The program will steady an often-inconsistent flow of school-construction dollars going to rural, unincorporated communities, linking that spending to the amount promised to organized boroughs and cities.
Proponents had cited, as justification, court cases that found Alaska has failed to give villages and rural communities “adequate or equitable funding” for school construction.
Parnell signed the bill despite requests this spring that the program carry a sunset date to ensure it is reviewed after a few years. The bills lack no clause to change the grant formula if, for example, urban in-migration gradually shifts population demographics but Parnell nonetheless credited lawmakers with creating the plan and with passing a handful of other education-related bills.
“This is a significant step forward for education,” Parnell told an audience at the downtown headquarters of Doyon, Ltd.
The measure also extends in perpetuity the state’s promise to cover 70 percent of school construction debt in Fairbanks, Anchorage and other municipalities’ school districts. The Legislature had previously had to renew the promise every few years.
Funding for rural grants will be calculated by formula: For every dollar the state spends to help repay bond-funded school construction in organized areas it will also make money available for rural grants. The result this year would have meant over 3 cents in grant funding per Rural Education Attendance Area student for every dollar of outstanding bond debt.
The bill, pushed hard by Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel and co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, also includes a clause that will force the state to build schools to high energy-efficiency standards. The House’s Finance Committee added the clause during debate in April, which Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, said improved a “groundbreaking” bill that improves equity in funding for education in urban and rural areas.
The bill was Senate Bill 237. Other education bills signed by Parnell on Monday:
• Send a $397 million borrowing plan to voters in November. The plan would, if approved, finance a new “life sciences” center at UAF, immediately build three rural schools and fund education projects across the state (SB 424);
• Significantly expand tax breaks for firms donating to universities and career schools for scholarships, foundations, training programs and new buildings (SB 236);
• Create a grant program to help steer federal aid to charter schools (SB 235);
• Increase the debt allowance for the University of Alaska (House Bill 184).
Contact staff writer Christopher Eshleman at 459-7582.
i believe that natives must take care of themselves and learn to be more industrially independent. to overcome this obstacle there will be three key steps. recognize, accept, then overcome. okay, so where are the natives at? what should be recognized to the reason that they are where they are in this society? then accept the fact that there is a fight to be made to come into a social acceptance in the true american industrial society. but, one must not feel sorry for themselves to overcome this obstacle.
"and these communities of natives have been purposely set up far from any industrial opportunities of the true american dream."
Set up by whom?
Did not these people make their own choice as to where to live?
False accusations accomplish nothing, skinz.
He sure has been busy these last couple of months. I'm glad to see attention going to the rural communities. Now if we can just get him to do something about that Vet Board and the abuse they aimed toward Dr. Eric Jayne and the discrimination they have toward the rural Alaskans, then that would be just wonderful. We don't just need dentists and schools, we need a veterinarian too, and the Vet Board has been making that very difficult for us. Gov. Parnell has the authority to find a solution to the harassment and help us to protect our traveling veterinarians. Parnell's on a roll, just one more bill please, Vet Board member term limits.
Pamela Samash
Nenana
rural alaska has dirt roads, poor/old city structures, steady turn-over of school teachers who are required to be there for their first 3 years of teaching, no dental, bad water, and these communities of natives have been purposely set up far from any industrial opportunities of the true american dream.