Anchorage Assembly takes up the issue in March

The community dialogues held earlier this year provided good insight into what this community values in education. The discussions with members of all parts of the community were valuable, as was the very thoughtful and thorough information provided by members of ASD’s Student Advisory Board. All of that information was closely reviewed and considered while preparing the budget for next school year. A summary of the dialogues is available online in the budget section of the website.

This year, for the first time, the district’s budget was developed using value-based budgeting, which included a listing and ranking of programs and functions of each department within the district. This was long and arduous, but I do believe it added value to the budget review process. Rather than calling for across-the-board percentage cuts to each department, the value-based process provided a better look at the effectiveness of each program within the district.

I recently put forward a proposed budget for 2011-12 that closed a near $12 million budget gap, which called for the elimination of valued staff and programs. Many of the items slated for elimination I believe are beneficial, but the budget must be balanced and cuts have to take place somewhere. It is difficult to see hard-working employees displaced or our students lose an opportunity that was previously available to them. In many cases, additional responsibilities will fall on co-workers and parents to ensure students continue to achieve and stay energized about school.

It’s important to note that the estimated budget gap does not include any staff or programs originally paid through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) funds. The district received approximately $59 million in ARRA funds beginning in 2009-10 to be used over a two-year period. My administration and I made it very clear that when we accepted this money that we would not ask for more when it expired. Slightly more than half of the stimulus money was used for one-time expenditures, leaving nearly half of the stimulus projects under review for possible continuation. For the 2011-12 school year, where stimulus-funded programs were kept, additional cuts were made to the district’s General Fund budget.

Approximately 80 percent of community budget dialogue participants said that class size was important. In my proposed budget, class size increases were kept to a minimum. The increase is the equivalent of 20 teaching positions which will be absorbed through attrition. Many community members also asked the district to look at outsourcing some work. Next school year, the district will contract out snow removal work in a small section of town. However, if cost savings aren’t realized or the work doesn’t meet the district’s requirements, the three ASD maintenance positions that were eliminated will be reinstated.

Other cost reductions were chosen based on the district’s core mission of educating students and focusing our programmatic priorities on the 180-day school year. The district only receives funds for the regular school year, and the summer school programs were funded through regular school year funding. Therefore, there will be some program reductions beginning in the summer of 2012. We’re hopeful that the transition to online summer courses for our older students will save money while still providing additional services outside of 180-day calendar year.

In the coming months, I hope you will join me in speaking with our state legislators about the importance of quality education in our state. Please don’t hesitate to let me and your elected representatives know what you value in education. Together, we can continue to provide opportunities to our young people.

Most sincerely,

Carol Comeau

ASD Superintendent