either to reduce core services or to give layoff notices to tenured staff while waiting for a solution?	Question 1a responses
b.	What is your solution for meeting the long-term funding demands of PERS & TRS?	Question 1b responses
c.	What ideas do you have to help districts recruit and retain highly qualified teachers given the new defined contribution retirement program?	Question 1c responses

2. State Funding for K-12 Education

Education is a core, essential function of the state as established by the Alaska constitution. However, each year school districts must implore the Alaska Legislature for funds adequate to meet rising costs and increased mandates from the state and federal governments. The need to mount this yearly effort is disruptive, time-consuming, and wasteful, while leaving districts unable to do meaningful long-term planning due to uncertain funding.

a.	What are you willing to do as a legislator to ensure that K-12 education receives adequate state funding this coming year in order to meet both federal and state mandates?	Question 2a responses
b.	Aside from the PERS/TRS issue, what is your solution for meeting the long-term funding needs of K-12 education, providing for both adequacy and reliability?	Question 2b responses
c.	What would be your solution for helping districts meet the additional cost burden when intensive needs special education students enroll after the count date for funding?	Question 2c responses

3. School Debt Reimbursement

Funding of the state’s school debt reimbursement obligation is subject to annual appropriation by the legislature. In addition, a program created by the legislature to reimburse 60% to 70% of debt service applies only to bond-funded school construction and maintenance projects approved by voters before November 30, 2008 and then expires.

a.	Will you support full funding of the state’s existing school debt reimbursement commitments?	Question 3a responses
b.	What is your solution for meeting the long-term school construction and maintenance needs of school districts across the state?	Question 3b responses
c.	Do you support extending the current state school debt reimbursement program to cover projects voters approve in the future?	Question 3c responses

4. Changing Economy and Increased Academic Expectations

The economy of our country and our state is changing. Even as state and federal standards require districts to bring all students to greater proficiency, employer requirements of graduates continue both to increase and to change in content.

a.	How do you think our schools/district should change to meet the needs of a changing economy and increased academic expectations?	Question 4a responses
b.	What, if any, is the role of the legislature in facilitating or implementing these changes?	Question 4b responses
c.	What ideas do you have to help districts prepare Alaska’s students to meet the current and growing demand for a trained and technically skilled workforce?	Question 4c responses

5. Increasing Technology Needs related to Student Learning and Parent Access to Information

Like a foundation not highly visible but critical to the success of the whole education program, technology in our school system must receive the attention due to such an essential base.

a.	What role do you see technology playing in education of today’s students for jobs of the future?	Question 5a responses
b.	What is your plan for providing adequate funding to meet the growing and ever-changing need for technology in our schools to keep our students competitive in the global market?	Question 5b responses
c.	How will you help districts update antiquated student information systems to, among other needs, allow educators and parents access to assessment and achievement information to make the best decisions for students’ academic programs?	Question 5c responses

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