Day 116 of 121 Constitutional Legislative Days – As the legislative session marches on, here’s a quick update of what’s ahead and a few big thank yous to important leaders in our community.
Throughout the recent lengthy series of special sessions, a major sticking point for the House Independent Democratic Coalition was to negotiate a compassionate deal which would cut the budget but would also prioritize children, poor seniors, and hardworking Alaskans over corporate welfare for wealthy multinational corporations.
JUNEAU – Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) responded to a recent study that found Alaska ranks near the bottom of state rankings in high school graduation rates. Gara, who joined other Democratic lawmakers in pushing to reverse Alaska’s course of educator cuts, tied Alaska’s slow progress on improving graduation rates to three years of teacher and staff layoffs, a problem the Legislature failed to address this session.
JUNEAU – Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) released a report showing that, in order to avoid cutting educators a fourth year in a row, Alaska’s six largest school districts need an increase of roughly four times more per-pupil funding next year than the Governor has proposed.
Link to the HB331 sponsor statement from the office of Representative Les Gara
Democratic legislators push for solutions so students get the education they need
ANCHORAGE – Alaska schools lost over 600 teachers and staff across the state over the past three years as per-student classroom funding has remained flat, according to an Alaska Legislative Research Services report Representative Les Gara and Representative Harriet Drummond released today.
Dear Neighbors,
Sometimes the news reports things as if they just happened out of the blue. With dwindling reporters, it’s hard for the media to connect actions by the Governor and Legislature with what happens months later. Well, let’s talk about that. And let’s talk about that feel-good, but unsustainable spike in drunk driving enforcement you may have read about, and ….opportunities and sobering facts relating to Hunger Action Month.
Dear Neighbors,
Congratulations on a successful completion of the 2012-2013 school year! Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to your students. I appreciate your efforts and all that you do to help our students succeed!
