Here is an excerpt from a letter I received today:

"...thirty new students were added to our school this year (2004-05), which was already bursting at the seams, without any new funding.  Not for food.  Not for transportation.  Not for teachers...(Interesting fact:  when the school had 165 students — 1988 — we had fifteen teachers; now, with 376, we have nineteen)."

It is a sad statement that nearly every Alaska teacher and education support professional has experienced insufficient resources on the job.   During the last two decades the State of Alaska has enjoyed unparalleled wealth.  Yet past Alaska legislatures could not settle on a plan to fund schools to provide the resources needed to truly leave no child behind.  Our members continue to be asked to "do more with less."   This has to stop.

Inside the October AKtivist newsletter is a poster containing the names of the 20 candidates for the Alaska Legislature and the candidate for U.S. Senate recommended by the NEA-Alaska Political Action Committee on Education (PACE).  The recommendations include Republicans, Democrats, incumbents and challengers.  All recommended candidates are supporters of public education who earned the respect of our  local activists and met the requirements adopted by Delegate Assembly.

November 2, Election Day, is your chance to make a difference.  Candidates recommended by NEA-Alaska PACE deserve your consideration, your support — both financial and campaign — and your vote.  Please volunteer and work for the pro-public education candidate in your district.  On November 2 we will elect a legislature and a United States Senator who will address constitutionally adequate resources for K-12 schools.  Alaska's children deserve the best education we can provide, no excuses.

Vote! Our jobs depend on it and Alaska' children depend on you.