As state legislators begin their current session with a packed docket, and perhaps no issue at the forefront more than education funding, the Kenai City Council adopted on Wednesday night its own resolution requesting the state make a “meaningful increase” to the Base Student Allocation (BSA).
Many governmental bodies around the state have already adopted similar resolutions, like the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly earlier this month. In fact, Kenai City Council members debated the purpose of such a resolution for more than an hour during the meeting.
Council member Phillip Daniel referenced Mountain View Elementary’s recent loss of a music teacher. “He took a job in the lower 48 because he got a deal he couldn’t refuse, and I can’t fault him for it. It was a great opportunity for him, but the kids all loved him, and they haven’t been able to find a replacement. So, there’s something we said for a competitive package for teachers here.”
Many in the state have echoed this sentiment. Namely, that an increase to the BSA would go a long way in retaining teaching staff in Alaskan schools.
Critics of the resolution argued it was unnecessary and outside the purview of the Kenai City Council.
“Your authority vested in the city’s Charter allows you the privilege of this resolution and yet there is nothing, I repeat nothing, in your Charter that makes this subject part of your official duties and responsibilities,” said Kenai resident, Duane Bannock. “Don’t vote it down. Just do what you did a year ago–wisely–just set it aside.”
“This resolution was brought forth because I saw the resolution that the borough assembly had brought forth,” said Councilmember Alex Douthit. “They went into a lot of more detail, and I purposely wanted this not to be so much detailed with the specific numbers, [I] wanted to leave it more open. There’s a lot of other people involved with school districts and state funding that can come up with the exact numbers or what might be needed, but I do see that there was a need for funding and so that’s why I brought this up.”
After a the council took a brief break to discuss minor amendments to the resolution, it was adopted by a final vote of 5-2.