Anchorage School Board Eric Croft, president
croft_eric@asdk12.org Kameron Perez-Verdia, vice president
perez-verdia_kameron@asdk12.org Kathleen Plunkett, clerk
plunkett_kathleen@asdk12.org Bettye Davis, treasurer
davis_bettye@asdk12.org Tam Agosti-Gisler
agosti-gisler_tam@asdk12.org Pat Higgins
higgins_pat@asdk12.org Natasha Von Imhof
von-imhof_natasha@asdk12.org
Superintendent Ed Graff
graff_ed@asdk12.org
Priorities Adequately fund education ■■
Continue state funding of the PERS/TRS retirement liability
■■
Increase the BSA to account for both inflation and for adequate education for grades preschool-12
■■
Reevaluate the use of Anchorage as the base in determining the cost-of-living factor in the funding formula
■■
Provide stable forward-funding that addresses inflation
■■
Increase the Education Endowment Fund to provide a sustainable funding source
Even with the funding provided in the 2014 Legislative Session, all Alaskan districts are struggling with revenue shortfalls, primarily due to inflationary pressures and additional state mandates. Education funding in Alaska should be determined by examining the components of an Adequate Education system, including pupilteacher ratio and class size. The funding formula should be studied for needed CPI adjustments. Districts are challenged with long-term budgetary planning when inflation is not adequately addressed. An adequately funded education endowment will provide a long-term fiscal plan for meeting educational needs of districts.
Support districts to seek high-value medical coverage for their employees School districts and their employees around Alaska continue to face high and rapidly growing medical coverage costs. ASD encourages the Legislature to enable, but not require, larger collaborative group medical service and group medical coverage, as well as value-based payment and procurement methods among public and private sector employees.
AnchorageSchoolDistrict @asd_info and @asd_closures AnchorageSchoolDistrict
2014 Legislative Update
Provide funding for early college opportunities Some high school students want to take college or vocational courses prior to high school graduation. Reasons vary, but oftentimes students may be ready for a greater challenge than what is currently being offered at their high school, or may wish to “try out” classes to increase college readiness before committing to a degree program. Some students seek more advanced career and technical training than what may be offered in their district. A limiting factor for many students is cost.
742-4000 www.asdk12.org
Anchorage School District
Vote for Education
Destination 2020 Destination 2020 is the district’s comprehensive multi-year plan to increase student achievement. It’s built on the district’s mission to educate all students for success in life and our vision of having all students graduate prepared for post-secondary and employment opportunities. Destination 2020’s framework guides us in long- and short-term planning and decision-making. It drives how we prioritize our budgetary, staffing and physical resources. This outlook laid the groundwork for the district to realign its efforts and focus resources on the classroom. The district is using this as an opportunity to do things differently, review staffing level proportions, benchmarks and best practices.
Goals Performance – 90 percent of students will be proficient in reading, writing and math.
Recommendation – 90 percent of parents will recommend their child’s school to others.
Graduation – 90 percent of students will graduate high school.
Safety – 100 percent of students and staff will feel safe at school.
Attendance – Every student will attend school at least 90 percent of the time.
Efficiency – All departments will rank in the top quartile for operational efficiency.
Making smart investments with new money
Financial outlook – we’re still struggling due to inflation
HB278 provided an additional $31.8 million over three years. ASD is using the money to restore some cut positions and redirect funding to the following areas. ■■ Class size stability – Designated 16 teachers to hold class size down in grades K-2
The current financial outlook is extremely challenging. Flat to declining revenue from state and federal sources, along with reductions in funding levels allowed to be collected locally, fall far short of what is required to maintain staffing levels in already overcrowded classrooms. Under current law, the district expects to reduce more than 1 in 6 staff over the next three years.
■■
Early literacy coaches – Designated 12 teacher experts
■■
Preschool – Added 3 new preschool classrooms
■■
Teacher professional development – Improve teacher training and evaluation
■■
Classroom technology upgrades – Funds directed to refresh mobile IT classroom resources
■■
STEM materials – Funds directed to refresh science, engineering and technology curriculum
The Municipality of Anchorage is providing $8.3 million in additional annual funding. ■■ 86 teaching positions reinstated
GENERAL FUND
■
Provide early literacy programs
■
Provide teacher tutors for struggling students
■
Provide teacher professional development and evaluation
■
Teachers stay focused on high value instruction by continuously measuring results and identifying what works for each student
■
Principals provide instructional leadership and guidance to teachers to ensure they remain focused on student success
■
Measure student performance and growth to ensure all principals and teachers are aligned on providing a high quality education to prepare all students for success in life
FY 2014-15
FY 2015-16
FY 2016-17
FY 2017-18
Pro Forma revenue projection
$569.7m
$565.7m
$587.7m
$585.7m
$578.7m
Pro Forma expenditure projection
$594.7m
$586.7m
$608.2m
$608.2m
$608.2m
Projected budget shortfall
$25.0m
$21.0m
$22.5 m
$22.5m
$29.5m
Fund Balance proposed
$7.0m
$2.0m
$0.0m
$0.0m
$0.0m
Assembly/legislative increments
$0.0m
$10.5m
$0.0m
$0.0m
$0.0m
$18.0m
$8.5m
$22.5m
$22.5m
$29.5m
Remaining shortfall Employee reductions
What are the basic components of an adequately funded education system? Based on best practices and solid research evidence, key components include: ■ Lower class size: – 15 students for grades K-3 – 25 students for grades 4-12 in core classes ■ Provide instructional facilitators, coaches, mentors for teachers
FY 2013-14
(210)
(223)
(73)
(217)
(280)
283 jobs reduced in last two years 720 jobs reduced over the next three years.
ASD General Fund position reductions – history and outlook ASD has cut nearly 300 positions, mostly administrative and support staff, in the past two years. In the next three years, an additional 720 jobs – teachers and support positions – will need to be eliminated in order to keep costs in line with funding projections.
0
FY 13-14
-200
-210
FY 14-15
FY 15-16
FY 16-17
FY 17-18 2013-14 reductions
-73
2014-15 reductions
-400
2015-16 projected reductions
-223 -600
2016-17 projected reductions
-217
-800
-280
-1000
2017-18 projected reductions
-1200
Inadequate funding is eroding critical support of public education Programs and positions already reduced: ■■ Teaching positions which led to increased class size
■■
School supply allocation
■■
Support for career and technical education classes
■■
Summer school at all grade levels
■■
Staffing for Special Education and Gifted students
■■
Graduation coaches
■■
IT support
■■
Career resource advisors
Under current law and funding levels, ASD will: ■■
Eliminate 720 positions over the next three years
■■
Jeopardize educational outcomes
■■
Accelerate erosion of educational choices, e.g.: AP, college prep, CTE, remedial and recovery classes, world languages, etc.
■■
Everything is on the table for reduction or elimination when considering future budgets