Legislative House Candidate Questionnaire
Campaign 2006

Candidate:      Karla F. Huntington                                                  House District: 17

Candidate responses exceeding 30 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:

The current method does not adequately fund schools.  Individual schools and students have different needs, based on factors including location, grades taught, demographics, and existing supply and technology resources.

If you support an adequate funding study, how would you accomplish this?

By funding a study from a credible, independent group familiar with educational needs and Alaska’s unique challenges, e.g. UAA’s ISER, and utilizing the pre-existing body of information and research.

2.  Do you support the use of area cost differential factors to provide equity in school funding?

            Yes

Rationale

Differential funding levels the availability of quality schooling by recognizing that providing the same access to education requires funding reflective of the unique needs of individual schools and 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?

Transportation costs need to be funded separately from the general budget allocations to the schools. Separate funding, specific to the needs of adequate transportation, needs to be restored.

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

Since current funding is inadequate, a stable source of funding must be implemented.  One possibility would be establishing an educational trust partially funded by oil, and eventually gas, revenues.

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

The Alaska Constitution obligates the state to “establish and maintain” public schools (Article VII; Section 1).  As the most direct funding obligation in the constitution, school funding merits top priority.

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.

These are ranked by feasibility and stability of income flow.  As the least variable, maximum effort….

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?

A defined contribution plan is never a stable investment as it places the risk on the employee. TERS/PERS should be reinstated and the retiree medical plan fully funded.

3.   Would you support returning to a defined benefits retirement plan as a means of attracting and retaining quality educators?

            Yes

Rationale

Professionally I am very familiar with defined contribution and defined benefit plans. Our PERS/TERS program is among the best in the country.  It will continue to attract quality teachers. 

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?

We need an annual commitment of funds. The best source would be from the Permanent Fund if we amend the Alaska State Constitution to allow for dedicated funds for education,,,

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

NEA is in the forefront of educating the legislature and the public on these issues.  NEA’s obligation to identify the needs of both current and future members adds useful perspective.

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. Adequate, stable salaries. This includes COLA.
    2. Innovative curriculum opportunity.
    3. Competitive benefits

2.  As a legislator, what will you do to address these factors?

Make proper school funding and shortfall replenishment a priority.  I would introduce legislation for an educational trust fund, revocation of SB 141, and aggressively pay the TERS shortfalls.

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?

Stable funding would take away the annual angst of losing one’s job.  At a minimum we need forward funding of the school budget (5 year) increment and we need to …

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

It is too easy to hide behind the catchall phrase that the lay offs were required. Independent verification would keep that process transparent.

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

Smaller class sizes allow for better instruction, less teacher burn out, and, reduce the drop out rate. State action is needed so that children have equal access to quality education.

If yes, would you introduce such a bill and seek co-sponsors?

Yes

Rationale

See, above

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

No one can concentrate on learning if they are worried about physical safety in the schools.  Students, teachers and the administrators in a school deserve a safe school.

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?

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