Association of
Alaska School Boards
E-NEWS
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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
December 14,
2006
-- EDUCATION TRANSITION TEAM MEETS AGAIN
ON SATURDAY
-- DEMOCRATS OUTLINE EDUCATION AGENDA
PRIORITIES
-- SCHOOL BONDS GET SPOT ON APRIL BALLOT
-- TEACHERS TO VOTE ON AUTHORIZING STRIKE
-- MURKOWSKI PRAISES FINAL PASSAGE OF
NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES ACT
-- IN DILLINGHAM, NUTRITION COUNTS
-- EARLY EDUCATION, INVOLVED PARENTS ARE
KEY (COMMENTARY)
EDUCATION TRANSITION TEAM
MEETS AGAIN ON SATURDAY
The second meeting of the GovernorÕs Transition Team for
Education is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 16. An initial meeting of team on
Dec. 9 focused on six major issues:
-- Attracting and retaining
quality educators
-- Fiscal plan and
accountability
-- Parent engagement
-- Early childhood education
-- School safety
-- World-class education
system
In addition to Carl Rose,
executive director of AASB, the transition team has expanded to 16 other
members, including:
-- Larry LeDoux, Chair Kodiak
administrator
-- Stewart MacDonald Kodiak
curriculum administrator
-- Jeff Stephan Kodiak
School Board member
-- Leslie Hajdukovich Fairbanks
School Board member
-- Duane Guiley SESA
(formerly DOE Finance Director)
-- Pat Shire Department
of Labor
-- Lindsey Wheels Early
childhood
-- Tracie Culbert Special
education
-- Jim Smith Galena
superintendent
-- Jerry Covey Former
EED commissioner
-- Melissa Hill UAF
– Alaska Teacher Placement Center
-- Sandy Kowalski Northwest
Arctic administrator
-- Bill Bjork NEA
-- Kathy Chapation Mat-Su
teacher
-- Elsa Argento Retired
teacher
-- Glen Beagle Radio
host representing advocates for ÒchoiceÓ
ÒThe meeting was organized
in such a way that we formed three small groups, each charged with tackling two
of the six major issues,Ó Rose said. ÒEach small group reported back out to the
whole group É it gave us the opportunity to get the Ôbig rocksÕ on the table
for the new administration to prioritize. If other transition teams are doing
similar things, Governor Palin will have a good vantage point from which to
move forward.Ó
A draft report will be
discussed at the meeting on Dec. 16.
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DEMOCRATS OUTLINE EDUCATION
AGENDA PRIORITIES
Congressional Democrats say when they take the gavel from
Republicans next month they will put money in the pockets of college students
and closely examine a law reforming elementary and secondary schools. How they
will pay for their plan isnÕt clear. See full story here:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/12/12/democrats.education.ap/index.html
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SCHOOL BONDS GET SPOT ON
APRIL BALLOT
The Anchorage School Board on Monday unanimously approved two
bond proposals worth $85 million for the April 2007 citywide ballot, but at
least one of them could face a tough sell. Pollster Ivan Moore told the board
that the larger of the two propositions -- $65 million to replace Clark Middle
School – could be doomed. See full story here:
http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/8486320p-8380072c.html
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TEACHERS TO VOTE
ON AUTHORIZING STRIKE
The Anchorage teachersÕ union, which has
been haggling over a contract with the Anchorage School District for more than
a year, plans to take a strike authorization vote Dec. 19, the day before a
scheduled three-day arbitration session begins. But parents donÕt need to
prepare for a strike just yet. See full story here:
http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/8484613p-8378357c.html
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MURKOWSKI
PRAISES FINAL PASSAGE OF NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES ACT
Senator Lisa Murkowski praised the
Senate for approving H.R. 4766, the Esther Martinez Native American Languages
Act of 2006. The legislation passed the Senate and now heads to the presidentÕs
desk. See full news release here:
http://murkowski.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=266751
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IN DILLINGHAM,
NUTRITION COUNTS
At 7:30 one recent morning, Patty
Luckhurst began baking the dayÕs bread: 384 whole-wheat dinner rolls. Four
hours later, one of those rolls occupied the upper right corner of every molded
plastic lunch tray in the Dillingham Elementary School lunchroom. Next to it
was a scoop of ubiquitous boiled green beans, a serving of cranberries and a
carton of milk. The centerpiece of the meal: a scoop of au gratin potatoes and
a few squares of ham. See full story here:
http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/8484557p-8378273c.html
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EARLY EDUCATION,
INVOLVED PARENTS ARE KEY (COMMENTARY)
We should do everything we can to make
sure all children, regardless of background, share in this stateÕs great
opportunity and wealth. ThatÕs why improving our schools and improving the
opportunities of children to learn are so important. We can take a big step in
improving our schools for a small cost by working together to get more parents
involved in their childrenÕs education. ItÕs something thatÕs achievable this
coming legislative session. See full commentary here:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/8484570p-8378278c.html
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Association of
Alaska School Boards
...promoting BOARD STANDARDS through...
Vision Structure
Accountability Advocacy Conduct-Ethics
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