 |
Legislative Senate Candidate Questionnaire
Campaign 2006
Candidate: Kim Elton Senate District: B
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:
Using research-tested criteria and minimizing political influence helps public schools.
If you support an adequate funding study, how would you accomplish this?
We need to fix the foundation formula (especially area cost differential) and inflation-proof our students.
2. Do you support the use of area cost differential factors to provide equity in school funding?
Yes
Rationale
It is wrong to assume that large urban districts aren’t advantaged in the cost and efficiency scales. Cost differentials provide balance.
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?
We need to remove the cap and allow inflation-proofing.
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
NEA (and other groups like the business/professional group A+) have identified what must be done and I am committed to work together and make it happen.
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
Some elected officials say education is their top priority – only 16 years in elective office shows I believe 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) Income tax
2) If not an income tax, POMV for earnings
3) I oppose a sales tax – reserve it for municipalities
4) The others on the list don’t collect enough
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?
First, we reverse legislative action on the ill-advised defined contribution plan for TRS and PERS. Then we take a deep breath and work with our greatest assets—employees.
3. Would you support returning to a defined benefits retirement plan as a means of attracting and retaining quality educators?
Yes
Rationale
A defined contribution coupled with portable benefits makes it both difficult to attract and then keep 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?
First we quantify the market conditions that lead to the unfunded liabilities and we must work on controlling health costs. The NEA hybrid is intriguing.
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
I have and will continue to work with those who must live with our decisions.
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) Salary
2) Benefits
3) Safe healthy communities in which to live and work.
2. As a legislator, what will you do to address these factors?
I have a 12-year record of support of and working toward these goals.
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?
Most important are three factors: 1) salary; 2) an adequate defined benefit; 3) returning more decision–making to the classroom.
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
We should never, ever allow the employer to make these decisions with verification.
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
This makes much more sense than simply assuming “incentive pay” (as proposed by the commissioner) will raise student performance.
If yes, would you introduce such a bill and seek co-sponsors?
Yes
Rationale
We need to, must, keep trying. This isn’t what’s good for teachers—it is what’s good for students.
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
The culture of any public school is partly defined by safety of students and employees and school culture influences quality.
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?
It comes down to funding and less political experimentation (like exit exams and No Child Left Behind) without supplying the financial oomph to comply.
