NEA-Alaska Legislative Candidate Questionnaire 

Candidate: Mike Milligan

Office: Senate District R

Adequate Funding

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

Yes

Explain: Some schools reflect demographic (i.e. language) challenges. Some have a higher percentage of special needs students. Funding needs to follow societal goals, not the definition of "adequate."

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

I would work to tailor the foundation formula to reward scools facing extra challenges.

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

Yes

Explain: Alaska can provide a level playing field for all students. The funding of our rural districts also helps urban schools in that many Alaskan teachers start in the bush.

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?

Bus contracts can be better bid. The Alaska legislature needs to recognize the constitutional mandate to fully fund all aspects of education delivery.

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?

We are not just losing educators to other states, but also to other professions. When demand goes up prices will follow- education wages will have to reflect this.

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: The root problem is the state's underfunding of education, leaving the responsibility to local governments, which have reached their respective taxing limits. Third parties will help but not solve.

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?

1) Fully fund or sue at National level. 2)Recognize and reward multi-disciplines in educators especially in the bush. 3) Shift some emphasis to K-14 vs. K-12.

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?

Write resolutions. Use state funds to help local districts document time and constraints of compliance. Go to D.C.

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?

This problem is not just limited to public ed. Worker's comp and Pers in other states suffer from stock market "bubble rubble." Financial de-regulation may have reached it's zenith.

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: Remember this is a Dept. of Public Safety mandate. Programs (i.e. DARE) must be funded with other than Education Dept. dollars., federal pass through funds can be found.

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