NEA-Alaska Legislative Candidate Questionnaire 

Candidate: Gini King-Taylor

Office: Senate District G

Adequate Funding

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

No

Explain: Proper funding for education is my highest priority. I retired in 1999 under the old system. If the needs based process will provide improved funding, then I would support it.

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

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

Yes

Explain: While this system was complicated and subject to political wrangling, it did provide adequate funding in the 1970s and 1980s, based on set criteria.

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?

Sprawling districts need additional funding based on the added cost to transport students. A built-in cost factor that reflects these added expenses should be added to the equation.

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?

From the 1970s through the early 1990s, educators were adequately compensated, were offered professional enrichment, had adequate resources, and for the most part, were treated with respect. Appropriately fund education!

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: School budgets are complicated and easily manipulated, so a third party check would safeguard the integrity of the system.

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?

Specific shortfalls in Alaska are many and varied. Therefore, Alaska educators should have direct input into appropriate amendments to make the law work for the children of Alaska.

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?

I have been a child advocate for well over 32 years. I am willing to do whatever is necessary to make this law work for Alaska’s students.

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?

The state has a contractual obligation with both active and retired teachers. Funding must be provided to fulfill the contracts without diverting money from the classroom.

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

No

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: Research based programs that are proven effective, as well as staff, need to be available to staff and students. The conference in Anchorage on bullying is to be applauded.

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