Association of Alaska School Boards

Legislative Bulletin

A weekly digest of activity by the Alaska Legislature and U.S. Congress for Alaska’s School Board Members. AASB Tel. 907-586-1083, Fax 907-586-2995. Executive Director, Carl Rose, crose@aasb.org; Editor, John Greely, Review past issues of the Bulletin on the AASB website at http://www.aasb.org. To unsubscribe send an email requesting the same to jgreely@aasb.org

This bulletin is distributed by email only. School districts should copy for board members not online.

January 26, 2007

--SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO CONVENE IN WASHINGTON

--SCHOOL BOARDS HONOR SEN. CRAPO AND REP. YOUNG

--BUSH PUSHES VOUCHER PROPOSAL OVER DEMOCRATS’ OBJECTION

--STATE UPBEAT DESPITE OIL-PRICE SLUMP

--PALIN RECEIVES PRAISE FROM MUNI LEAGUE; WORRIES TEACHERS

--BUDGET MEMO OUTLINES POSSIBLE CUT LEVELS

--GOVERNOR TO HELP DEDICATE NEW SCHOOL IN HOOPER BAY

--A START AT A PENSION FIX (EDITORIAL)

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SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO CONVENE IN WASHINGTON

Local school board members from across the country will convene January 28-30 in Washington, D.C., at the National School Boards Association’s Federal Relations Network (FRN) Conference. Board members will give Members of Congress advice and direction on key education issues, including No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. See full news release here:

http://www.nsba.org/site/doc.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=90&DID=39980

SCHOOL BOARDS HONOR SEN. CRAPO AND REP. YOUNG

The National School Boards Association’s Federal Relations Network will present Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) with its Congressional Special Recognition Award for their commitment to children and public education. The award will be presented on Monday, January 29, at NSBA’s 34^th Annual Federal Relations Network Conference in Washington, D.C. See full news release here:

http://www.nsba.org/site/doc.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=2000&DID=40002

BUSH PUSHES VOUCHER PROPOSAL OVER DEMOCRATS’ OBJECTION

The Bush administration is calling on Congress to make changes to the No Child Left Behind law, including placing more emphasis on science and giving poor students private school vouchers. See full story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/01/23/sotu.education.ap/index.html

STATE UPBEAT DESPITE OIL-PRICE SLUMP

The price of Alaska crude oil has plummeted in the last six months, but an economist said Monday that the state is still in position to reap a big surplus of about $1.3 billion. See full story here:

http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/story/8591480p-8484368c.html

PALIN RECEIVES PRAISE FROM MUNI LEAGUE; WORRIES TEACHERS

Gov. Sarah Palin, who is the former mayor of Wasilla, returned to her roots this week and addressed kindred spirits in an organization of local officials that she belonged to for 10 years. But while the Alaska Municipal League gave Palin a standing ovation, teachers union officials have concerns about her plans for K-12 education. See full story here:

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=5986836

BUDGET MEMO OUTLINES POSSIBLE CUT LEVELS

A memo from the governor’s budget director to cabinet members outlines ways in which the administration may try to reduce the FY 08 operating budget by $150 million. You can read the memo here:

http://www.adn.com/static/includes/alaskapolitics/instructions_to_depts.pdf

GOVERNOR TO HELP DEDICATE NEW SCHOOL IN HOOPER BAY.

Governor Sarah Palin and First Gentleman Todd Palin will travel to Hooper Bay to officially open the community’s new school on Monday, January 29, 2007. The Governor will also be joined by Hooper Bay Mayor Gabriel Seton, Hooper Bay Tribal Chief Eric Olson, Sr., and other community leaders for the dedication ceremony at 4 p.m.

A START AT A PENSION FIX (EDITORIAL)

By now, most Alaskans know the state-run retirement system for public employees is about $8 billion short of what it could need over the next 25 years to pay out pension checks and health insurance benefits. And by now most Alaskans probably also know there is no easy answer to the problem. House Bill 12 is a start at one possible answer. See full editorial here:

http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/8586557p-8479613c.html