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Community Protests Loss of School District Teachers35 hours spent on Delaney Park Strip to represent 35 teachers lostRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - On the Delaney Park Strip, a dedicated group of people took to the streets to fight for teachers. Parents, students and educators devoted 35 hours to get their message across – one hour for each teacher who's been laid off from the Anchorage School District. But school board members say because of financial issues, their hands are tied. With city property taxes capped to the limit, and no increases in the student base formula from the state, school board members say they have nowhere else to get the money to keep the teachers, which is why the protesters are trying to spread their message. Standing up and speaking out for education, dedicated parents, students, and a few teachers sacrificed their sleep for 35 hours to make sure their voices were heard. 35 teachers and 20 support staff members were laid off in May, and some schools eliminated their fine arts and world language programs. Students say they lost one of the best, including Steller’s first-year art teacher Lee Weiland, who affects an entire school. "He was originally hired to teach art; he’s since taken on a weight training class, [and] he started an acrobatics club,” said Aryeh Lax, who recently graduated from Steller. "Its really important in schools to have teachers where they fit." "Without the arts they are just almost like half-people; they would be these intelligent people that we would be graduating that would have no good ideas, no creativity," said Klatt Elementary art teacher Barb Yanoshek. It was a message the group took to Monday's School Board meeting to try to convince school board members to bring the teachers back. "Short-term we want the reinstatement of all 35 teachers," said parent Andromeda Romano-Lax. "You have told us you were listening and I believe you are in a bind trying to make difficult decisions with inadequate resources." School Board members say they've got tough decisions to make. "If there is no inflation-proofing put into the foundation formula, these are the things we are going to be faced with each year," said School Board president Jeannie Mackie. "We don't know the exact number that we are dealing with and there is only a certain amount of control that the School Board has over what we are allowed to reinstate." The push now is to pressure lawmakers. "We need to talk more to the mayor, assembly, the governor," said Romano-Lax. "It’s an election year, so this is a real good time to find out where people stand and to make sure that they prioritize education in a state that has plenty of money to spend on our most important things." The group says the future of our children hangs in the balance. Most of the money the school board talked about has legal requirements. Around $28 million of it is specifically for grants like computers, playground equipment, and transportation. Board members said Monday they can't change personnel decisions made in March because of union contracts. Also it was stated that because of personal leaves of absence and refusal of job positions, there are now only 20 teachers who were officially laid off, not 35. |
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Wrong said on Wednesday, Jun 13 at 10:01 PM
"However, teachers are the single most important element in the education of our kids" Not even close to the truth, and even if it was, then why not hire good teachers? ASD does waste money, FACT. so save that dribble for the weak minded.
93644026Anonymous said on Wednesday, Jun 13 at 6:20 PM
I don't remember there being problems when the oil made it in Alaska...we are doing well today in oil... so where is the money? for teachers? not crew and paper staff...they can trade for a week and see how that goes...don't like that either? oh well...
93632986Daria said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 10:51 PM
The general term "waste" is often used by those who are unfamiliar with the ASD budget. However, I AM concerned with two items that are now included in the school budget: 1.Paying for the SROs for the entire year even though they only work part time for the ASD. In order to keep police a presence the schools the ASD must pick up the entire bill 2. The municipal duty of collecting the school taxes is now included in the ASD budget. These two items add millions. Could the ASD trim other items from their budget?..I'm sure they could and we'll need to look into that..However, teachers are the single most important element in the education of our kids. So many people think that because they went to school they are experts on what is needed and how to manage them. Those people need to stop looking in from the outside and get involved in their neighborhood school. If you find an area that could be managed more efficiently...pose a solution rather than ignorantly crying "waste".
93565206Cut more said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 9:43 PM
Cut more and more teachers until the ASD can run a budget and cut waste. When the teachers finally stand up to the waste then they can keep thier jobs till then they are just part of the problem. Cut 200 more, please.
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