Gov. Mike Dunleavy told Alaska legislative leaders Friday that he will not extend the special session past its 30-day limit, sharply criticizing lawmakers for failing to take up his proposed education reforms.
The special session, which began Aug. 2, will end this weekend. In a letter to Senate President Gary Stevens and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, Dunleavy said he was “disappointed” the Legislature ignored the education items he placed on the call.
“The fact that Alaska ranks 51st in the nation in educational outcomes should have been addressed years ago,” Dunleavy wrote. “It should have been addressed in the last regular session. It should have been addressed in this special session. Yet it is clear that under the current leadership, there is no real interest in confronting the condition of Alaska’s public education system.”
Instead, the governor noted, lawmakers focused on additional funding without requiring improvements in performance. “The only result produced from this special session was additional money being appropriated to education with no expectations, no accountability, and no measurable outcomes required. That is not reform. That is not leadership. That is not what Alaska’s children deserve,” he wrote.
Dunleavy warned that if the Legislature again fails to enact reforms during the upcoming regular session, he is prepared to call lawmakers back into one or more special sessions.
“I have noted public statements from legislators that they intend to take up meaningful education policy in the next regular session,” he said. “I hope that proves true, but if past inaction is any indicator, I have serious doubts.”
The governor said his administration will watch closely when lawmakers reconvene in January.
“Our children’s future is at stake. They cannot afford more years of delay,” Dunleavy wrote.
Alaska Legislature’s 30-day zombie special session ends Tuesday … Or does it?
Special session: A Republican Overriders Caucus turns on governor and reverses his spending veto
Alaska’s legislators are beholding to the teacher’s union. That and re-election are their priorities.
That and their Federal per diem rate
education of dumb kids, from dumb adults doesn’t seem too far fetched. apples don’t fall too far from a tree. any teacher will tell you “little Johnny” is special, not dumb or ignorant like his neighbors child. until there are clear explications and standards, curriculums will just pass kids to the next grade.
no one is willing to teach to standards and benchmarks, no parent is willing to see their child held back. the bellowing about “how much money is spent” is specious at best given costs. used to be a pickup truck was $6K and kids were smarter, now trucks cost $100K and parents are happy to pay. of course no teacher should earn over $20K
outrageous, I could teach my own child with that kind of money. could you? you have the drive, intelligence and dedication to do that, then you should. should already be giving your kids the tools necessary to explore their creativity and drives. suprixingly most kids don’t, aren’t prompted to learn and create on their own, because the parents place blame somewhere else.
politicians, ministers and half the population is to blame since their child is exceptional. I remember friends espousing their “rainbow” children as special in the 80’s and 90’s. the kids lacked drive and ambition but were gifted and praised, expect the grades didn’t support the parents exertions. the kids also failed to thrive and join civilization in upward progress. mostly became early incels and stay at homes, curated and nurtured until finally the inevitable flop
don’t Balme others for the miserable failure of your kids. American society chased the illusions of yesteryear but without the efforts necessary to achieve progress. no jobs, no cars but more stupid kids chasing a dream not even taught in history classes. who needs history, who needs math.
finally, your society is a reflection of illusions you accept from the pulpit and the “elected” policy class. you gave up the fight expect to complain to others “no one understands”. you bought the Reagan media of the 80’s about Cadillac moms eating lobster and getting SNAP
you forgot to hold yourself accountable for your actions, consequences and any children you spawn for two plus generations. apples don’t fall far from the trees, look at the falling SAT and IQ scores
Ooooooooo!!!!!
Another Dunleavy tantrum brought on because he refuses to listen to the legislature…
Is Mikey a sore sport sour puss 🙁
Simply put, Alaska’s public education system blob needs a good DOGEing.
“Alaska land of smart rocks and dumb kids”
Academics are so far down on all of the States communities to be non existent. Even the ones touted as Valedictorian and such are often subject to remediation at the university level, and do we want to talk about the crap that is and has been discoverer in our schools of higher education???
Here in Ketchikan, the school board’s bent is ‘Policy’. Policy this, policy that, so very little of academics as to label the district a ‘Child care’ organization.
Sports? O Boy, isn’t that a hoot, when you follow schedule of sports one has to wonder when the students attend classes. They are for ever traveling here and there. Topping it off, the number of holidays and contract days off pushes the boundary of continuity. As a last comment, at a drop of a hat, weather, or other inconveniences have the schools shut down. It’s a riot when you think about it, Education in Alaska is nothing but dollars flushed down the tube.
So, do I have solutions, yep, and those resulted in I and four other board members being recalled through the efforts of the militant NEA teachers with the assistance of the PTA’s (Where the successful parents participate and are convinced efforts to reach the failing and struggling 50+% will detract funds and attention from their loving darlings) stopped what could have addressed local Ketchikan failure and that was 24 years ago and today the status is as bad or worst.
So, I got a right to bitch and bitch I will.
Al Johnson-Ketchikan
Meanwhile…….Alaska public schools will keep educating kids about LGBTQ, DEI, climate action, colonization, police brutality, etc……..all of the wacko liberal Democrat agenda. Little wonder why Alaska is dead last in national testing scores. Our youngsters are being brainwashed by leftist crap at every grade level. But that’s intentional.
The teachers are too busy to teach as they are planning their next strike for raises and benefits. That way they can afford to pay their corrupt union dues so they can have a job.
When Republicans are ready to do more than write strongly-worded letters, let me know. Until then, I’ll continue to disregard them as pathetic enablers of Democrats.
Dunleavy was absent for much of the regular session, then tried to bully the legislature into taking on his agenda during the special session. The man has minimal leadership skills.
Huffing and puffing of a lame lame duck politician.
The sorry a$$ed group of legislators wasting public money during their circus shows could thwart the efforts of any ringleader no matter who that may be.
Take your blinders off and have a look at the entire train wreck that pushed the locomotive off the tracks.
We are paying well over $20,000 per year, per student!! My God. I guarantee, if I could have had $60,000 per year for my three kid’s education, they would have had an Ivy League level preparation. Our being charged this amount is insane.
I know a lot of people want to send blankets or water. Just send your cash.