E-NEWS

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

Association of Alaska School Boards, 1111 West 9^th 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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AASB E-News

January 31, 2008

--EDUCATORS WORRY FEDERAL ACT HURTS NATIVE CULTURE

--YUKON-KOYUKUK BOARD REJECTS TEACHERS CONTRACT

--DISTRICT FIRES ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ACCUSED OF DRUG USE

--MOOSE KILLED IN FRONT OF HOMER HIGH SCHOOL

--STEP INTO THE CLASSROOM AND OFFER HELP (COMMENTARY)

EDUCATORS WORRY FEDERAL ACT HURTS NATIVE CULTURE

Improving the No Child Left Behind Act and how it applies to Alaska Native students was the goal of a hearing in Anchorage this week. Several educators say the act is working but at the expense of Native language and culture. See full story here:

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=7794496

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YUKON-KOYUKUK BOARD REJECTS TEACHERS CONTRACT

The Yukon-Koyukuk School Board, at the urging of the district’s superintendent, has rejected a contract agreement with the district’s teachers. The union representing the teachers says it will not return to the bargaining table, insisting that the tentative agreement was signed off on by both the union and school district negotiators and should have been honored. See full story here:

http://newsminer.com/2008/01/30/11166/

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DISTRICT FIRES ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ACCUSED OF DRUG USE

An assistant middle school principal who is facing three felony drug charges was fired by the Anchorage School District. Mario A. Toro Jr., 43, was first placed on paid administrative leave, but Superintendent Carol Comeau says, “We feel we’re well within our rights to terminate him.” See full story here:

http://www.adn.com/education/story/299705.html

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MOOSE KILLED IN FRONT OF HOMER HIGH SCHOOL

With this winter’s heavy snowfall, seeing moose move into town isn’t unusual. But on Tuesday, when two moose positioned themselves near Homer High School’s front door, administration and staff became concerned about student safety. After repeated attempts to scare the moose away, police took action. See full story here:

http://www.homernews.com/stories/013108/news_1_005.shtml

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STEP INTO THE CLASSROOM AND OFFER HELP (COMMENTARY)

I supervise 30 people in a small space on a daily basis and expect 100 percent output. Many of the 30 regularly show up late or don’t come at all. Others often have attitudes and are noncompliant. I also do not have the option to fire anyone who does not perform to the standards of the job. I am a sixth-grade teacher in the Anchorage School District. See full commentary here:

http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/297186.html

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Association of Alaska School Boards

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

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

Website: http://www.aasb.org