Alaska’s public schools will receive their largest-ever funding increase if the Alaska House and Gov. Mike Dunleavy agree with a bill passed Thursday by the state Senate. (via AlaskaBeacon)
Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, turns away from Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, after being told that one of her amendments to Senate Bill 52 is out of order. At left is Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka.
“This is a historic day. We just passed the largest base student allocation funding increase in state history,” said Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage. Both the state House and Senate have discussed temporary, one-time increases of $680 per student, and the Senate has included that increase in its proposed state operating budget for the coming year, but a budget bill wouldn’t make a permanent increase.
“I think it’s critical that we give stability to the school boards and address the BSA increase. That would send a message to the school boards, the teachers, the students,” he said.A companion bill has yet to leave the House Finance Committee, and an attempt to include $175 million in the House’s proposed budget failed when lawmakers balked at funding it from the state’s principal savings account, the Constitutional Budget Reserve.
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, noted Hughes’ comments and said that passage of the bill doesn’t mean legislators’ work is over.Sen. James Kaufman, R-Anchorage, offered a similar perspective.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy reappoints Bethany Marcum to state redistricting boardAs the Alaska Redistricting Board prepares to consider whether to change the map used in last year’s state legislative elections, Gov. Mike Dunleavy has reappointed Alaska Policy Forum CEO Bethany Marcum to the board. (via AlaskaBeacon)
Read more »
Alaska House debates bill imposing harsher penalties for opioid-related crimes amid spike in fentanyl deathsConservative Republicans were typically in favor of long sentences for a broader range of opioids; moderate Republicans, independents and Democrats were more likely to want the harsher penalties tailored specifically to fentanyl, and to devote more resources to treatment and rehabilitation.
Read more »
Alaska House passes bill to increase jail time for fentanyl and other drug crimesThe Alaska House passed a bill yesterday that would increase penalties for people who distribute fentanyl, other opioids and methamphetamine.
Read more »
Photos: Bering Sea island village celebrates Russian Orthodox holiday with Alaska bishopBishop Alexei of Alaska and other Russian Orthodox dignitaries from around the state visited the Bering Sea island of St. George for five days in early May for St. George Day, celebrated May 6 around the world in the Russian Orthodox tradition.
Read more »
2 tribal councils announce decision to withdraw from AFNTwo separate Alaska tribal councils announced Monday they will not be renewing their membership with the Alaska Federation of Natives.
Read more »
Legislature narrowly votes down Dunleavy's University of Alaska Board of Regents nomineeSen. Löki Tobin was among those opposed to Bethany Marcum's nomination to the UA Board of Regents. “Ms. Marcum has shown that she cannot uphold the public trust,” Tobin said.
Read more »