NEA-Alaska Legislative Candidate Questionnaire 

Candidate: Michael "Mike" Chmielewski

Office: House District 13

Candidate responses exceeding 30 words have been truncated.

Adequate Funding

1. Do you support a needs based process for determining the level of school funding?

Yes

Explain: Needs must form the basis for funding requests and allocation of funding obtained. Prioritizing those needs requires full participation by all stakeholders in an effective process.

If you support needs based funding, how would you accomplish this?

Alaska's education needs are continually identified both locally and state-wide. I plan to keep the focus on funding methods that show clearly both what is accomplished and what remains to ….

2. Do you support a return to the instructional unit approach to funding schools?

No

Explain: Instructional unit approach is not a magic key to sustained adequate funding. Top line is that Alaska’s schools vary in size and location. Bottom line is that funding must be ….

3. The recent changes in funding for pupil transportation have had negative impacts in a number of school districts. How would you address this issue?

Recognize that transportation costs are not fixed over time. Incentivize districts to do more with less by use of competitive bidding and rewards for creative use of transportation systems.

4. Will you commit to working with NEA-Alaska and other groups in developing a long-range plan to supplement current funding levels and achieve adequate funding for schools within a decade?

Yes

Attracting & Retaining Quality Educators

1. Fiscal uncertainty has caused many “new to the profession” educators to leave Alaskan school districts and even leave the state. What would you do to eliminate this annual event that has cost our state so many valuable educators?

Work for a sustained, adequate funding process that allows districts to develop budgets before a school year ends. Forward funding and clear targets for improving a prioritized set of needs ….

2. Would you work to amend state statute to make sure that district claims of financial shortfalls are verified by independent third parties when dealing with the layoff of tenured teachers?

Yes

Explain: An efficient validation process would go a long way toward balancing the needs of teachers and a district during a rapid decline in finances.

Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind (ESEA/NCLB)

1. Would you support categorical funding so educators (teachers and instructional aides) can receive professional development to meet the standards set by ESEA/NCLB?

Yes

2. What amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind) do you believe need to be made to make the law workable in Alaska?

NCLB as a law remains flawed in both intent and implementation.

I prefer to focus on MECA: Moving every child ahead. I support moving from shame and punishment to goal ….

3. What are you willing to do in concert with NEA-Alaska and other organizations to amend No Child Left Behind to be “Alaska friendly” and to gain full funding of the Act?

Identify clearly the process NCLB requires and the costs involved both in personnel and dollars. A disconnect exists between the law and its implementation.

High Stake Testing.

1. This past year, some students did not receive diplomas for the sole reason they did not pass the High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE.) Would you support amending the law to allow schools to assess student knowledge and abilities through a variety of means and not just through a single test?

Yes

2. Would you support funding for additional programs/staff to specifically assist students having difficulty passing the HSGQE?

Yes

3. Would you support categorical funding for district-developed remedial programs for students who do not meet standards on Alaska’s benchmark exams?

Yes

PERS/TRS

1. Would you support a single tier for each public retirement system as a means of attracting and retaining quality educators?

Yes

2. How would you see the state’s public retirement systems meeting their increasing financial burden?

With great difficulty. This is an enormous problem. Bottom line is that the ultimate source of relief will be at the state level via change of funding to employer and ….

Vouchers

1. Do you support the use of public money for private and religious schools?

No

2. Would you support vouchers?

No

3. Would you support tuition tax credits

Yes

Safe Schools

1. Students and staff must feel safe and secure in our schools for learning to take place. Would you support funding for programs/staff that have been demonstrated to increase student and staff safety?

Yes

Explain: Safe schools programs require a web of support – from character building work with students to clear guidelines for acceptable behavior by visitors and parents. The more people involved the less ….

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