Landmark School Funding Lawsuit
Moore vs. State of Alaska
Profiles of Plaintiffs
October 2004
Kristine & Gregory Moore of Wasilla—Parents of Jason Moore, 6th grader who is home schooled; Shannon Moore, going into 4th grade at Goose Bay Elementary in Mat-Su Borough School District; and Mallory Moore, who will enter 1st grade there. Kris is a PTA leader at the school, district and state levels. She is the founder of Valley Voices for Children and has advocated for school funding before the Alaska Legislature.
Mike & Maggie Williams of Akiak—Adoptive parents of Christine Williams, who will enter 1st grade this fall. Mike Williams was born in this Lower Kuskokwim community and attended the then-BIA school through the 8th grade. Then he had to attend boarding school, in Wrangell & Salem, Oregon, to get his high school education. Mike is a long time leader in education issues, a member of the Yupiit School District School Board, and he served for eight years on the Alaska Board of Education. Maggie is a certified teacher in the Yup'ik immersion program.
Wayne & Martha Morgan of Aniak—Parents of Wayne Morgan II, who will enter 6th grade; Patrick Morgan, who will enter 8th grade; Riley Morgan, who will enter 4th grade this fall; and daughter Skye Morgan, who will enter school in 2-3 years. Wayne graduated from the Aniak school and has served on the Kuspuk School District School Board since 1996. Martha works for the district at Aniak.
Melvin & Rosemary Otton of Koyuk—Parents of Samuel Otton, who graduated from Mount Edgecumbe High School in Sitka; Helena Otton, who will be a junior at the Koyuk-Malemute School; Frederick Otton, who will enter 6th grade; and Benjamin Otton, an adopted child who will enter 1st grade this fall. Melvin is a carpenter and has served on the Bering Strait School District School Board for 15 years. Rosemary, until recently, was a teacher's aide.
Jerry S. Dixon of Seward—Father of Kipp and Pyper Dixon, a sophomore, and an 8th grader, respectively, at Seward Middle/High School. Jerry taught public school, initially in rural schools, and from 1990 to 2003 taught in Seward. He taught “Quest” for gifted students in Seward, Moose Pass and Cooper Landing. In 1997 he was named a McAuliffe Fellow, and in 2001 he was named BP Teacher of the Year for the Kenai Peninsula. In 2003 Jerry retired because of his dismay at what he termed the “dramatic deterioration of quality education in the Seward schools and Alaska schools in general, caused by lack of funding.
Yupiit School District—Serves 447 students along the mid-Kuskokwim River. It has one of the largest proportions of Alaska Native students, children receiving free or reduced cost lunches, and children who have limited English proficiency. In recent years four out of five children were not proficient on benchmark exams.
Bering Strait School District—is the REAA (Rural Education Attendance Area) for the cities (excepting Nome) of the Seward Peninsula and Norton Sound: Elim, Saint Michael, Brevig Mission, Diomede, Gambell, Savoonga, Teller, Koyuk, Golovin, Shaktoolik, Shishmaref, Stebbins, Unalakleet, Wales and White Mountain. Its schools serve predominantly Alaska Native students, children receiving free or reduced cost lunches, and children who have limited English proficiency. In recent years, 70% of its students were not proficient on benchmark exams.
Kuspuk School District—is the REAA (Rural Education Attendance Area) for Aniak, Chua, Thbaluk, Red Devil, Stony River, Sleetmute, Crooked Creek, Upper Kalskag and Lower Kalskag. Its schools serve predominantly Alaska Native students, and virtually every student is entitled to a free or reduced-cost lunch and his limited English proficiency. In recent years between 50% and 93% of the students were not proficient in reading, writing or math. Eight of the 10 schools failed to make adequate yearly progress in 2004, even with the relaxed standards used by the Department of Education and Early Development.
Citizens for the Educational Advancement of Alaska's Children (CEAAC) — is a non-profit organization of educators, school districts, rural education attendance areas (REAAs), and individuals who believe “that all students in Alaska deserve adequate school facilities and excellent school programs.” CEAAC brought the landmark Kasayulie vs. State of Alaska school construction lawsuit (1997) and has long been an active advocate for adequate school funding.
NEA-Alaska— The National Education Association of Alaska represents more than 12,000 teachers and education support professionals. NEA-Alaska's mission is “to be an advocate for an excellent public education for each child in Alaska and to advance the interests of public school employees.” As an affiliate of the National Education Association, NEA-Alaska also has as its mission: “To fulfill the promise of a democratic society, to promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education; expand the rights and further the interests of educational employees; and advocate human, civil and economic rights for all.” NEA-Alaska has long been an active advocate for adequate school funding. #
