 |
Legislative Senate Candidate Questionnaire
Campaign 2006
Candidate Jay Cross Senate District: H
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:
If you support an adequate funding study, how would you accomplish this?
I would fund an independent review by a recognized research group.
2. Do you support the use of area cost differential factors to provide equity in school funding?
Yes
Rationale
Each area’s costs are different. Court decisions mandate a certain level of funding in outlying areas.
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?
In light of the high costs of energy, transportation funding levels need to be realistic. Children need to be moved in absolute safety; low funding hampers the ability to get …
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 will take everybody’s cooperation for this to happen. I support the legislature’s forward funding of education.
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
This will only happen if enough legislators are willing to forgo the temptation to use the funding politically.
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.
Basically it is not the priority that is the problem in funding. The legislature has to be willing to put all funding sources on the table. With the influx of money from high oil prices, it is time to balance the budget and provide for stable funding.
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?
Return to the original retirement plan.
3. Would you support returning to a defined benefits retirement plan as a means of attracting and retaining quality educators?
Yes
Rationale
The defined contribution plan is flawed. Too little thought was put into the change of plans, as though the outcome was predetermined. Little thought was given to funding the old …
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?
There is some controversy about the actual extend of the liability. Insufficient time was devoted to solving the actual problem, leading to rushed judgment. Ignoring the problem will not make …
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
Their members have a vested interest in the outcome.
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?
A good school system, a supportive community and adequate funding (salaries and benefits).
2. As a legislator, what will you do to address these factors?
Education funding should be stabilized and sufficient to meet needs. I will work for forward funding of education and revenue sharing to local governments.
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?
Work to stabilize the funding process and provide resources for education; work for revenue sharing to local governments to offset property taxes; support mentoring opportunities for new teachers.
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?
Rationale
I would need to know more about the ethical standards that the school districts use in laying off teachers. Does this questionable activity happen? It is sanctioned by the school …
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
Just mandating class size without providing the necessary funding would just amount to another unfunded mandate.
If yes, would you introduce such a bill and seek co-sponsors?
Yes
Rationale
The educational community needs to express the effect of class size on learning and the need for funding to all the voters. Voters need to demand action from their legislators.
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
It is important for schools and school districts to be able to select and implement models that build on their community’s strengths and support their needs.
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?
The lack of consistency in school budgets is a major factor in teachers’ leaving an area. Forward funding would help alleviate this problem. A steady source of funding for higher …
