KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The Kodiak Island School District presented its legislative priority list and budget concerns to Kodiak’s two state legislators Thursday afternoon. State Senator Gary Stevens and State House representative-elect Alan Austerman heard and responded to the district’s budgetary concerns and funding requests for the upcoming legislative session in Juneau. KMXT’s Erik Wander has more.
Included in the school district’s funding priority list was recruiting and retaining teachers, especially in rural areas, base student allocation and energy relief, both of which the district contends currently fall short of needs. But it was funding for a new high school that dominated the discussion at the meeting. Stevens said the meeting was an opportunity for the two legislators to hear the school district’s concerns and respond to them, but that the district needs to do a better job of convincing the public of the need for a new school.
— (Stevens 1 52 sec "It’s really good … find out what that is.")
Austerman offered his reaction to the meeting, and agreed with Stevens that educating the public is an important key to ultimately securing funding for a new school.
— (Austerman 1 45 sec "I think their primary concern … need to spend more time on.")
Superintendent Stewart McDonald described the meeting as productive and said that he believes both the school district’s and the legislators’ concerns were heard.
— (Mcdonald 1 35 sec "What I heard … limit what they can do.")
McDonald said the meeting with the two legislators, school district personnel, the Kodiak Island School Board and the superintendent is a precursor, which dates back several years, to future face-to-face meetings when the Legislature is in session in Juneau. I’m Erik Wander.
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