Using his position of authority over students, Goldenview Middle School Principal David Nogg wrote to parents Monday, leaning on them to push the Legislature for more Base Student Allocation (formula funding) cash for schools. He pressed them to lobby the Legislature. Or else he’ll have to fire 9 teachers and one vice principal.
And he said that proposed budget calls for a reduction of nine full time teachers at Goldenview. and one of the two assistant principals. Those reductions he appeared to blame on the Legislature, although they are the choice of the school district and principal.
Every year the same thing happens. The education establishment and unions ask for the base student allocation to be raised, and every year since 2014 it is not raised, but one-time funding is added into the education budget, which ends up at roughly an equivalent to a BSA increase.
The principal’s request came at the same time the Anchorage School Superintendent told parents he would block immigration agents from entering school property. Superintendent Jarrett Bryantt effectively declared Anchorage public schools to be sanctuary zones for illegal immigrants.
“I am reaching out to you today with an urgent and deeply concerning issue that will have a profound impact on the educational experience of our students at Goldenview Middle School. Due to the district’s ongoing budget deficit, the proposed budget includes significant cuts that will dramatically alter our ability to provide the high-quality education and well-rounded opportunities that our students deserve,” Nogg wrote.
“Specifically, the proposed budget calls for a reduction of nine full-time general education teachers at Goldenview—equivalent to an entire grade level’s worth of classroom educators. Additionally, despite serving 930 students, our school is also losing one of our two Assistant Principal positions. These reductions will lead to larger class sizes and fewer course offerings, limiting the choices and personalized instruction that are critical at the middle school level,” Nogg continued.
“Beyond the classroom, one of the most devastating impacts of the budget cuts is the complete elimination of all co-curricular activities for our students. This means no sports, no National Junior Honor Society, no performing arts, and no other extracurricular activities that play a vital role in shaping well-rounded, engaged, and successful students. I have always encouraged our students to become well-rounded ‘Renaissance kids,’ and these cuts will severely limit their ability to explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and stay connected to their school community,” he wrote.
Then Nogg gave parents their marching orders:
“These cuts will not only affect Goldenview but will touch every school across the district. It is critical that our community makes its voice heard. I urge you to contact your legislators in Juneau and advocate for our students. Let them know how these budget reductions will negatively impact your child’s education and overall school experience.”
He added contact information to aid parents in their lobbying efforts.
Goldenview Middle School has 668 students and 35 teachers for a student:teacher ratio of 19, according to the State of Alaska Department of Education.
According to the Anchorage School District’s dashboard, it has 780 students.
U.S. News says the school has 626 students.
Principal Nogg puts the figure at 930 students, which is 19% higher than what the school district says.
About 45% of the students at Goldenview are grade-level proficient in reading and about 29% are proficient in math. Gov. Mike Dunleavy and conservatives are hoping to improve those scores by requiring accountability for education, something that has been lacking in the districts across the state.
In January, Anchorage Superintendent Bryantt said that the district has a deficit exceeding $100 million and he said it was driven by “more than a decade of flat state funding and rising costs due to inflation.”
Bryantt said “deep cuts are unavoidable, and their effects will be felt throughout our community,” and said that the funding needed was equivalent to $1,963 per student more than the existing base student allocation of $5,930 per student.
Last year’s one-time increase was $700 per student, which he argued left a gap of $1,263.
Meanwhile, for a variety of factors including the bad management of education in Alaska’s biggest city, Anchorage publicly funded schools have lost nearly 13% of their student enrollment since 2010, with a current enrollment of about 42,700. The parents have chosen to take their children to other alternatives, including private schools, homeschooling, and to the MatSu Valley.
