NEA-Alaska Legislative Candidate Questionnaire 

Candidate: Eddie Burke

Office: Senate O

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: I beleive that should be the test for all funding.

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

I beleive that we must begin to seperate government out and see what is needed and what is not. Obiviously, education is a number one priority with my family ….

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

No

Explain: I think we should begin to look at each case and each district for what needs to be accomplished.

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?

Sorry...I don't have an answer.

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?

This questions deserves more attention than is allowed for: But I beleive we need quality work enviroment and competitive pay scales. I'm committed to being competitive in all areas, but ….

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: Everytime the ASD hears of budget short falls..The public hears all the doom and gloom. It think this is an insult to the voters and teachers. Let's lay-out the facts ….

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?

Don't know

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?

Don't know

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?

I believe the state has a competitive PERS now and we are above average for state employees.

Vouchers

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

Yes

2. Would you support vouchers?

Yes

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: I was a security person at Chugiak High and found there is a lack of enforcement in the district. Most due to politics. Nobody wan't to be the bad-guy. Everyone ….

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Note: …. indicates the response has been truncated.