'Those of us who believe in quality education
for Alaska's children will continue to fight.'

Jerry Dixon’s simple statement sums it up nicely. The retired teacher from Seward doesn’t believe in letting a legal setback get in the way of pursuing his passion: advocating for adequate funding for Alaska’s schools.

During his teaching career, Jerry Dixon was an Alaska McAuliffe fellow and a BP Teacher of Excellence.  In his "retirement" he's an ultra marathoner, wilderness adventurer, guide, and writer.  The former Kenai Peninsula EA member is now a member of NEA-Alaska/Retired .

In late June Judge Sharon Gleason ruled against the plaintiffs in the Moore vs. State of Alaska adequate funding lawsuit. Dixon is one of the plaintiff parents.

Judge Gleason ruled that Alaska’s inflation-ravaged school funding formula does not violate the constitution. She did, however, find that the state violates the constitutional rights of some students in certain districts and called for additional oversight and aid to those districts.

Dixon, undaunted by the Moore ruling, spoke via teleconference just three weeks later before a panel of legislators. His message: the urgent need for increased funding for Seward and other communities hard hit by the district cost factors that the state uses to divide up the education funding pie.

The Joint Legislative Education Funding Task Force met over the summer to review school funding issues. Lawmakers took hours of testimony from superintendents and other leaders representing schools throughout Alaska. Almost without exception, they told one story: To do the job they need to do, they must have more resources.

This parade of dedicated school leaders provided a dramatic repudiation of Judge Gleason’s ruling.

“It flies in the face of common sense to say that money doesn’t matter in student achievement,” Dixon told the media. “The schools in Seward are being dismantled. They’ve cut 70% of the staff at the high school. The program I was fortunate enough to teach for a generation, the gifted program, has been eliminated.”

Because Judge Gleason stayed her ruling for a year, NEA-Alaska and other plaintiffs will be exploring options in the wake of the Moore ruling.

“This year offers opportunities for all school advocates to move forward together,” said NEA-Alaska President Bill Bjork. “To mobilize our communities and work with legislators and the governor to achieve our common goal: A quality education for every child in Alaska. We look forward to the challenge.”