Good afternoon, everyone. I call this meeting of the Senate Education Committee to order.
It is 3.31 p.m. here on Wednesday, February 11th, we are meeting in the Belts Committee
room here in The Beautiful State Capitol building located in
the heart of downtown Juneau.
I just want to ask folks who are here
in this room if they could please mute their cell phones.
Presentations for today have been uploaded to basis they have also been distributed to members and additional copies are available for folks right there by the door
Members present today are vice chair president Steven senator keel my self senator Lucie Gail Tobin
Senator yunth is excused
Please let the record reflect. We do have a quorum to conduct business
I want to thank Susan from the june i Juno lio for moderating today's meeting and mary
Gwen from senate records as always for being with us today
On the agenda today, we will have a presentation from the Alaska Department of Education and Early
Development on the status of Mount Edgecombe High School. Joining us for the presentation today
are the commissioner of education and early development. Dr. Dina Bishop,
we also have with us the deputy commissioner Karen Morrison. I believe here in person we
also had Mount Edgcombe high school superintendent David Langford. We are also joined in-person
Hanish, like we also have with us online are several folks from Mount
Edgecombe joining us by teleconference is Mount Edgecomb High School advisory
board member Howard Amos. We also
have two students in the room with
us from mount Edgecom as well as several
folks online from Nana Regional Corporation who are currently the
operators of the dorms and food services.
All right. I want to welcome everyone here to the Senate Education Committee today.
I did make no earlier. We are in a bit of a time limit as we have some things that are happening.
And so while we want make sure we've a robust conversation and that we are able to get to
questions from committee members, I do just want folks to keep that in mind as
we wanted to ensure we get through the presentation as well as an opportunity to have a
folks off if I hear that they're going on a little bit longer if we're not getting to
the next iterative of the conversation.
With that I want to invite folks up to present to us and we will get this, we'll get the
presentation beginning.
Hello and welcome.
You know the drill but once again if you could please identify yourself to the record and
begin your opening remarks and presentation when you are ready.
Madam Chair, Senator Tobin, my name is Dina Bishop, and I serve as the Commissioner of Education for the Department of education and Early Development
Madid Chair Senator Toman. My name's David Langford,
and i'm currently the director super intended for managing my high school
Thank you and we will begin and please know that we we'll follow up as well as any questions that you
Have if time cuts short
I'll move through the beginning slides quickly.
The departments, of course, mission, vision, and purpose.
You've seen those many times, so in light of time,
we'll just move right through.
We do like to share the state's priorities,
the State Board of Education,
as well as thousands of Alaskans created these,
finalizing them in 2018.
The agenda today is really as a response,
as an update,
and we have included the
really some information about Mount Edgcombe, right sizing the ship, what were some of the
impetus for the changes, student enrollment, and just programming the state of facilities,
things like that, as well as looking forward. I'll turn it over to Superintendent Langford for this.
I would like to take just a moment just to give a little background on Mount
class was 1948 and believe it or not there are still some people alive that were part of that class
that I've heard about. It was run by the BIA up until 1983 and because of some massive cost overruns
and many other issues that was shut down I happened to be a teacher in Alaska at that time and I
to create a new Mount Edgecombe High School, and I was lucky enough to be, besides the superintendent,
be the first person hired in 1985 to help create this new vision. So we worked together,
started with, we had 1,200 applications for 15 positions, so that tells you something about how
How fascinating people fascinated people were with the this new shift in Mount Edgicham
So I called night starting in 1985 phase two of Mount edgicam because that's really the new Mount
Edcham and then that really brings us up until this year and I call this school year
Phase three actually and the reason they say that is because we have a new dormitory
provider contractor, we have a new cafeteria contractor.
We have new administration, new changes in buildings and updates.
And so it's really our chance for phase three of Mount Edge
come to sort of remake it and bring it to its previous prominence.
Thank you.
And Mr. Langford, just on a note, because I'm curious if you were there at the beginning
of this phase from 1985, which I do want to note that I was born in 1983, at a curiosity,
your experience then and to your experiences now, as we've heard from many parents and
students.
What was the culture of parent notification and engagement then?
And what are you doing now as, again, we have heard a lot of parents, and students about
Yeah, back then, we had to create all that from scratch and figure out how do we communicate
to parents and work through that.
So by the time I left in 1982, home school coordinator, people that were connecting directly
with parents, and internet didn't exist back in, so we weren't able to send emails, things
like that, but we have call-ins for parents.
teachers calling home, all those kinds of things.
So today, Mount Edgecombe, we still have a parent call in
once a month on the first Thursday of every month.
We have also an advisory board.
We also have direct communication with parents
where we send out announcements,
we sent out
the schedule for activities and events when that comes out.
We also have teachers calling directly to parents
when students are falling behind or having difficulties.
So,
There is lots of parent engagement.
I'd say one of the things that's really missing
is there used to be the channel light newspaper,
and that actually was a great communication tool.
It's now transitioned into a video tool
that goes out once a month,
but I'm looking at the possibility of bringing back
the Channel Light newspaper
because it was great chance for students
to read journalists, write articles,
and report themselves to parents.
And Mr. Langford, do you use apps because I know the Anchorage School District uses apps with their students or is there other types of not just monthly call-in or check-ins but immediate conversations?
We don't have any apps like that. It's one of the things I'd like to look into, but right now, quite frankly, we don t have the money for it. So if we did, I would.
Thank you. And I just want to note for the record that we've been joined by Senator Bjorkman here at 3.39 PM. Thank You. Please continue.
The next slide is really sharing what has occurred up until this time so that we know
that there has been changes in this new phase.
If we look at FY 2025, that was last school year.
August 9th of 2023. It was my first day. And I can share that that first year. There really
wasn't outside of the regular reporting and communications from Mount Edge come.
And so really the the issues and things began and concerns for the program became
apparent last year and it really we were alerted to initial in August of 2024 which would have
after the first payroll went through from Mount Edgcom
that we were looking at forecasting
a $1.6 million overdrawn on the budget.
And we wanted to, we jumped right in for the state to know
and this is a school set up through the states system.
So the regular reporting features of audits
and others that are separate school audits,
really there isn't historical knowledge on those.
So it is basically like any other division,
a funding cap or a ceiling of authority and then spending
and it's more detailed to get to the bottom of each of those.
Whereas you would know from your other school budgets,
you will automatically know how much is on administration,
what's administrative support.
So we tried to recreate those at least for the year
and this year moving forward,
we're utilizing those school tools
to really be able to see that.
But understanding that we also at that same time,
I received, and the board publicly received as well,
a letter of no confidence in the leadership
at the superintendent level.
And so we went in and really began to talk about it
and look into things.
And it was really around wanting to see a budget
and wanting know and educators.
And what had happened that year was to finish a
budget, a a bunch it presented that really had a
significant amount of people reduced on the school side.
notified by that by the advisor board last year.
And when we went in, we really worked hard,
wonderful teamwork, figuring this out, what can we do.
We really found, the COVID funds really supported,
there were over $5 million in those three years
and they lasted through 2023, 24.
And
increase in lots of expenditures but then when those and added staff and when
those ran out there wasn't a a planned down mechanism and the manner in which
budgets are input into the system at the state didn't catch up at
the time and that's why that had happened we we have checks and balances you know
with our new systems now utilizing the school
school tool for for budgeting on the chart of accounts now. But that wasn't the practice. So,
We looked and it was really the contract increases that had happened over this time and as we know the pandemic occurred as well, but the dorm contract increased 24% the food service 100 a little over 100% at the same time inflation over those three years anywhere from six to 7% a year during that time so there was a significant increase in costs as
asked you know to I was speaking with staff and say please have me down they gave me some dates
that they would like me. Down in the superintendent as well I couldn't make it in December but I
said I will get someone down at that time so the first visit was December of 2024 and at
that. Time the report came back saying yes we need in facilities and food service just shared
some concerns about the dorms as. Well at the time. So we began to go down I went in July we sent
multiple visits down and we have some of that work shared with you.
Moving forward to this year, we did have to make some
of those reductions a lot of
really narrowing down.
We tried to keep these far away from students as possible,
but trips where 30 students might have gone,
it was, there were times that the whole team say
for an event like debate could go down
or travel with the team to cheer them on
when it were state level.
Then we just had, you know, the chaperones
and the kids who made state attend.
And so we did have to narrow down some
of that student fun travel positions were held
ones that were added and just trying to make up these funds.
In the budget planning, through for this year,
we want you to know that we did reduce by four teachers,
one administrator, and two administrative support staff
that they were not in classrooms.
So that was true reductions at that time.
And then we put out a request for proposal
through the public system at the state to see,
contracts, are we getting our return on that vendor and that service?
We did notice during that time that positions that were originally in the contract were
moved out, and so we wanted to put some of those services back in because we didn't
want to lose the service, but we want them rather than state employees to be, they were
that was placed in there and at the time that's when the vendor changed and it
went to Nana. Later that year actually in the summer so we moved forward we had
our school principal, academic principal we, had our principal of the dorms and
then during the Summer David was was hired at
the latter end of
May, I believe, maybe June, July 1, but we've had spoken to him in May and June to figure
that out.
And we use a new model to see how we can support savings in administration.
providing services also to another school district and he can share that so he came
but at the time then in July after you know your new staff is on preparing for Mount
Edge come kids come back the dorm principal did at that time resign and so after that
to other critical dorm positions followed they were his team and now we sat with a new
dorm contractor as well as a New dorm principals so the transition was not set to move forward
with with that. So we are catching up on that some of the other changes. Mount
Edge come. It's okay if we pause for a moment so we can ask some questions.
President Stevens. Thank you. Just to help me understand if you would, Commissioner,
I appreciate. Commissioner and Susan being here it's great to see you and
appreciate talking to you earlier. I'm not clear on the COVID funds. Were they
inappropriately used? Were the users something they shouldn't have been used
for? Or could you help us understand that? Sure. Through
Chair Tobin to Vice Chair, Senator Stevens, there was no inaccurate, no,
Misuse, if you will, all the use of it was appropriate according to what was allowable.
What we did caution throughout the state was adding positions.
You had to go in because kids did need supports.
We didn't want COVID for students to fall behind.
But there had be a realization that it is quite a bit of money in a short amount of time to
be sure to plan for when those funds go away.
We did look back primarily, they were on services and teachers, we did not spend them
on, there was not an election to spend on computer refresh or things like that.
They were really at staffing levels that we added to Mount Nedgecombe.
I just want to double check, because I know that the federal guidance for COVID funds were
against using them for operational or continued support. But you're saying the state advice was
you could or those were allowable uses. No, Madam Chair, if I might correct that,
you would be allowed to use them
for staffing, and Mount Edgecome did add additional staff. It's just that these the
response from the state and the guidance that I looked at that
I actually received as an ASD superintendent was that if you do add
staff please be sure and have your eyes wide open that you'll have to narrow
that down that once those those are just one-time funds.
So not necessarily operational but specifically for added staff which we
did find in the contract as well as just we were able to do more things
then we had more travel during that time so I don't feel that those were
benefited from them. So I would not categorize them as misuse, but the planning
down back to pre pandemic levels of funding without that five million in
three years, probably is, you know, part of that scaling back.
Thank you, can you actually, because I apologize,
I don't actually understand what is the budget process
from our education, particularly within the Department
of Education and Early Development,
and then with the State Board,
because it sounds like there was actually not a plan
to how to step down once those funds
were no longer available.
Sure, thank you Chair Tobin, and specifically to that point,
that was what we did find, that they're actually
for three years, what occurs, so it's a
really a totally binary system because Mount Edgecombe doesn't operate on the chart of accounts.
It's paid by ADM, but then the dorm side is just an appropriation from the state.
Their funds run through the State, which is a very difficult, well, it is difficult and different system,
then at the local level. It is not as flexible,
but government is supposed to be, you know, we...
We have lots of checks and balances more so than a general
school that could have flexibility.
So how the process is around the state and in every division
is that your director is responsible for your budget.
And you prepare that budget and then you you know provide it
and the under- there was a misunderstanding of
your allowable maximum and what you actually take in.
And I would liken this to a district where we make an estimate on your
you plan for it. But if your student enrollment comes in, doesn't come in. You understand how
can I ratchet this down. The plan and the spending that we found when we investigated was, and this
was working with teachers as well, the advisory board last year speaking to them several times,
that they felt as though they didn't get enough information on that local school budget.
So the decisions of how to spend and where to spending, where they put the money is at the
Director has a budget and is responsible for the budget.
Mr. Langford, he was not responsible of this budget,
he inherited this Budget, like most people who go to a new place.
But what we found is the Budget that was created really wasn't a workable budget once we did ask.
We need a Budget because that's what the staffing, how can we help you, what can you do?
deficit it was a reduction of 14 teachers was presented to the advisory board so that really
last year worried lots of teachers and I heard from them again and and went and spoke and
and just shared that we wouldn't be able to have a mount edge come if you reduce by 12 teachers that's
doable. So let's think through this and where are some other adjustments that need to be made.
So that process is like any other state agency, it's really done through that director creating
those budgets, feeding them up into the system, putting them in the components, moving them
how much you could receive is your maximum.
It's not necessarily what you actually receive,
it's just your allowable receipts,
so that if you did get a grant,
so, that maximum increased during COVID at the top level,
and that was the misunderstanding
of the, during the budget process.
And that's what we found out.
So, we engaged immediately,
we have luckily,
Deputy Morrison was a school finance director so she really walked really the
school through she spent a week with the school on hand worked hand in glove
with a superintendent really supported each other made the budget to be able to
move in this year because of course every district has to turn in a balanced
budget.
So Commissioner, just so I can make sure that I'm following along.
So the superintendent or the director makes the budget.
That budget then goes to the commissioner to approve,
which goes then up to OMB.
ONB then says this is what the
budget will look like.
But at no point in the last three years,
anyone caught that there was a fiscal cliff coming.
Madam Chair, that's not true.
We did catch and I was able to go back and share and look the year
my arrival. When we started to look into it, there was a letter addressed addressing this
and said, you know, pay attention to these, these are going to ratchet down. During that
year that I arrived, the budget was made prior to, we went through that year and then when
we were notified through this process all the time working, but the systems didn't catch
Didn't when you believe that someone understood what
receipt authority is and what spending authority
is that was there and lied the miss.
So when we did find out from 2024 August on,
we worked hand in glove with and offered the support
at the local level.
But I did uncover a letter addressed to the school
the year before that notified them when I
did not work here.
So there was some addressing of this,
people run out of money is when everyone goes, wow.
So that's when it really hit is
when those funds ran out.
So even though we were warned, it's like, oh,
we have to do this, but there wasn't a true,
and I, you know, in speaking, honestly,
it was just the financial part just wasn't
the strongest in that management part.
And so we offered those services from Dean, though.
Well, thank you, Commissioner.
I'm still not very clear about this that,
and then the X, like how all this.
played out, but I know that you'll be talking to our finance team and they'll
be able to ask more artful questions, particularly in trying to figure out
where exactly things went awry. Please continue.
Items that were right-sizing just some things that happened the Mount Edgecombe did apply and was awarded the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant or CLSD
Added some additional staffing and professional development. I believe about five a half a million dollars is in that category. They did win that grant
And NANNA management was competed and was able to go back to their organization and get a safety swim grant
so that the all students can learn to swim at Mount Edge come since they have that beautiful pool.
The critical positions I just wanted to share with you some that
the dormitory principal, the Dormitory Dean, those were some of the positions that
when the longstanding principal of
We, you know, he had some other really critical staffing that we had to fill.
But all of these are now filled positions that
we support Mount Itchcombe and the services on the dormitory side.
Student enrollment, Mr. Langford has a more detailed approach.
These are just OASIS numbers.
So these are numbers that are audited that we have in the Oasis system.
As you know, we are not finished with the end last day of enrollment for FY26.
Hence, it is not there, and Mr Langford has additional information on student enrollment if you'd like.
Currently, we're at 311 students, and we have lost 100 students since the beginning of the year.
Traditionally, a lot of people don't know.
Manage come and loses anywhere from 50 to 100 student per year,
what's different this year is we probably are 25% higher at this time of year than normally.
but hopefully we won't lose anymore
because to be they're all very valuable to me.
We analyze all the reasons that students have left
and try to even have a leadership team
called Brave Leadership and we've tried
to actually reach out and talk to students that did leave
and could you give us more specifics.
43 of them just unknown.
They just wouldn't tell us anything
except they just wanted to go home.
Um, 15 were dorm issues, 10 were students that we dismissed for disciplinary actions.
Some went, uh, five went on to higher care, different areas.
Fourteen said they were homesick, eight had personal family reasons.
Um.
I talked to as many of these students who have left as possible, try to find out more.
And sadly, in cases, parents have died and family members have die, and they need to
go home.
those are totally understandable so we recognize it's a problem we're trying to work forward
to change that. Some of the reasons that were discovered had to do what Commissioner Bishop
was saying with the budgeting and being handed a budget that did not have all the services that
probably was a shock to some of the students when they got back. We still provided recreation
activities, we still provide a lot of things, but just not as much. So one of
the keys that we found out the hard way is the previous administration had eliminated
three American AmeriCorps positions and one fellow and these are very inexpensive
They're the ones that took that out of the budget.
So when I got there and found out those were gone and started
to investigate what those positions were,
those are very key people that in the evenings do nothing
but play games with the kids, do whatever
they would like to do, go on a hike, take them to town,
one-on-one, deployments, whatever was going on.
So that, I think, was a huge impact that I...
But probably nobody really anticipated how big the impact that was with students, so
I'm going on. Can I ask you? Obviously, we've all heard about the student,
the folks who have left, and anticipating that there may be some changes to your student population
at the beginning count next year.
Can I ask what is your plan to deal with potential loss
of funding due to your lower ADM?
How are you working with the department to plan for FY27?
We've heard that there's been some difficulty
with previous planning.
How is it, how are planning to lead in this?
Actually, I don't anticipate to have any fewer students
going into next year and the reason I can say that
is because this year we had 120 students
that we could not accept.
in open enrollment schools like this, that's good.
You always want a waiting list kind of thing.
So we're already open to enrollment for next year
and we are already getting applications
and people coming in and working that through.
I'm working again with students and we're starting to get information out about the
school much more positive information than been circulated in lately and trying to encourage
parents to take a look at management again.
I've told people over the last 30 years that management was the original charter school.
school of choice. Alaska was doing something in 1985 that
other states were just dreaming about the possibility of
doing and and that's really true. It is it is that school
of Choice. And so it's our job to advertise to get the word
out and recruit students just like you would any school
of Joyce. So Senator Keel.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just
Appreciate the rundown on some of the past budget difficulties that got us into a little bit of a pickle here
And and thank you commissioner for parachuting in director Morrison
As I look at the next year's budget who who's doing edge comes budget after this
Senator through the chair
I will, I'll have a big input into the budget, but we also have the massive amount of support
and help from DEED to help us through that process and get that budget figured out for
next year.
And so as soon as we're just about ready to start that
process, we'll be going back to the teaching staff and basically everybody on the campus
and getting feedback and then forming the
budget from there.
Follow-up, Senator Keoh.
Just some clear, feedback on a collaborative process is great.
I was talking specifically about making sure the ones in the zeros all line up in
the right columns and that we get to a black number not a red number at the
bottom. So I mean because I think you've got an admin one who's not on campus so
it's you it is Director Morrison again just so I know.
In fact, all the admin support was taken out in the budget drawdown, and so, yeah, you're
exactly right.
It's me and then going directly to Deputy Commissioner Morrison and also Don Hannah
shouldn't be working together to try to craft a new budget.
So.
Thank you.
Please proceed.
Did you want to go?
In Nupia language class and dual enrollment,
we started a brave leadership training
that's been going very, very well.
You're going to hear from two of my students in a moment.
We have a shop one-on-one class.
We started dual-enrollment with UAS.
They've been a very good partner with dual
enrollment.
We've expanded welding classes.
That's.
Basically, the only way we have CTE is through dual enrollment
with the university.
And we've added a third class.
The problem is we can only take 15 students per class,
and we had many, many more students
that would like to sign up for that.
So, increasing that capacity would be really important.
We started driver's training with two teachers
that are now teaching that this semester,
and health service career
do enrollment opportunities with UAS.
I'm going to start to just really address some of the maintenance issues.
So when we, in FY25, which was 24, 25, we did receive.
59 violations from the USDA.
So this was the federal government coming in
and checking the food service.
And we have been, since that time,
working with the prior vendor on those issues,
on-site visits with our expertise in foodservice,
director attending.
But when we did go out, this, you know,
was some of the information provided to look at what is the best value we could get.
So this is some the items that we found when Nana went in there.
So we looked at.
worked with the kitchen. There was a sale of property, a small item sale that was adjacent to
the Coast Guard. This body, I believe, assisted in approving that to support the coast guard and
really utilize those funds to put back into Mount Edgecome into upgrade the
kitchen, that is our first priority. And we did take some funds, this is an all of them listed,
large equipment replacement, floor repair, things like that.
In this year, we do want to say that USDA did come back and we had four findings.
Three were clerical and one,
we didn't log student stacks in the so.
Four wereclerical, but one was for food outside of Mountage Come and Nana providing it.
So we're real happy about that,
but this was part of the change and going on site and looking at what was there.
concerns about the facilities as well. I'll turn it back over to Mr. Linkford.
Dana management took over the kitchen in the dorms, starting July 1, same as
myself. It can tell you that when I met with
we were all sick to our stomachs, what we encountered.
You just saw some of the pictures from the cafeteria,
which I really doubted that we could get in shape
by the time students got there.
We were actually making plans to either delay
the start of school or find another facility in town
to cook or something had to happen different.
But so many people worked so hard to get that kitchen
up to inspection and pass inspection
so we had food service there, we did start
a little bit under the gun in which they had to have a lot more packaged food
beginning of the year which students didn't like but at least we were
serving food three times a day and moving forward. We got a whole new set
of kitchen equipment in over the fall and install over Christmas break even and
now up to standard. Nana's been a great partner with that and that just last
week they brought in new management to start managing the cafeteria to
Not that it was bad before, but to try to take it to a new greater level of creativity
and do the kinds of things that the students want.
And so we've had a lot of meetings just in the last two weeks with students directly
saying, what do you want?
And they're telling us more fruit, and we want this, we went that.
happened. The new nano food service managers in place this week and the students were just
telling me that last night's standard was one of the best they had so far. So that's
a really positive change. Even so, we do know from count data that our food
service data is up 20.8% over last year. That was telling us that the food
Oh, Mr. Langford, can I ask you have students here who are obviously going to speak positively
as they're standing in front of you, and that's how that usually works.
Well, they may not, but I can anticipate we'll probably hear positive things.
How do you solicit feedback from students who might be fearful to seek out, or who
are scared, who may be unaccustomed to some of the ways that we in Western communities
talk?
It starts with, I try to eat as often I can in the cafeteria
and I just sit with students and say, hey, you know,
what's going on?
Is this a good meal today?
Is it a bad meal to day?
So that's anecdotal kind of stuff.
The Nanofood Service has all the contact information
that they have on screen every time you come in.
You can immediately email them any concerns that you have.
commission, I guess you'd call it, that's a student's put together that meets once a
month and meets with the NANF to go over, you know, how food's going and what's
happening. And then I meet directly with
the food service director once-a-week and go
over anything that needs to
go
over.
And thank you. I think, Madam Chair,
that you'll be pleasantly surprised that the students speak honestly about their
Thank you. Just like we're sharing with you, commissioner, we've heard from many students
and it isn't all good. I think that's why you're here today. Senator Keoh.
Thanks, Madam Chair.
I just never ask a question. You're already on the answer, but it's worth a shot.
Meal Councilor up by 20 percent could reflect that the meals are better than last year or could
reflect the students are having a harder time getting off campus and they're not eating at,
you know, getting a burger at Mean Queen sometimes.
Let's get it off the campus just as much as they ever did.
I see them going back and forth over the bridge every single day and a lot of the kids choose
not to eat at the cafeteria.
I have the attitude and so does Nana that we need to make the cafeterias so good and
cheap and free for them, right, that they don't want to go to McQueen to get a burger.
They'd rather eat in the Cafeteria and that's our target and where we're going.
data on on meal counts was inflated last year because that was one of the findings that USDA
found was happening is that they when kids would go back for a second they would actually count
that as a 2nd meal and that's not happening anymore. So at one point I had heard some concerns about
student transportation and the ability to get to town but that that has not changed.
Senator Kiel through the chair.
I think what you're talking about is the buses that were running to C-Mart once a week.
That's the, was the only change at the beginning of the year, and there were multiple reasons for that.
But I stopped that, that at beginning the of year number one,
because as you saw all the dormitory staff that we didn't have staff, we did not have the staff to monitor that
situation, even though C-Mart was paying for the buses, you still have to have staff on the
buses and people to be able to there. The second problem we had is a search hospital
told us that there used to lines of kids reporting late at night with energy drink overdoses
and elevated heart rates and anxiety. And they were getting a lot of that on these
to that immediately, so we did massive student training
at the beginning of the year, why energy drinks are bad for you.
Some people didn't believe it, but I just talked to someone
who had a relative that died from it that just specifically
from overdose.
So I made that change.
The students were really good.
I said, if you want it back, petition
and start to work together back.
And they did.
We came up with a position petition.
I worked with the Student Council.
We've got them running again.
So that's further out.
But there are three grocery stores within walking distance
that the students go to every single afternoon.
So there's no restriction of students
going to a grocery store.
So the other problem we have now is
C. Marksman sold a safe way.
And so we had to renegotiate starting February,
this February this month.
So thank you.
Thank you, please continue.
Well, this is a picture of what the dormitory furniture looked like in July, which was also
disgusting and much of it 20 to 30 years old.
So with the help of the department, we've immediately started figuring out how do we
find funds and came up with $100,000 to replace the door and furniture.
Nana came in to the dormitories and found out we had at least 40 mattresses that should have been thrown away 10 years ago and weren't.
And so we have to find money for that and figure out how to pay for those.
The dormitory was absolutely filthy as was the cafeteria.
And it took weeks just to clean and prepare the Dormitory for students to come.
And Nana took it on to, you can see the picture,
to try to get much more healthier things
in the vending machines.
Students don't always like that,
but we think that's a really super big plus for that.
Handbooks are now being updated and through the process normal turnover process through DOT
We're able to get a new 15 passenger van. So those are all good things
And Mr. Langford, I know you'll be going to Senate Finance tomorrow and so they'll they dig into this a little bit more
But I'd love to hear from you and the commissioner as I knew there was money appropriated for the dorms
not only for these
Aesthetic amenities but also for some of the structural issues that those dormics experience
I now our finance committee members went and took pictures and there's a lot of
conversation about not just this piece but what's actually happening in the
bones. Commissioner that that veto happened in FY 24 and we never saw another
ask and don't actually understand why it was vetoed. So could you help us
understand what money appropriated by the legislature for exactly this was
never re-engaged with from your particular department?
Sure, so thank you that, Madam President, that really fits right into what was there.
And again, in FYI, I can go back and research the VITOs and have those conversations.
I don't have them readily available.
But I will share that when we did go on campus, these items, just so you know, had not-
reached my level or critical. Like I said until we stepped foot and saw that the finances were
not there. You know that we had to go
looking at the campus setting foot. What hit me first was those chairs and things. So we began
chairs and things and
mattresses that children sit on updated I did go and find had a tour with the gentleman our
Maintenance person and he really shared some insights about the projects they had the needs they
Had had A full tour of all the buildings all The spaces as well
And we began to look and and share and He shared that there are projects that were funded that we're just sitting
and
those with some staff legislators yesterday. We're going to present those again, but here's
just a small. So the campus-wide bathroom, new bleachers installed at Aquatic Center and
campus wide ADA, these were projects that were approved in 2021.
So these sat and then we were able to finish them in 2026.
You know, share that, uh, stand the maintenance person, having that discussions, he did fail.
He had those discussions before, but, um, I don't know if they didn't reach up to the department level,
but we were able to turn those around because they were already appropriate.
And so we really worked to clean our own yard before we move forward.
And, so part of that as well was, other things that we have going on.
And I have the dates for them all on this other sheet,
basement of Ivy Hall in both dorm roofs and boys dorm ventilation systems are set to start.
We have three actually roofs coming in this summer and the kitchen ventilation system will be done.
And these were all projects that were appropriated between 2020 FY21 and FY22.
So we're trying to make an impact for these.
So in so far as vetoes, I'd have to get more information.
part of what needed to be done is really to.
Assist the school and work with Stan to manage the projects to move them forward
So we were able to begin to close some of these projects
We did revamp some the project and asked and went with stan on the highest needs. So I will get back with you on
Specific vetoes. I don't have the information of that but wanted to share the
Projects that were appropriated
They're getting finished at this time. Well, thank you commissioner
I probably would have asked you if you'd come to my office like you did many of my colleagues, but unfortunately we didn't
and get that chance, I do see here
that you have window replacement listed on this,
and it is a little perplexing, as you mentioned,
that had visited Mount Edgecombe two years ago,
or last year was it?
Last year, man.
Last Year, and the FY26 veto from the governor
for again, Mount Edgcombe was on window-replacement.
So I'm just kind of confused a bit
about your engagement with Mount edgecombe,
your responsibilities, you are the oversight body,
and yet we continue to see the Governor of veto since 2020.
projects for Mount Edgecombe.
It's just very challenging for me to understand exactly
what the oversight has been of this particular facility
underneath your leadership.
But I know that finance will dig much more into this,
so I encourage you to be prepared for tomorrow morning.
I'm looking forward to it,
because we're really making progress,
Madam Chair, and OMB can probably assist you
with that knowledge about that,
since I don't actually set the whole state budget.
Thank you.
Senator Keon.
Madam Chair, I'll give the commissioner and her team a heads up that I'm going to ask
about the discrepancy between prior years actuals spending in the operating budget on
structure and infrastructure, which I think in 25 was $178,000 and the next year's budget
$25,000, and whether we think that's going to be adequate for next year.
So, coming attractions, that question will be up in front of you.
Wonderful. Thank you, sir.
At this time, I'm going turn it over to Mr. Langford and his students.
So I'd like to invite two students up and selected them based on
that they want to speak, for one thing, but one of them is a three-year student and one
of the two-years student, and I think they have some very good insights.
Well, welcome to Senate Education. As we talked earlier, please identify yourselves for the record
and begin your testimony and sharing your story when you are ready.
For the record my name is skating cross
For The record, my Name is Ilana Kalki
I will begin
So again, My Name Is Lana Kaki and I'm a third-year junior at Manish Kamai school and some things that I'd like to
Bring to your attention that you are probably you're
Aware of is like the facilities at Anishkama are outdated which they talked about a lot earlier in this presentation
Not
like in the dorms and the academic building and so they talked a lot in
the doors but also in academic buildings there's leaks in some classrooms and
the library. An issue that I noticed with staffing was the staff
communication with the NANNA and dorm leadership. This impacted students
emotional and academic life as there was like inconsistent application of
There's examples of just like,
what was that weren't applied in every dorm
or just trouble with the dorm leadership
and Nana, like even getting rides for experience
like van ride was really complicated
when it shouldn't have been.
And I just see this lack of collaboration
that also affects activities.
Things that I would like to point out that are positive at management, well, I came to
management for a higher education and I still think that management provides that for students
around the state.
Things at EDGECOM brings, like you saw, the dual enrollment classes.
I'm lucky enough to be involved in the do enrollment class teaching for Alaska Futures
with UAF and this provides college credit, but something EDCHCOM really brings is a community
When I came to my edge come, I was looking for an education, but I also found a community.
I've built friendships that I believe will last me my entire life.
And, Edge come has this reputation of
producing future leaders of this state.
And I would like to know what we can do and how you can help us keep that and reputation and produce these leaders.
Thank you.
Thank You, Alana.
Can we ask where you're from?
I'm from Galena, Alaska.
Well, we're going to try to keep you here in state, going
to one of our universities.
For the record, my name is Ken Cross, and I have her written
to us testimony I'm going read.
My name's Ken cross.
I am from Coak,
and i'm a sophomore at Monashum High School,
and im on.
I'm here on behalf of Mount Edgecombe High School.
Coming from a small village school,
stepping into MHS,
flex stepping in to a place where everyone moves fast
and works hard.
You can't hide at MHs, literally and figuratively.
You ride to the level of the people around you.
It challenges you, it follows you and it inspires you.
The same way our school model says.
I didn't expect to be testifying in front of you
I did expect me representing my school year in the capital.
But MHS is the reason how I can do spaces like this with purpose.
In just a few months, I've grown more than I thought possible, and I watched my classmates grow too.
Soon from all over the state come to MHS carrying whatever experiences and struggles they had before they arrived.
MHHS doesn't create those problems, it gives us a place to face them and...
to build something better for ourselves. That's why support for MHS matters, not just for us but
for the whole state. Alaska is facing declining enrollment, rising needs, and a future that depends
on the next generation being ready. MHSS is already producing future educators, leaders,
and contributors to Alaska's communities, but we can't do that without stable funding for staff,
updated facilities, soon activities, or real maintenance, especially maintenance which is
I'm not here with data charts, I am here as a one student who moved from a small village
to a school that changed my trajectory and future fast.
And I want a hundreds from MEHS.
MECS just isn't a School, it's a place that grows people who go back to the communities
and strengthen them.
So I ask you to keep supporting MEHs, not because of numbers, but because what it does
for students like me, for native youth, braves, and for Alaska's future.
Thank you.
go to college and state, and I'm very excited about that.
Are there any questions?
Well, do you want to go through your pictures?
I see there's additional ones here on the slide,
or is that going to be with you, Mr. Langford?
Those, yeah, just pictures of activities
and different kinds of things.
The pictures.
This is pictures are, oh, this is the NYL class.
led something with elementary kids, I wasn't a part of this, but I am a
part
of the NYO team at my edge come.
Oh, there's the debate team.
Remember to identify yourselves every time you got my name is getting
across and in the bottom left,
there is a debate
team in Melacalla competing.
And there
is the pet fan on the Oh.
For the record, my name is Lana Kalki, and there's the PEP band,
and we do have a great music program at Manage Cum.
It could have more practice rooms and things,
but Ms. Gluth is really great.
Okay, oh.
There we have the cheer team, this is still in season,
and volleyball.
You can see me, I'm on the wrestling team as well.
That regionals.
Oh, wrestling, and there's cross-country, I'm also in the cross, but cross country is
really great.
Yeah, for activities I know that I find myself happier when I am able to have these activities
and it really does improve student life to be able participate in all these things.
Yeah.
Do you have any questions, or?
President Stevens.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
So we've heard lots of issues, complaints about various things, you know, the dorm
life and all that.
But what about the academic?
And you touched on that, are you satisfied with the quality of the teachers and the
academic education you're receiving there?
For the record, my name is Lana Kalki, and yes, I'm very happy with the education I
am receiving at Manage Cum.
I think that over the years it has pushed me to become a better student and I
think if I would have stayed home I don't know if
I'd have taken school so seriously the way I do today.
For
the
record my hand is getting crossed and to answer that question, if
I am satisfied with academic life at
Managed Cum,
I say yes even if
is perceived that there's some deficits in the recent years.
I'm receiving a much better education than I would in, say,
COIIC because Monetichum is a school
that knows how to push you and excel you to the next level.
It's great to hear. Thank you.
Thank-you. Think both.
Are there additional slides or
additional presentations that we're going through?
Yes, we have the-
Sorry, it's we got to ensure that we keep everything on public record
Thank you
For the record this is David Langford the superintendent of Mountage come we have online the director for
Nana
dormitory and I
would like her to
Talk for a bit and you can ask her some questions about dorm life
Senator Keon.
Thank you, before we do that, the one question is the four teacher positions, I think three full time and a part time.
What courses went away with?
Primarily electives, so that's the way schools work.
You have to make sure you've covered all the core subjects, and
that was probably another hit of why students left, because it's not as many elective's available as was in previous years.
Are you able to give us a sense of which ones, maybe not the full list from memory?
We actually have the academic principle here, and I'm sure she can do that.
But if we have Debbie Littledog online.
We do.
Hi.
If you could please identify yourself the record.
And did you hear Senator Heales' question, or do you need him to reframe?
This is-
Yeah.
I apologize, Ms. LittleDog.
We're going to answer the question that Senator Keel asked first.
For the record, this is Miranda Bakkam, the academic principal here at Mount edge come
Yes, so you asked about the question the teachers that left the four positions. So one was Japanese
When was CTE half it was half C TE half PE
We did not feel the sped position this year we're using CERC
It was a very late resignation two days before graduation and a lot of people have contracts
by that point and I don't remember the other one but I can look it up.
but we did add several courses,
so I did work with the teachers that we still have remaining,
and I do have numbers if you wanted to know.
But like regarding dual enrollment,
we have 11 sections of dual-enrollment classes.
We have over 25 CTE,
and so we are working with,
we partner with UAS to do,
we added 10 sections
of welding shop 101 this year with languages.
We had ASL 1, 2, and 3 in NUPAC,
Illisovic College and we have Spanish one and two and
we also offer a clinket with UAS.
We do have six sections of music, 14 sections
of PE, eight of art,
eight science, and then we added some new classes
that we haven't offered before, like theater.
We have three AP Bio, AP Calc,
AP Comp and Lit, so we really still try to offer.
Even if it's a little bit less than last year,
we do quite a bit.
And we still have cutting edge, photography,
digital storytelling.
We added Driver's Ed, that person retired last
year but we were able to get that this semester
That is a need because it is barrier for our students.
Yearbook tech internships, ground school for anyone that wants to be a pilot.
We added a teaching Alaska's future with UAF, Intro to Health Careers with the UAS, ETT EMT.
So.
Thank you and I apologize as I might say you're in the last name incorrectly, Ms. Baca?
Yes, correct.
Ms Baka, if you could just get the list of the.
Teachers who were let go taught and then we can share that with the rest of the committee members the list of names or subjects subjects, please, okay?
Later
So
Can we talk to miss a little dog now? Yes, sir
Miss little dogg can you hear us?
I can can hear me. We can if you could please identify yourself at the record and begin your remarks
Yvette, I'm Deputy Little Dog and the Director of Dorm Management for Nana and we came into
this contract.
We are new as you've heard multiple times today and Mount Edge come as a legacy contract
for us, one of our former presidents of Nanna was a graduate of Mount edge come and with
So many students here, right now we have 31 students from the manna region that attend school here as well as all the other students
from all of the regions across the state.
When we came in, as you've already heard, I helped me to reiterate, there was a lot of chaos.
Things lived that way.
We've spent a lotta time trying to clean, paint, you know, just kind of get the dorms back where they were in.
what we would consider livable condition.
One of the things that changed this year is that the contract,
the contractor, us, had a number of things shifted over.
We picked up three of
the cultural positions from the state where they had normally been
hired under the school, under
the State Contract. There are resident life professionals.
and level of cultural activities that were provided when they worked for the state,
and I've been told even more. So one of our RLCs hosts seven dance groups at the school.
Every week we have the culture room open, we're teaching beating circles,
custom making, they cook, made seal soup in there a couple of weeks ago, seal oil. And what we hear
all the time from students. This is where I feel like I'm at home. Kids come in and when they
start cooking, they just start gravitating toward the cultural room and they're like,
oh, it smells like home here. So we've all had a lot of work to do and I am sure we'll still
continue to have a whole lot to. But it's a joy to work with the students here,
it is wonderful to partner with Dr. Langford. He has been amazing. Dr Maka is amazing and
Take our job very seriously in terms of partnering closely with them and trying to solve the problems
That need to be addressed this year
Thank you miss little dog. Are there any questions? I?
Don't see any here. Thank You again for joining us here in Senate education any additional comments, mr.
Oh, I apologize any Additional comments
Just
Just the idea that we are dealing with a lot of situations
that is not just last year or this year,
but maybe a decade worth of neglect
that has things have not been taken care of
and moved to the next level.
So we're moving as fast as we can to make changes
and update the school and it starts with.
Having good food to eat and have a great place to sleep and then great education and starting to move up from there
Looking forward to actually we're already starting the plan for next year about
New classes new ways to proceed started a school improvement
Process with all the teaching staff there every Monday afternoon to try to get them to the point of getting
being creative and innovative and you asked early Chair Tobin about the differences between
when I was here left in 1992. I'd say that was the biggest difference. In 1992 it extreme
innovation and creativity happening just about in every aspect of people taking trips around
the world with kids and doing all kinds of activities. When I came back this year
that's practically non-existent so I'd like to find ways to bring that kind of thinking
so that our students have a chance to have the global perspective of what they can do for the
state of Alaska. And Mr. Langford I just have one last question regarding your
time allocation. I know that you also are super intended in another school
district. And I'm curious, hearing, and of course, I
know, that, you have heard, we've all read the
sentinel story. We've seen some of the the stories online heard from families
and constituents.
I understand that this is a big undertaking for you,
and I am curious about how you're managing your time between these two
particular different districts. So, a year ago at this time,
I interviewed with the Chatham School District, wanted to come back to
that job, which was great, and started working with them.
They also had severe budget.
problems and had a $300,000 budget problem.
And I actually started working with them months
before I started employment with him on July 1st.
This idea about working
with Mount Edgecombe started to emerge
when I heard that the superintendent was resigning.
And then I start talking to teachers.
I talk to students.
I talked to parents.
And everything I had heard was not good at all.
And that's when I started putting my hand up saying, look, I could help.
And through Senator Waters,
I was able to get in contact with the commissioner and start having meetings with
the Commissioner. And first I thought, well, maybe I can just consult and help,
and then the idea came about, could I run both?
So I said, it won't do it unless I have the commitment from Chatham,
because they hired me first, and that was the first commitment.
So, i spent about a month and a half with
difficulties that might be for them or advantages might
be to them and ultimately left the decision up to
them that you know if you say it's okay then then I
will try that because the state was requiring that I
need to be living in Sitka at the time and fortunately
the board voted 50 to say yes let's let us try this.
to alleviate any fears that the Chatham's going to be like left
out or not being taken care of, I said, instead of having once
a year superintendent evaluation, let's do it every four months,
just do a quarterly. And that's worked out really well. So every
quarter I sit down with the board and go over what's working well,
what it's not working, any adjustments we need to make.
Probably the biggest difficulty for Chaddam is I'm not able to
be physically there every single day.
But any superintendent will tell you in the state that 80, 90 percent of your work is online now anyway.
And that's pretty much the way my day goes at Mount Edgecombe.
Maybe they're I'm either online with working for your Mount edge come or I am helping chat them in certain ways.
And day starts early like this morning.
Two phone calls from principals in chat and talking through issues they had before we even started the day here.
uh, envision being able to clone ourselves and you might have figured out to crack that
code. Uh, just, out of curiosity, if you could estimate the time allocation. So how much of
your day is spent focused on Chatham versus how many of your days spent focus on Mount
Edgecombe? Uh. You know, I don't, um, Madam Chair,
I, don t know that I could even quantify it that way because there are days of majority of the
day has taken up with Chatum issues that emergencies or grants or things that need to
be taken care of. And then there s other days that s almost completely Mount Edgecomb.
focus, but the difference is I'm on site at Mount Edgcombe and
My housing is there, et cetera.
So yes, I'm there.
I might mount Edgecombe much more of the time
than I am in Chatham.
So I've told all the principals in chatham,
and that was one of major reasons why I thought this might
work is the two largest schools in chat.
I already had experienced principals there
that I knew I could work with.
And then we hired a new principal in Cluquon as well.
And so that is working very well
Tinkey Springs was in danger of closing because they dropped below the tin threshold to even have a teacher at the school and so
there when I came on board there were talks about closing the
school down, even selling the facility. I was adamantly against that said no we
got to find ways to save this school not only for the community but for
the kids of the future. And so the prospect of having Tinokey become a
Correspondent school came about and so today it's a I think it is a success story
We have 43 students in correspondence
Not only students from the Chatham school district but throughout the state and that's continuing to grow and and
So now we have a half-time director and hopefully by next year
We'll have full- time director at that school, but if you ever get a chance to visit the tenonke and the school there that
It's a fantastic school for purpose-built school
for that community.
So someday, well, I do know that we have plenty of kids
being born there, and within the next few years,
we may be able to have a teacher there.
So...
Thank you. Well, thank you, sir.
Are there any final questions?
Senator Stevens.
I wonder if I could ask questions of the commissioner.
The commissioner has had a long decision career in education,
and I've seen you as a superintendent in Massoon and Anchorage,
and now in your positions commissioner,
unfortunately that ends in 10 months.
Of course, the commissioners sometimes get a point from
one governor to the next,
but can you tell me what your personal goals
are for Mount Edge come in the 10
months you have remaining?
What do you expect you can accomplish?
Sure, thank you for that question through Chair Tobin to Vice Chair Senator Stevens.
What we'd like to accomplish is stability, to have a plan forward and manage forward.
We look to work to, there is quite a few assets at Mount Edgecombe to really utilize
those assets in summers.
There's been quite few requests for usage of the dorms, the management and business
We look to maybe perhaps continue and to invest in that
To be able to put funds back so this is financially speaking funds, back into the the facility and grow that facility
Grow the education
Again for teachers, I believe in parents and students bring back from once we've come there is a lot of pride
leaders leaders around the state see that as our crown jewel of our state and we look
the decision-making for finding when actually Chatham approached me with this idea.
the experience of Mr. Langford and having been at the traditional set up of bringing it back,
look to do that the same. So great things for students to have happened. We want to work through
that so that opportunities are abound for Students in Alaska. And I believe that we can do
that. Change is difficult, especially change in a small place when not only your work but personal
or twine and I understand the struggles that are going on locally.
I do believe though that students are the most resilient of us all and can move on and
enjoy life and move forward.
And so you've heard the excellent education.
They feel they're getting.
I would second that and just seeing the opportunity.
But through Mr. Langford, I hope to move through this third phase and in this
I won't be here, but you know,
hopefully Mr. Langford and the students will come back
and tell you this is what we've built
and this what were proud of and
this was what doing and providing that back to this stage.
So really looking at the value of this school
and they honor that I have to serve alongside the people
there to get it to where they'd like it
to go.
Thank you, Commissioner. It's a lot to accomplish and we wish you the very best in getting all that done. Thank You
Thank, you president Stephen senator Bjorkman
Thank-you madam chair commissioner. Thanks for being here. Mr. Langford. That's nice to meet you
my question is
Is it possible for?
Any corporations or nonprofits or other entities that might exist or may form in the future is it possibly for them to provide?
building management services, possibly ownership,
ongoing maintenance of a school like Mount Edgcomb.
And then, how would that be calculated
into a funding formula for that building?
So, could say a group of corporations
get together for some consortium,
purchase the school buildings, provide maintenance,
and then lease that back to the state.
Through the chair to Senator Bjorkman, I'm sure all things are possible, but this is an ownership of the state and so I
believe that the
It wouldn't be done in 10 months, but I mean anything's possible if people want them to do it
But that's where I would start is that this is the state ownership
And would that want to be let go to someone?
I'm not sure that people would feel that trust isn't there yet that that would occur
but, I believe with the partnerships that are already established and
Really the leaders of our corporations many of them are especially our tribal corporations are Mount Edgecombe and have huge ties
I believe can be built strongly.
Hopefully we can build that trust quickly.
But I haven't penned out that business partnership
or business thought, but I always come to the mind
that we put the smartest people in the room
and people that have the levers to move things,
they can move thing, so.
That's-
Senator Tillman, may I address that question?
Please do.
Senator Bierkerman, through the chair.
As a-
running a business for thirty years and uh... being a former educator often had
educators ask me you know i had
i want to get into the business of consulting i wanna do what you're doing
and they inevitably failed
not because they were good knowledgeable or good people they had no
business since they only understood at one half the quit the equation and that
is spending money
So, a good business knows you got to recruit, you gotta go out,
you've got bring customers in,
you have to have a product that you want to sell,
you had to work through that.
So when I arrived on the campus this summer,
I was also very sick that the whole campus
is sitting there empty.
And so here we have this multi-million dollar facility
sitting here all summer long.
We have an extended summer for four months.
And if we could get the...
the release to be able to have summer camps there.
We could almost every single week have wrestling camps,
basketball camps swimming competitive swimming camps
all kinds of things were charging money
and even charging people the students to come from
out of the state that bring their dollars here
and attend our camps.
So if we can get somehow get
the ability to do that, I really believe we could actually fund all of our student activities
through the summer camp operation. We also need to be able to have a summer program for students.
So many of students come to the campus not at the high school level at all. And to get them to four
education, and if we could have a summer program during the summer where some of our kids stand
for four weeks or some kind of intensive catch up kind thing, I think that would be very
popular with parents and very successful with the students.
So those are some the ideas I have.
Thank you, Senator Bjorkman-Fellow.
Thank for sharing those.
Yeah, this idea really stems from a situation not unique.
to your school in Mount Edgcombe, but across much of the state
where we have buildings that are in significant states
of disrepair, and we of large organizations
that may or may not be interested in providing some relief
to those situations.
And certainly when I hear about schools collapsing due
to snow load or students going to schools in hallways
because the rest of their rooms
in their school buildings are condemned,
I wonder if there are not some organizations out there
that might be willing to provide some more immediate relief
to those situations than what the current scheme provides.
And so my question then is a theoretical one for now
but I'm wondering about how it would work
is how could it work that a corporation or nonprofit
work to build a school, own the building,
maintain the school and then lease it back
to a School District.
This is for the record, this is David Langford,
the superintendent, so Madam Chair to Senator Borkman.
Obviously, we have that model because we
have the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska
campus, et cetera.
So there is that bottle within state systems and state
governments.
So I do think what you're saying is a possibility.
I think we'd have to figure out a lot of different mechanisms
because the state owns the property
and how that would work.
But I'd think it's doable.
Thank you.
Any, one more question, Senator Bjorkman.
Thank you very much.
So, Madam Commissioner, so we have charter schools.
And most of our charter school's aren't provided
with building space.
So they go out and get building spaces elsewhere.
That building, space might be owned by a municipality
or a borough, or it might provided
by different corporation or organization.
When a building is provided to a school whether it be a
traditional brick-and-mortar school a boarding school or a charter school is
Is the provision of that building at less than a market rate maybe or of a fair and true value?
lease agreement is that counted against any local contribution of any kind or how how does the contribution
Of that Building work in relation to funding formulas
I may need a shout out, but I'm through the chair to Senator Bjorkman.
I am familiar with many, many different ownerships of buildings and
having schools and strip malls and things like that.
But the really operational cost of that is an expense and a revenue.
I m not sure what part of the that would be against the basic need.
That would part that local contribution.
are rented and rented facilities.
Certainly you have rentals.
That's part of additional revenue that schools make.
Not necessarily to yourselves sometimes,
but they rent them at night, you know, lots.
So you'll see on the chart of accounts,
there's additional revenues.
Many of those are through rentals,
but so that would be revenue types.
And then many schools, I would say that more expenditures
per those as well, coming out of if you don't own the facility.
Many school districts, and they're not charter schools,
they just literally have programs in different types of buildings.
But that would be an operational expense for the rent.
I'm not sure how that works, but that might be something for
the other than that, you do rent facilities,
even if they are not rented at schools just at night,
you would mark that as other revenue, in a place that your district is, things run differently
because your borough actually does the majority of your maintenance. So that operates very
differently. They would ask that their in kind would count against their basic need,
whereas in other areas that run their own maintenance, that idea of in-kind would really
be treated very differently, yeah. Thank you for that response. I have a couple additional.
I'm going to cut you off here in about three minutes.
Thank you.
So as I look at this model and other models that really provide
kind of what I would call duplicative educational options
for kids, they have schools available in their home communities
and now we have this option as well.
And when we see schools with budgetary problems and
School districts are looking at option. We're going to close the school. That's what's happening across the state
My question is as I look at this situation as
I am I'm sensitive that many legislators feel your school is really important and special
But many many other schools around the State are not getting this level of attention and they say oh ho hum business as usual
We are going close to school
Like that's that the reality that any families and students are facing
So, please be aware of that.
You are being treated very specially to other kids that don't, they're not getting this
attention.
It's, your school's closed, tough luck, go somewhere else.
So I'm wondering about like, how do we continue this process where we can continue to provide
such a variety of educational choice and then we pretend that it doesn't cost more money.
We are not wildly and efficiently spending educational dollars when we continue to duplicate
educational opportunities across the state. If we're going to be wise at spending our educational money
shouldn't we try to streamline our processes?
shouldn t we tried to make things take advantage of economies of scale and
make sure that kids get the best education they can in their home community.
That may not be possible in many communities on the keynote peninsula next year
Certainly more after that
Because the attitude is well your building's old you might need a boiler
Your population attending your school is down. We're gonna close your School
So I wonder as we have conversations in my district about that
Why this is a special case something I'm thinking about. Thank you
Thank you, thank you senator bierkman. I think many of us feel
This has been a very difficult conversation to have in light of all of the reporting around the current state of education services and facilities across the state
With that as seeing no other additional comments or questions from committee members
This concludes our agenda for today. The Senate education committee will not meet on Friday
I do want folks to note that on Wednesday, February 18th, the House and Senate Education
Committees will meet jointly to hear from municipal leaders from across the state who
will be in Juneau for the Alaska Municipal League's 2026 Winter Legislative Conference.
That will at 8 a.m. in the Davis Committee Room.
As there is no other business before the Committee today, I will adjourn us at 4.53 p. m.