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Governor / Lt Governor Candidate Questionnaire
Campaign 2006
Candidate: Andrew Halcro Office: Governor
Candidate responses exceeding 50 words have been truncated.
ADEQUATE FUNDING
1. Presently three methods are recognized by experts and the courts as reliable means to determine adequate funding: resource cost, best schools, and professional judgment. Do you support the use of a recognized, research based study to determine the adequate funding level of K-12 schools?
Yes
Explain:
I supported funding these studies when I was in the state legislature. I believe the state should be doing one of these studies every other year to follow cost trends and identify problem areas before they become crisis.
If you support an adequate funding study, how would you accomplish this?
I would request an appropriation from the legislature or find the funding within existing resources. For more on my thoughts about education funding please go to http://www.andrewhalcro.com/sb141_and_education_how_do_we_move_to_the_head_of_the_class_now
2. Do you support the use of area cost differential factors to provide equity in school funding?
Yes
Rationale
There is no question that education costs more in certain areas of Alaska. Funding should reflect that difference to ensure adequate funding for all. For more detailed information on my education positions please go to andrewhhalcro.com
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?
As school populations grow from the in migration due to large economic development projects, the burden of pupil transportation will grow. The state must make adequate resources available so districts can pay the bill for transporting students and don't have to choose between spending money on transportation or text boooks.
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
Rationale
I believe the necessary investment in education that will keep Alaska competitive in the global market will continue to grow year after year as it should. Alaska must have a long range plan to fund education. For more on education funding please see http://www.andrewhalcro.com/sb141_and_education_how_do_we_move_to_the_head_of_the_class_now
5. Would you support adequate funding of Alaska’s public schools to meet the constitutional mandate prior to funding of any other programs not constitutionally mandated?
Yes
Rationale
Alaska has plenty of resources available to fund all schools adequately, even in the face of generational challenges. Alaskans just need to elect a governor who has one foot in the next generation and can see just how important education is to the future.
Please see www.andrewhalcro.com
LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN
The 23rd and 24th Legislatures identified several revenue sources for consideration: alcohol tax, cruise ship tax, fuel tax, income tax, sales tax, and use of the Permanent Fund earnings.
Please list, in priority order, the sources you would utilize to create a long-range fiscal plan.
As a former state legislator I was a leader in advocating for a long range fiscal plan. I support using the following revenue streams in order; Cruise ship head tax, permanent fund earnings and sales tax.
In 2002 I was a co-sponsor of the alcohol tax as it hadn't been ….
PERS/TRS
1. What percentage of their salary at retirement do you believe public employee retirees should have to retire with dignity?
66%-75%
2. Given that most public school employees will not be able to collect Social Security benefits due to the federal law (GPO/WEP), the employees’ retirement income must come from their pension plan and personal income. Do you believe a defined contribution plan with a 15% of salary contribution will generate a pension that will provide a retirement with dignity?
No
If not, what do you propose to do to provide public employees access to a pension plan that provides a retirement with dignity?
We need to re-visit sb141. At minimum there should be a hybrid plan with a more equitable balance to provide retirement with dignity while protecting our ability to attract and retain quality educators. I don't believe enough of the public is aware that social security benefits are not part of a…
3. Would you support returning to a defined benefits retirement plan as a means of attracting and retaining quality educators?
Yes
Rationale
I would support a return to the DB concept depending on the specifics. When calculating costs of returning to a DB plan, we can't forget to factor in the cost to taxpayers for recruitment, retention and rehiring which will increase for school districts because of sb141.
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/sb141_and_education_how_do_we_move_to_the_head_of_the_class_now
4. According to recent actuarial reports, PERS and TRS have unfunded liabilities. How do you see the state eliminating these unfunded liabilities to meet their financial obligations to retirees?
Given the fact that the unfunded liability is projected over a 20 year period, we have time and the resources to start putting away cash today in an effort to fund tomorrow's liability. For more thoughts on how we pay for important services in the future, click on www.andrewhalcro.com
5. Will you commit to consulting with NEA-Alaska and other employee organizations whose members are participants in TRS and PERS when changes to the retirement plans are being considered?
Yes
Rationale
Any changes that affect your members will be discussed. Also please don't forget, Ben Stevens was responsible for SB141 and Governor Tony Knowles was responsible for appointing Ben Stevens.
For more on how politics as usual is harming education, click on to wwww.andrewhalcro.com
ATTRACTING & RETAINING QUALITY EDUCATORS
The #1 factor in student achievement is a quality teacher supported by quality administrators and support staff. It is well known that Alaska is facing a teacher shortage. The legislature held several hearings on the matter, but has done little to address the issue.
1. What do you believe are the three essential factors in recruiting and retaining quality teachers?
- The package - position, salary, location of opportunity, opportunity for future growth/security
- The place - local community, school community, access to services
- The people - School administrators, parents, support groups, residents
2. As Governor / Lt. Governor, what will you do to address these factors?
- Fund education adequately and re-structure sb141 to offer a competitive retirement program that doesn't incentivize leaving after a few years.
- Work to support healthy and financially sound communities through fiscal stability and economic growth.
- Adequately fund education to include after school activities to create a stronger attachment between schools, students, parents and their neighborhoods.
3. Fiscal uncertainty has caused many “new to the profession” educators to leave Alaskan school districts and even leave the state. According to Commissioner Roger Sampson, the out-of-pocket cost to a school district of losing a teacher is $12,000. What would you do to eliminate this annual turnover that has cost our state so many valuable educators?
The only way to eliminate this turnover and the expense to local districts is to protect their ability to retain quality educators. This means re-visiting sb141 and creating a new retirment system that provides retirement with dignity.
4. 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
Rationale
I believe the recent court fight in Haines gave us plenty of reason to agree that claims of financial shortfall should always be verified. For more thoughts on how we can achieve fiscal stability to protect local school districts from this issue in the future, please visit http://www.andrewhalcro.com/fiscal
CLASS SIZE
An important factor in student achievement is small class size. Bills were introduced in the legislature, but little has been done to address the issue. Would you support a bill that sets recommended class size by grade level and provides for additional funds to schools that meet the standards.
Yes
Rationale
With the understanding that local school districts have the ability to determine their own participation. I believe local control is paramount but with more and more state and federal intrusions into education, I believe mandating class size is not the road the state should take. I'd like to districts have ….
If yes, would you introduce such a bill and seek co-sponsors?
No Response
Rationale
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT / NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (ESEA/NCLB)
What are you willing to do in concert with NEA-Alaska and other organizations to ensure that federally mandated programs are “Alaska friendly’ and adequately funded?
We know from our four year experience with NCLB is not working in Alaska. I believe we need to have a strong and unified voice to our Congressional Delegation that one size doesn't fit all in Alaska.
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
Rationale
By the time a child reaches 18 they've spent 13% of their life in a class room. In a changing world these facilities need to host a safe environment to protect students, educators, support professionals and administrators.
2. A safe learning environment is a key factor in student achievement. Would you support the use of restraining orders for individuals who threaten or endanger students or public school employees in the public school environment?
Yes
3. Would you support legislation to make a school-related assault on an education employee an aggravating factor in sentencing?
Yes
HIGH STAKES TESTING
1. For the past three years, 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 categorical funding for district-developed remedial programs for students who do not meet standards on Alaska’s benchmark exams?
Yes
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
What additional ideas do you have to improve K-12 education in Alaska?
We need a fresh, comprehensive approach to education, beginning with more physical education classes in elementary school to more after school options for students in middle and high school. We have to begin to make school a more integral part of students and parents lives.
