Association of Alaska School Boards

E-NEWS

...your dues at work.

 

A weekly digest of education news for Alaska's School Board Members.

Association of Alaska School Boards, 1111 West 9th St., Juneau, AK 99801. Tel.

907-586-1083, Fax 907-586-2995. Carl Rose, Executive Director,

crose@aasb.org:    John Greely, Editor, jgreely@aasb.org. Review past issues of

the E-News on the AASB Website at <http://www.aasb.org>. To unsubscribe send an email stating the same to jgreely@aasb.org .

 

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Sponsored by Alaska Public Entity Insurance Co. <http://www.akpei.com>

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AASB E-News                                                                                        

January 25, 2007

 

 

--FAMILIES CRY FOR OVERHAUL OF CHILD CARE

--PROPOSED SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET CUTS HIT BONES

--DISTRICT PROPOSES OUTSOURCING BOYS HOCKEY

--NUMBERS OUT OF CONTEXT DONŐT ADD UP (COMMENTARY)

--TOBACCO PREVENTION GRANT AVAILABLE FOR K-12 SCHOOLS

--NSBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE: GETTING ENERGIZED IN SAN FRANCISCO

 

FAMILES CRY FOR OVERHAUL OF CHILD CARE

 

 Early-education advocates have armed themselves for the 25th Alaska Legislature with a 31-page report that, for the first time ever, gives a snapshot of child care in Alaska. Among the findings: Parents spend much of their paychecks to put youngsters in programs where teachers are often lower paid and less educated than people in other industries in the state. See full story here:

http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/8581698p-8474776c.html

 

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PROPOSED SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET CUTS HIT BONES

 

 Anchorage Schools Superintendent Carol Comeau has proposed boosting class sizes, cutting nearly 100 jobs, closing a school for at-risk kids and outsourcing boys high school hockey to partly close a $17.9 million gap in the 2007-08 budget. ŇThis is the beginning of a very difficult budget process,Ó she says. See full story here:

http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/8586493p-8479585c.html

 

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DISTRICT PROPOSES OUTSOURCING BOYS HOCKEY

 

 Anchorage School District Superintendent Carol ComeauŐs proposal to outsource high school boys hockey would save the district $244,400 a year and cost each playerŐs parents more money each season. Currently, baseball, softball and boys and girls bowling are the only sports outsourced by the district. See full story here:

http://www.adn.com/sports/prep/hockey/story/8586542p-8478913c.html

 

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NUMBERS OUT OF CONTEXT DONŐT ADD UP (COMMENTARY)

 

 Many people in the community are confusing the Anchorage School District dropout rate with the overall graduate rate – and getting one or both of them wrong – as they debate teacher salaries and contract issues and as they discuss the effectiveness of school programs. See full commentary here:

http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/8581733p-8474826c.html

 

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TOBACCO PREVENTION GRANT AVAILABLE FOR K-12 SCHOOLS

 

 A K-12 Comprehensive School-Based Tobacco Prevention grant opportunity is being issued by the Department of Health and Social Services.  Grantees will be school districts with the primary program objective of the creation, implementation and enforcement of strong tobacco-free school policies.

 

Successful school-based tobacco prevention programs incorporate five key components:

 

The K-12 Tobacco Prevention grant may be funded for up to 3.5 years of activity.  Grantees will be expected to address all five key components of effective school-based tobacco programs over the 3.5 years and participate in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and School Health Index (SHI).

 

The Request for Proposals was posted January 19th on the Public Notices website (http://notes4.state.ak.us/pn).  Those who wish to participate in the pre-proposal teleconference must call in using 1-800-315-6338 passcode RFP# between 3:00 and 5:00 PM Tuesday January 30, 2007

 

For more information, contact

Lauren Kelsey, MPH

School and Community Evaluation Specialist

Alaska Tobacco Prevention and Control Program

Phone 907-334-2603

E-mail Lauren_Kelsey@health.state.ak.us

 

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NSBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE: GETTING ENERGIZED IN SAN FRANCISCO

 

 The National School Boards Association invites you to attend the 67th Annual Conference in San Francisco, April 14-17, 2007.  The conference offers school board members and others a chance to learn from your peers, share your own successes and get energized for the upcoming year. NSBA helps you reach higher with innovations and proven approaches to inspire student success.

 

Whether you are new to the Conference or a veteran attendee, 2007 promises fresh perspectives with practical, applicable sessions and workshops. Not to mention the opportunity to network and share solutions with colleagues from school districts across the nation.

 

HereŐs whatŐs waiting for you in San Francisco:

http://www.nsba.org/conference/

 

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Association of Alaska School Boards

 ...promoting BOARD STANDARDS through...

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Association of Alaska School Boards

 

1111 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1510 Tel. 907-586-1083

Fax 907-586-2995 Email: aasb@aasb.org

Website: http://www.aasb.org