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Legislative House Candidate Questionnaire
Campaign 2006
Candidate: Patricia Chesbro House District: 16
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 think Alaska's rural sites provide an unusual challenge for ascertaining adequate funding, but the basis for adequacy needs to be research- based rather than politically motivated.
If you support an adequate funding study, how would you accomplish this?
I'd ascertain "fixed" costs in each district (such as those relating to facilities.) These will vary greatly. Then I'd look at establishing (and funding) instructional programs equitably.
2. Do you support the use of area cost differential factors to provide equity in school funding?
Yes
Rationale
Fixed costs vary greatly; they should be removed from the instructional needs component of the formula.
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?
Getting kids to school is pretty important; fund transportation adequately.
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's important to not only formulate a long range plan, but to devise a plan to provide forward funding. Yearly battles over funding waste valuable instructional focus.
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
Schooling is vital to all Alaska. We have enough money to pay for our needs and some of our wants.
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.
Income tax, cruise ship tax, alcohol tax, fuel tax.
PERS/TRS
1. What percentage of their salary at retirement do you believe public employee retirees should have to retire with dignity?
51%-65%
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?
Reverse the defined contribution plan; restore the defined benefit plan for public employees.
3. Would you support returning to a defined benefits retirement plan as a means of attracting and retaining quality educators?
Yes
Rationale
We do not produce enough educators to staff our schools. We need favorable benefits to attract good educators to leave their families and come to Alaska.
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?
Restoring defined benefits plans would allow current employees to pay into the system. Otherwise, the state has many years of liability coming from the bottom line.
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
TRS and PERS boards should be made up of representatives of the constituencies, like they were formerly comprised.
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. Good working conditions
2. Intellectually challenging school cultures.
3. Good salary and benefits.
2. As a legislator, what will you do to address these factors?
1. Adequately fund education.
2. Work with NEA/Alaska and districts to provide support for schools and teachers.
3. Ensure good working and living conditions for teachers in Alaska.
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?
Adequate forward funding would help districts work to keep good educators.
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?
No
Rationale
There are checks and balances regarding district finances. School boards are responsible to ensure accurate information is used to make decisions.
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
I would support lower class sizes in grades K-3, as there is compelling research that demonstrates the effectiveness of this strategy.
If yes, would you introduce such a bill and seek co-sponsors?
Yes
Rationale
Class size of 10-13 for grades K-3 as supported by the research.
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
Rationale
Funding for these programs should be from the district funds.
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?
No Response
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?
No
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
What additional ideas do you have to improve K-12 education in Alaska?
We need to decide what we want, align these with our beliefs, look to the research for guidance, then take action, even if it means abandoning some current practices.
