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Governor / Lt Governor Candidate Questionnaire
Campaign 2006
Candidate: Tony Knowles 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:
If you support an adequate funding study, how would you accomplish this?
I have often said if we truly are serious about setting a higher bar and expecting students and schools to get over it, then we must be equally serious about funding. Adequate funding must have a definition that is research based. I would charge my new commissioner of Education and …
2. Do you support the use of area cost differential factors to provide equity in school funding?
Yes.
Rationale
There must be a method of recognizing the vast differences in the cost of doing business amongst Alaska’s unique school districts.
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?
I would support revisiting the level of pupil transportation reimbursement. In this time of unprecedented state wealth we should assure that students are transported safely and that instructional funds are not negatively impacted in some districts by excessive transportation costs.
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
It is a cornerstone issue of my campaign and, more importantly, will be a priority of the Knowles administration.
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
In fact I would title it Full Funding. It is not only a Constitutional responsibility it is our moral responsibility to following generations. During times of decreasing the state budget while I was Governor between 1994 and 2002 we still increased funding to education by substantial amounts. Yet today, it …
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.
1) Budget surplus for yearly appropriation for full funding of education budget.
2) Remaining budget surplus would be placed in a Trust Fund for Education Excellence. The earnings from this fund would be used to broaden the definition of education to include pre-school programs, children’s health, parental and family counseling and intervention, …
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?
If not, what do you propose to do to provide public employees access to a pension plan that provides a retirement with dignity?
A defined contribution plan with the 15% salary contribution would require substantial augmentation by additional savings, and probably many more years of service in order to retire. Even with these efforts studies show that these savings would be unlikely to last the length of an average person’s life. We must ...
3. Would you support returning to a defined benefits retirement plan as a means of attracting and retaining quality educators?
Yes
Rationale
The change from a well managed defined benefit system to a chaotic and risky defined contribution (401K) plan took Alaska from what was considered the best run and best public and teacher retirement system in the country to the worst. We must change that and restore the defined benefit plan.
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?
The state must make substantial contributions to the funds to take care of the past under funding. At the same time the system must, to the greatest extent possible, be returned to the self-sustaining status of the past. We must review the retirement laws to make sure there are no ....
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
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?
1. A safe, challenging, and rewarding working environment.
2. Competitive salary and benefit packages.
3. A good retirement system.
2. As Governor, what will you do to address these factors?
I will work to adequately fund schools so that local school districts can address the unique challenges in their districts. I will listen to teachers and school employees when it comes to the development of state policy and laws affecting education. And, I will work with you to reestablish one….
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?
I would work to encourage establishment of the level of education funding earlier in the spring. I would also work to change the practice of blanket “pink-slipping” in the spring. Districts have overused this practice to protect themselves financially. We can change the law and do better in this regard.
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
Districts should expect this type of scrutiny in such serious circumstances that would require drastic reduction in their teaching staff.
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.
Rationale
I support all efforts to keep class size at recommended levels. I believe that adequate funding is the most important issue in this debate. I will work with you to be sure that Alaska’s students are not in overcrowded classrooms.
If yes, would you introduce such a bill and seek co-sponsors?
Yes
Rationale
If we determine that legislation is the best way to accomplish the overall goal of students being in classes that are not overcrowded.
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 must continue to communicate with the U.S. Department of Education and our congressional delegation regarding the effects of NCLB in Alaska. We must challenge the provisions that are not applicable or attainable in Alaska and seek modifications as we work to establish the best system of education that we ….
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
I will work closely with local governments and school districts to ensure adequate school safety.
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. I am also concerned that the high rate of dropping out of high school in the 11th and 12th grades is partially a result of putting so much importance on this test. We must help all young people to achieve their potential. I am committed to working for a revitalization of vocational education as well as other means of preparing our students to be productive citizens.
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?
The need to improve K-12 education is urgent. Current studies show only 60 percent of our high school students graduate and only 27 percent of those graduates are academically prepared for college. The cornerstone of success will be the fiscal discipline to invest oil & gas surpluses in education by ….
