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Legislative Senate Candidate Questionnaire
Campaign 2006
Candidate: Bill Wielechowski Senate District: J
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:
Any consideration regarding funding must address the needs of public education students at all levels, including inflation proofing, good retirement, recruitment and retention, and the constant increase in utility and ...
If you support an adequate funding study, how would you accomplish this?
Surveys, focus groups and exports must be used. Legislators need the backbone to stand up to the government and the leadership in their caucuses to demand that we invest in ...
2. Do you support the use of area cost differential factors to provide equity in school funding?
Yes
Rationale
According to ISER, there is a large gap between the amount of funding rural school district’s are receiving and the amount they need.
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?
Pupil transportation funding should have a built in COLA, a decent wage and retirement, and consider increased fuel costs and special education student 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
We must invest in the education of our children. We need to break out of Alaska’s boom and bust economy by developing a long range fiscal plan.
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?
Rationale
Education funding is certainly a very high priority of mine. However, I am not prepared to commit to this over emergency or other unforeseen circumstances that may arise.
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.
I would first repeal the ELF and update our oil tax structure. Then concentrate on getting a gasline built. These will provide billions in additional revenue.
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?
We need to reverse SB141 and return to a defined benefit plan.
3. Would you support returning to a defined benefits retirement plan as a means of attracting and retaining quality educators?
Yes
Rationale
A defined benefit plan will help recruit and retain good educators. We must treat our educators with respect and dignity.
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 ARM board recently made proposals to start reducing the unfunded liabilities. Simply put, we must start paying off the obligation we have incurred.
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
As an attorney for IBEW, I was involved in working with their labor organization to fight SB141. I stand with the working families of Alaska in protecting retirement plans.
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?
Salary and benefits, quality working conditions, and adequately-funded educational programs.
2. As a legislator, what will you do to address these factors?
We need to adequately fund education and treat our teachers with respect and dignity. Our education money needs to go into our classrooms.
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?
Adequately fund education and also evaluate forward funding, so teachers don’t get pink slips every year, causing them to go out and look for other work.
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
Some districts in the past have claimed to have inadequate funds, but really had surpluses in some areas.
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 this depending on the recommended class sizes. We must rely on science and experts when making these decisions.
If yes, would you introduce such a bill and seek co-sponsors?
Yes
Rationale
Smaller class sizes have been proven to provide a quality education.
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
Students learn better and teachers work better in a safe environment
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?
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
What additional ideas do you have to improve K-12 education in Alaska?
We need to figure out ways to get more parental involvement and responsibility. Teaching is especially difficult when kids come to school on drugs, underfed, or without any parental care.
