The Kenai Peninsula Board of Education on Monday night, October 2nd, passed a resolution proposal for the Association of Alaska Schools Board (AASB) regarding human and sex trafficking in the State of Alaska. Specifically, the resolution proposal asks the AASB to address these forms of trafficking by instituting recognition and awareness training for educators.
According to the background information provided with the proposal, without a resolution, the AASB cannot take a position if approached by the legislature, or other parties. As such, AASB solicits resolutions, resolution amendments and comments from local school boards for consideration. The resolutions provided guide the AASB, as well as guide advocacy and positions during future legislative sessions.
“With the support of the entire board, we are hopeful that a AASB will accept this resolution, and we will be able to work together to prevent human and sex trafficking,” said Board President, Debbie Cary.
The resolution to be proposed by the Board of Education states, “prevention of human and sex trafficking starts with training and awareness of the warning signs and identification of behaviors of at-risk minors.”
The proposal cites a documented history of sex trafficking in Alaska. Specifically, a 2017 study done at the Tanana Chiefs Conference states “1 in 4 females at Anchorage’s covenant house had been trafficked for sex, and of those youth 42% were Alaska Native.”
Several board members expressed their support of the resolution proposal.
“I’ve been concerned about this for a long time, all around the country, all around the world, and in Alaska,” said Penny Vadla. “And I think that this resolution will be out there so that we have people to monitor this, and look into this, and make sure that this doesn’t continue to happen.”
“This is a surprise for me, but more I’ve been reading about it and learning about it, I think it’s very important. Another one of our responsibilities is to help protect our young people,” said Patty Truesdell.
This year consideration of resolutions submitted to AASB membership by school districts will be reviewed at the 2023 Annual Conference on Nov. 9-12th in Anchorage.
