Passed Resolutions: October, 2004
Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals

AAESP Resolution Committee
Tim Doran, Chair
 
AASSP Resolution Committee
Denise Greene Wilkinson & Rick Chrisman Co-Chairs

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-01

FINANCIALLY SOUND RETIREMENT PROGRAMS

WHEREAS, financially sound and competitive Alaska Teacher Retirement (TRS) and Public Employee Retirement (PERS) pension plans serve the public welfare by attracting and retaining the best support staff, teachers and administrators in the country; and

WHEREAS, financially sound retirement programs include medical benefits for retirees and their families; and

WHEREAS, the ability to receive credit for unused sick leave offers TRS employees incentives which save districts money while improving instruction; and

WHEREAS, the retirement system increases have been exacerbated over the years by the lack of statutory requirement for a comprehensive long-term cost analysis of benefit changes; and

WHEREAS, the retirement system requires exploring ways to contain costs and assist school districts in covering ongoing unexpected increased costs; and

WHEREAS, the recent employer mandated increased costs to school districts are prohibitive and require legislative relief; and

WHEREAS, supplemental funding is required in order for school district to cover the huge increases; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals support a fair and strong and competitive retirement program for public school employees, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Associations request legislative action to continue to fund the recent increases in the TRS and PERS programs, that no additional benefit changes are implemented that would add to the retirement systems burden, and pursue a long range protection plan for these retirement systems.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-02

FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

WHEREAS, success as a school district and as a state in complying with Alaska's performance standards and the federal requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) requires funding sufficient to meet the requirements of law and the educational needs of our students; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals accept responsibility for raising student achievement for all students, and for the efficient and effective use of resources; and

WHEREAS, a safe, efficient, and technologically appropriate infrastructure is an essential ingredient in achieving academic success; and

WHEREAS, academic achievement also depends on our schools having highly qualified and committed employees; and

WHEREAS, appropriating an adequate amount of funding for education is the responsibility of policymakers; now

THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals believe our policymakers must appropriate sufficient funding for our public schools to meet the requirements of law and the educational needs of our students.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-03

SUPPORTING FULL FUNDING FOR TRS/PERS

WHEREAS, the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals believe in and supports the Alaska Teacher Retirement (TRS) and Public Employee Retirement Systems (PERS) as an important element in attracting and keeping capable employees; and

WHEREAS, school districts are struggling to meet basic costs of payroll, benefits, utilities, books, teaching supplies and maintenance; and

WHEREAS, effective Fiscal Year 2006 employer costs for TRS and PERS will increase for the second consecutive year, and to roughly the same degree as previously increased in Fiscal 2005; and

WHEREAS, these continuing and new increases will require reduced services in other areas of school district operations, because school districts are required by the State to maintain the district share of these programs and are thus mandated to absorb these much higher costs; and

WHEREAS, the State retirement programs are critical to its members for long-term financial planning and support; and

WHEREAS, despite recent increased appropriations by the Alaska Legislature, funding increases to school districts and other local governmental agencies have not kept up with inflation over the past ten years; now

THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals recommend that the State of Alaska bear its rightful responsibility for supporting TRS/PERS programs, including any and all cost increases to them.; and

THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals believe our policymakers must appropriate sufficient funding for our public schools to meet the requirements of law and the educational needs of our students.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-04

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

WHEREAS, funding for public early childhood education is no longer available to Alaska's schools and families; and

WHEREAS, research is clear and consistent that the benefits for early childhood education are significant and important to the educational development of young children; and

WHEREAS, the children most impacted by the decision to eliminate funding for early childhood education are the least likely to find alternate educational programs; and

WHEREAS, early childhood education should be a priority of all Alaskans who desire to see educational improvements; now

THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals support early childhood education and the funding of programs that will offer early public education opportunities for at-risk children.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-05
(ACSA Joint Resolution)

HOLD HARMLESS

WHEREAS, school districts are negatively impacted by loss of funds due to decreased enrollment; and

WHEREAS, districts are not forward funded; and

WHEREAS, districts do not know actual State revenue until the first of November; and

WHEREAS, districts are required under current laws to notify tenured teachers of their contractual status by March 16; and

WHEREAS, districts are required under current laws to notify non-tenured teachers of their contractual status by the last day of the school term; and

WHEREAS, districts are not currently allowed to carry more than 10% of their budget forward; and

WHEREAS, the loss of funding communities can have large, unexpected negative effects on the budget of the district; now

THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals encourage the Legislature to reinstate the hold harmless provisions that were previously in statute; and

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that these reinstatements be on a graduated scale to take into account the size of the district and the volatility of student enrollment.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-06
(ACSA Joint Resolution)

BOND DEBT REIMBURSEMENT

WHEREAS, the voters have supported several local and statewide bond initiatives for school construction and major maintenance; and

WHEREAS, the public was informed that local and statewide bond efforts would receive State support in the repayment of the bond effort; and

WHEREAS, the planning of construction projects and major maintenance efforts were carefully considered with anticipated budget information secured from a variety of sources, including information from the State of Alaska; and

WHEREAS, a significant reduction in the repayment schedule from the State of Alaska will adversely affect local budgets at an extremely challenging time; now

THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals support full funding of previously approved bonds as they were presented to the people of the local communities and a continued debt reimbursement program that also allows participation by districts unable to bond.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-07
(ACSA Joint Resolution)

COMPREHENSIVE FISCAL PLAN

WHEREAS, the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals include the educational leadership of public education in Alaska; and

WHEREAS, public education is a significant economic force throughout the State educating in excess of 134,000 students and employing more than 10,000 teachers, administrators and support personnel and responsible for more than one billion dollars; and

WHEREAS, the economic vitality of the State impacts education's ability to conduct the business of operating Alaska's schools and school districts; and

WHEREAS, the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals are eager to support a responsible and committed effort to address the fiscal challenges Alaska currently faces; and

WHEREAS, the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals believe Alaska needs a comprehensive fiscal plan to address the priorities of the State in relation to the available resources and desired services; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals support a long term approach including budget discipline, and use of Permanent Fund earnings, and a contribution from all people who live and/or work in Alaska; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals support using earnings from the Permanent Fund as one part of a sound and responsible solution to increasing revenue to meet services and obligations of the State of Alaska, and in determining essential state services as provided in the State Constitution.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-08
(ACSA Joint Resolution)

ASSAULT OF SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

WHEREAS, State statute provides for specific terms of imprisonment for crimes committed against certain public employees, peace officers, firefighters, etc. in the performance of their official duties; and

WHEREAS, School employees deserve the same level of respect and protection under the law;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals urge that Alaska's criminal code or sentencing guidelines be revised so that an adult convicted of assault on a school employee during or because of the performance of official duties will receive a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment similar to that imposed upon an adult who assaults a uniformed or otherwise clearly identified peace officer, fire fighter, correctional employee, emergency medical technician, paramedic, ambulance attendant or other emergency responder engaged in the performance of official duties at the time of the offense.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-09
(ACSA Joint Resolution)

LIABILITY FOR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY BY MINORS

WHEREAS, Vandalism damages a school district's physical plant, has a negative impact on student learning, and demoralizes hard-working staff and students; and

WHEREAS, Every dollar spent on repairing vandalism is a dollar we cannot invest in textbooks, teachers or technology; and

WHEREAS, In 2003 the Alaska Legislature took the first step by increasing the amount School districts can recover from either parent, both parents, or the legal guardian of an unemancipated minor under the age of 18 years who, as a result of a knowing intentional act, destroys real or personal property belonging to a school district from $10,000 to $15,000 for a parent without an insurance policy to $25,000 for a parent with an insurance policy that would compensate a claimant for civil damages; and

WHEREAS, Vandalism damages to a school district's physical plant often exceeds the maximum allowed by law; and

WHEREAS, While money alone cannot solve the problem, we must hold the vandals and their parents or guardians accountable;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals encourage the Legislature to increase the maximum amount that may be recovered to the actual amount of damages.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-10
(ACSA Joint Resolution)

FUNDING FOR HIGH-COST SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

WHEREAS, Alaska's public schools desire to meet their legal and educational responsibilities to provide effective education for all students, regardless of severity of disability or location in the state, and

WHEREAS, these responsibilities include the obligation to provide services in the least restrictive placement and manner appropriate to the child, and

WHEREAS, recognizing the much higher costs of educating children with extreme needs, the Alaska School Foundation Program has long provided Intensive Services funding to defray higher costs, and

WHEREAS, even where provided, Intensive Services funding has not reflected actual excess costs in comparison to other special education programs, and

WHEREAS, the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has revised qualification requirements for Intensive Services funding for high-cost special education services, and

WHEREAS, these revisions have the effect of reducing state fiscal support to schools providing high-cost special education, related services, accommodations, and supports, and

WHEREAS, these funding revisions reward only very restrictive placements and services, and do not support less restrictive placements and services which may be equally costly or nearly so,

WHEREAS, these revisions thus appear to use restrictiveness of placements and services rather than actual costs as qualifiers for funding, and

WHEREAS, these revisions appear calculated primarily to reduce costs of state fiscal support for schools that are obligated by the Department to provide high cost special education, related services, accommodations, and supports to increasing numbers of children, now

THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED, that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals object to reduced state fiscal effort for schools that provide high cost services appropriate to the needs of children with significant disabilities, and object to any funding qualifier that is conditioned on restrictiveness of services rather than excess costs.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach

 

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Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
Resolution 04-11
(ACSA Joint Resolution)

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACT FUNDING

WHEREAS, Alaska's public schools desire to meet their legal and educational responsibilities to provide effective education for all students, regardless of severity of disability or location in the state, and

WHEREAS, these responsibilities include the obligation to provide services in the least restrictive placement and manner appropriate to the child, and

WHEREAS, recognizing the much higher costs associated with educating children with special needs and that I.D.E.A. funding is crucial to support this effort; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals ask the Alaska Congressional Delegation to support full funding of I.D.E.A.

ADOPTED by Alaska Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals this 19th day of October, 2004.

AAESP President, Barbara Nagengast AASSP President, Joe Braach