Gretchen Guess
Party affiliation: Democrat (School Board is a nonpartisan election and seat)
Occupation: Regional Director, Business Planning & Development, Providence Health & Services Alaska
Employment history:
Program Manager (Business Planner - Scorecard Management), Providence Health & Services Alaska
Senior Economic Analyst (Business Analyst), Alaska Communications Systems
Special Projects Coordinator & Federal Liaison, Alaska Department of Education, Commissioner's Office
Consultant and Doctoral Fellow, Rand Corporation
Intern, General Accounting Office, Educational Core Group
Member (Associate Member) Systems Research and Applications International
Assistant to the President, Carleton College
Previous public or community offices held (with dates):
Alaska State Senate, 2003-2007
Alaska State House, 2001-2003
Education:
M.S. Public Policy Analysis - University of Rochester magna cum laude
B.A. Economics - Carleton College
Spouse name:
Jeff Tyson
Children's ages and where they attend school:
Carolyn - 6 - K - Rilke Schule (German immersion public charter school)
Elliott - almost 5 - PK - Anchorage Montessori School
Website: www.gretchenguess.com
E-mail: guessak@gmail.com
Question 1. Why are you running?
Answer: I have a passion for education, my hometown, and the belief of excellence for every child. Our School Board should: (1) focus funding on the classrooms and the classrooms on instruction; (2) hold the district accountable to teach to every student while living within a sustainable budget; and (3) have a clear and effective communication with parents and the public. I will bring an experienced, common sense and positive voice to the School Board.
Question 2. What's the biggest problem facing Anchorage schools?
Answer: The unsustainable growth in the budget whose expenses are not articulated or understood by the residents/taxpayers of Anchorage, and whose value is too often only measured by only personal experience with the school system or its graduates.
Question 3. Which is more important, an increase in base state funding for schools, or funding Gov. Sean Parnell's proposed scholarships for students with acceptable grades and courses?
Answer: The governor's program so we can help students who desire for higher education or vocational training to be able to obtain it. State funding needs to be re-examined regarding how it funds special education, English as a second language, and hard to serve children. Currently it assumes each district in Alaska has the same proportion of these students who take greater resources when we know not all districts are the same.
Question 4. How good a job is Carol Comeau doing?
Answer: Carol has done a great job at being the face of the school district. I grew up in Anchorage, and I do not remember a superintendent who was as available, caring and supportive of all students, the district and community. Carol's willingness to listen to parents, students and the community far surpasses any previous superintendents.
Question 5. Rank the following in importance, and comment on your choices please:
Answer: A. Adding teachers to reduce class size
Adding actual classroom teachers or teacher aides (versus teachers in the building) should be the top priority because reduction in class size is one of the few things research says works for all students.
B. Offering comprehensive summer schools, k-12.
Until we can have a system that teaches and has excellence for all students, we must provide a means to catch up or we will loose these students. Additionally, we should encourage and support students who want to take go beyond the status quo and take more classes. We should, however, focus on the most cost effective manner to provide these services and focus on not waiting until summer to have kids "catch up."
C. Expanding vocational-education programs.
The majority of our students, of all students, do not go on to college. We have great opportunities in Alaska for trade careers; these Alaskans build and keep Alaska's economy going. Excellence means providing efficient and effective vocational options for all students.
D. Separate high school counselors for students at risk of dropping out.
Until we can have a system that teaches and has excellence for all students, we must provide means to kids before they fall through the cracks.
E. Adding pre-schools to public schools.
Pre-school is vitally important to the success of our educational system and our community. Research demonstrates a child's experience from birth to 5 has a profound impact on his or her learning. Every Alaska family should have access to high quality childcare and early learning experiences, which may mean integrating pre-kindergarten options into our public schools.
G. Library aides.
Library aides are important to our educational system and our community but not a top tier priority.
F. Helping middle schoolers explore careers and set goals.
Providing this help is important to the success of our educational system and our community but not a top tier priority; use of community resources (e.g., mentoring, career exploration opportunities) may play a more efficient role.
Not applicable for ranking.
Cutting the budget to lower property taxes
Cutting the budget is a School Board decision; lowering taxes is an Assembly decision.
Maintaining police officers in high schools
Public safety is a city issue, not a school district issue. If the city believes it should put police officers in the schools to keep our children safe, the Assembly and mayor should make that decision.
Question 6. School district spending is up 75 percent in the past 10 years. The 2011-2012 budget is $812 million, up from $789 million this year. What do you think about the rate of increase?
Answer: The rate of increase is unsustainable. We must clearly analyze and articulate the current spending as a first step. We must budget based on the value to the instruction in the classroom. Without such clarity and intentional budgeting, the consequences will be great of either keeping the status quo to keep the status quo or cutting to cut.
Question 7. Nearly 90 percent of the school district's general fund pays for people. As a School Board member, what directions would you give the administration regarding teacher and other contract negotiations?
Answer: All "people" are not represented personnel and subject to contract negotiations. Contract direction should be focused on value to the classroom and student, efficiencies of work rules with a focus on the value to the classroom and student, and control of benefits by the individual when possible. For example, people's health and therefore health care costs can be significantly influenced by people's choices regarding their health.
Question 8. If you had to make significant cuts to programs, where would you start?
Answer: School district administration; positions that do not have daily direct interaction with students; programs which are a community service but the community is using the schools as a vehicle for paying for these services.
Question 9. What major step would you propose for improving our schools?
Answer: If choosing one: expectation of curriculum differentiation for every school and every classroom. That is, the expectation the entire system teaches to all their students, leveling appropriately either within a classroom or school. The exception would be the alternative programs focused on a one-size approach/back to basics approach such as Northern Lights ABC, which is successful for their students but not a fit for all students.
Question 10. Numbers of poor, homeless and neglected children are rising in Anchorage schools. How should the district respond to this change?
Answer: The status of our children is a community issue -- and the solution and work should be at the community level. The city, district, state, not for profits, religious communities need to work together for these children, using the schools as a vehicle to serve them but not an expectation it is the schools responsibility or is part of the district budget.
Question 11. What volunteer work have you done in schools?
Answer: Like most working parents, we volunteer as much as we can in our children's school beyond the minimum of parent-teacher conferences. Most of our volunteering has been either helping out on field trips (with enough notice when we can), helping with the business back end of the schools by applying our specialized skills, and donating items the schools needs.
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David Nees
Party affiliation: Green
Occupation: Teacher
Employment history: ASD 1983-present, DAL global services 2005-present
Previous public or community offices held (with dates): None
Education: BA History Pacific University 1978, BA elementary education 1981 UAA, 90+ hours graduate level classes
Spouse name: Christine Nees Children's ages and where they attend school: Rosika Nees, 20, Linfield University; Mathias Nees, 22, Lewis and Clark State College
Website: Facebook Nees4 school board
Email: davidneesak@gmail.com
Question 1. Why are you running?
Answer: I have always believed in the kids of Anchorage. They are the state's future. I feel it is time to move the community back into its role as local control of the school district decisions.
Question 2. What's the biggest problem facing Anchorage schools?
Answer: A lack of clear purpose.
Question 3. Which is more important, an increase in base state funding for schools, or funding Gov. Sean Parnell's proposed scholarships for students with acceptable grades and courses?
Answer: Funding needs to be inflation proofed, Govenor Parnell's scholarship is an excellent idea but it is revenue negative. A better approach would to expand the excellent nursing school at UAA so that it can take care of the 3 year wait list. Students that complete the course should be forgiven their loans if they stay in Alaska for 5 years.
Question 4. How good a job is Carol Comeau doing?
Answer: She has done a great job at getting funding and expanding programs, but it is time to get a superintendant that can operate with less overhead, There are 112 desks in the HR department alone (fire exit map), the smallest place in the Boniface Center. If you extrapolate this then there are over 300 jobs in the Boniface Center alone.
Question 5. Rank the following in importance, and comment on your choices please:
Answer: 8 A. Adding pre-schools to public schools.
3 B. Offering comprehensive summer schools, k-12.
1 C. Adding teachers to reduce class size.
Best use of education dollars is student teacher ratio
2 D. Expanding vocational-education programs.
A must have. Two-third of students do not go to college. Let's get with the rest of the world.
5 E. Cutting the budget to lower property taxes.
There should be no multimillion dollar reserve account
4 F. Helping middle schoolers explore careers and set goals. Bring back wood shop, metal shop auto shop and drafting
6 G. Library aides. Books and libraries need to be expanded in elementary school, encourage reading and raise scores; nothing like a good book.
7 H. Separate high school counselors for students at risk of dropping out. Separate program out of regular school, by the time they get to high school most have failed for 3 years already in traditional school.
9 I. Maintaining police officers in high schools. As long as the Muni pays
Question 6. School district spending is up 75 percent in the past 10 years. The 2011-2012 budget is $812 million, up from $789 million this year. What do you think about the rate of increase?
Answer: The rate of inflation for the same period is 27%; teachers pay was raised 10% in the same period. So the remaining 38% of the budget is probably due to the district's added costs by building South, Eagle River, Begich. Unfortunately the budget process is so horrible no one can really see where the money goes. For crying out loud I can't even get the Chugach and Enstar without having the district authorize the release to me. For a public building?
Question 7. Nearly 90 percent of the school district's general fund pays for people. As a school board member, what directions would you give the administration regarding teacher and other contract negotiations?
Answer: Teachers salaries and benefits are not the problem; they lost all of the gains they made in 1979 in the 80s. Teachers today cost the district less than they did in 1979 in inflation correct dollars. The problem is the 2,200 other jobs in the ASD.
Question 8. If you had to make significant cuts to programs, where would you start?
Answer: All jobs at the Boniface Center need to be justified. The student nutrition which was funded with bonds as a way for the ASD to make money as a catering business, which does not have a single apprentice program, full day kindergarten also known as free day care.
Question 9. What major step would you propose for improving our schools?
Answer: Implement vocational ed, and apprentice programs districtwide in all middle and high school. Proficiency testing for entry into middle school, and high school. A minimum cut score or a credits earned.
Question 10. Numbers of poor, homeless and neglected children are rising in Anchorage schools. How should the district respond to this change?
Answer: The district does a great job with homeless kids; it is hard to break the economically disadvantaged cycle unless you demand effort.
Question 11. What volunteer work have you done in schools?
Answer: Helped add ethernet cabling to Springhill
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Roman R. Romanovski
Party affiliation: Non Affiliated
Occupation: Food Service Worker at The Bear Tooth
Employment history: I have worked at several restaurants in Anchorage.
Including but not limited to: Snow City Cafe, Orso, The Marx Brothers at the Museum, Cold Stone Creamery, Terra Bella and The Haute Quarter Grill
Previous public or community offices held (with dates): This is my first time running for public office
Education: Class of 2001 Chugiak High School, Eagle River
Graduated UAA 2008 with an Associates of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
Spouse name: Valentina Romanovskaia
Children's ages and where they attend school: No children yet but we plan on having kids as soon as possible.
Website: facebook.com/pages/Roman-Romanovski-For-ASD/
Email: richards_rainbow_revolution@yahoo.com
Question 1. Why are you running?
Answer: I am running because I feel I must do something. America is headed the wrong direction and our future is on shaky ground.
I believe we have abandoned our morals, values, neighbors and our constitution.
I will do everything I am capable of to reverse this trend. I can only hope to lead by example.
I am starting with our greatest asset. I am starting with the future generation.
I hope all the people that feel likewise will take action.
Question 2. What is the biggest problem facing Anchorage schools?
Answer: The biggest problem we face is our lack of local control. Our federal government is printing money and giving it to the state. As long as we take the money they can tell us what to do with our children. The federal and state government have made too many laws restricting and directing what our schools are to be. We know better than anyone else what the children of our community need. We need a system with more freedom to address the diverse needs of our student population. A system that can be responsive to our community.
Question 3. Which is more important, an increase in base state funding for schools, or funding Gov. Sean Parnell's proposed scholarships for students with acceptable grades and courses?
Answer: Both of these are important. I would like to see an idea similar to Parnell's scholarship proposal used to fund public schools. While the state is still receiving oil money we should be setting some aside and creating an educational permanent fund. A fund where the principal remains and the interest on investments are used to fund public education. We cannot rely on the state's oil tax revenue to finance our local school system. We need to make our education system sustainable.
Question 4. How good a job is Carol Comeau doing?
Answer: If her job is to beg the state and municipality for more money to grow the empire of the ASD and maintain her position then she is doing an excellent job. If her job is to please parents and unions, avoid controversy and achieve popularity she has done a fair job. If her job is to be a shrewd steward of public funds and anticipate the changing and dynamic needs of students, finding efficiencies and bringing fresh ideas to the ASD she needs improvement.
Question 5. Rank the following in importance, and comment on your choices please:
1 E. Cutting the budget to lower property taxes.
Per capita we are spending $200,000 on one child's education k-12. I feel like we are robbing people. I think I could do a better job than the ASD home-schooling my future children with only $100,000.
2 D. Expanding vocational-education programs.
I participated in the King Career Center's culinary program. I realize how important it can be to keep kids engaged. If we can give a child a skill that is directly relevant to their career path then we have succeeded.
3 C. Adding teachers to reduce class size.
Small classes are important early on in elementary school so teachers can recognize children that are behind and help them achieve the basics of learning. Later in schooling it becomes less important and in many ways large classes will help prepare students for the reality of college.
4 F. Helping middle schoolers explore careers and set goals.
It is important to get kids engaged in their future as early as possible. They need to be informed of the resources ASD offers and how we can help them with their goals.
5 B. Offering comprehensive summer schools, k-12.
I like the idea of year-round school for every student. It seems wasteful to let the massive ASD facilities go underutilized 25 percent of the year. The cost might be a problem unless we start graduating kids after nine years of school.
6 H. Separate high school counselors for students at risk of dropping out.
I am not sure if it would be more effective to counsel the student or the parent. If a student doesn't see the value in their education I am not sure counseling is the answer. Perhaps they need a different kind of education than the one we currently offer. An education more relevant to their unique situation
7 A. Adding pre-schools to public schools.
I think the costs are prohibitive. Most preschools cost far less than $16,000 a year per child, which is what ASD would probably spend to administer preschool. I am not sure the ASD could be competitive in this market.
8 G. Library aides.
We could probably replace most of these positions with computers.
9 I. Maintaining police officers in high schools.
We don't need to criminalize our youth. As a student I would find this intimidating. A school should be a revered and welcoming space where creativity and achievement flourish, a place of value to students and the community. People instinctively fear the police. Schools are not a place to be feared. I can't think of a single instance where having a permanent police presence inside a school would be beneficial. They can always be called in when needed.
Question 6. School district spending is up 75 percent in the past 10 years. The 2011-2012 budget is $812 million, up from $789 million this year. What do you think about the rate of increase?
Answer: I think inflation has a lot to do with these increases. We had a real estate boom and thus a tax revenue boom and thus a municipal and ASD spending boom. Now it is time to tighten our belts. We need to cut the fat, streamline the budget and create as many efficiencies as possible. I don't think our budget should get any bigger. I am shocked at its current size and would fight to keep the increases less than or equal to the rate of inflation.
Question 7. Nearly 90 percent of the school district's general fund pays for people. As a school board member, what directions would you give the administration regarding teacher and other contract negotiations?
Answer: This is related to the previous answer. We are going through leaner times and all of have to make sacrifices and concessions. I would ask unions to make concessions before going the route of privatization.
Question 8. If you had to make significant cuts to programs, where would you start?
Answer: I would defer to the community before proceeding with cuts. I think there are many creative ways to shift and reduce the costs of education before you have to start cutting. I would always pursue alternatives before cutting services you have come to expect.
Question 9. What major step would you propose for improving our schools?
Answer: We need to think green. Most of the schools I have seen are sprawling inefficient buildings. Improving their insulation to reduce heating costs and making sure future designs are energy efficient will save us money in the long run.
Question 10. Numbers of poor, homeless and neglected children are rising in Anchorage schools. How should the district respond to this change?
Answer: Our job is to teach children. We are not baby-sitters. We need to involve parents but we can't force them to love their children. I understand it is hard times. It will likely get worse before it gets better. Maybe we could turn our schools into nighttime volunteer homeless shelters. Just as long as we don't raise taxes to pay for it, otherwise we will be contributing to problem we are trying to solve.
Question 11. What volunteer work have you done in schools?
Answer: None
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Treg Taylor
Party affiliation: Republican
Occupation: Attorney
Employment history: I am currently an in-house attorney for an Anchorage based global money management firm. Prior to this, I worked at a downtown Anchorage law firm.Previous public or community offices held (with dates): I am a board member for the Great Alaska Council Boy Scouts of America.
Education:
Juris Doctorate, Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, April 2004
Bachelor of Science, Brigham Young University, Political Science, April 2001
United States Air Force Academy, July 1994 - July 1996
Spouse name: Jodi Jesclard Taylor
Children's ages and where they attend school:
Quincy (10), Northern Lights ABC
London (5), Northern Lights ABC
Romi (2), Already knows everything -- has no need for an education
E-mail: tregtaylor@gmail.com
Question 1. Why are you running? Answer: My two primary motivations are as a taxpayer and as the father of three beautiful daughters, two of which are old enough to attend elementary school. We have such an awesome opportunity to make our schools some of the best in the nation because we have amazing teachers and funding from the community that is more than generous. With the correct leadership, our students can escape from mediocrity and become the best in the nation.
Question 2. What's the biggest problem facing Anchorage schools? Answer: One of the biggest problems facing our school district is that no one seems to be tending the hen house. There is a lack of personal accountability at every level, including the school board, administration, teachers, parents and students. Without accountability it's impossible for any entity to prosper. The taxpayers have been extremely generous; our school funding is one of the best in the nation. We must be more accountable for how these funds are spent.
Question 3. Which is more important, an increase in base state funding for schools, or funding Gov. Sean Parnell's proposed scholarships with acceptable grades and courses? Answer: Neither of these items is more important than the other.
Question 4. How good a job is Carol Comeau doing? Answer: One of my major focuses is to bring about greater personal accountability. Our school budget has more than doubled over the past decade, yet student performance has remained flat. We have added over 32 football fields worth of square footage to our buildings (enough for 7,600 additional students) since 1996 despite the mainstream student population decreasing by 1,295. We've built museum-like schools (one at over three times the cost of a leading estimate). Most accountability lies with the school board but some with the administration.
Question 5. Rank the following in importance, and comment on your choices please:
Answer: 1. Adding teachers to reduce size.
We have many exceptional teachers that have pulled from the classroom to staff our growing administration. Our students desperately need these teachers back in the classroom. Class size is most crucial during the first few years of a child's education. Despite having a well-funded budget, the school board has voted to increase class size 2 times in the last 3 years.
2. Expanding vocational-education programs. Public schools have increasingly become focused on producing college ready graduates despite the fact that many students don't intend to go to college. Expanding vocational education will help expand their options and help them be better trained to join our workforce. It will also help keep these students from dropping out. Let's fill Alaska's need for skilled laborers with Alaskan graduates and not workers from the Lower 48.
3. Cutting the budget to lower property taxes. While not within the scope of a school board (our budget is primarily set by the Assembly), I will work hard to use our budget more efficiently and work toward allowing the Assembly to reduce the budget as a whole.
4. Offering comprehensive summer schools, k-12.
5. Maintaining police officers in high schools.
6. Library aides.
7. Separate high school counselors for students at risk of dropping out.
8. Helping middle schoolers explore careers and set goals.
Question 6. School District spending is up 75 percent in the past 10 years. The 2011-2012 budget is $812 million, up from $789 million this year. What do you think about the rate of increase? Answer: The rate of increase is alarming. It would not be so alarming if our children's performance had substantially increased and our students were some of the best in the nation. However, our test scores have remained flat and our student performance remains average. With only a small percentage of the budget making its way into the classroom and a 26.1 percent increase in general administration costs from 2008-09 to 2009-10, our budget is in desperate need of an overhaul.
Question 7. Nearly 90 percent of the school district's general fund pays for people. As a school board member, what directions would you give the administration regarding teacher and other contract negotiations? Answer: Outstanding teachers are worth their weight in gold and can have an amazing impact on students. We have many great teachers. They should be rewarded and should not be held down by contract salary limitations. Conversely, a bad teacher can destroy the gains made by excellent teachers that have come before. For the sake of our children, we need to stop protecting the few ineffective and incompetent teachers in the district.
Question 8. If you had to make significant cuts to programs, where would you start? Answer: We need to refocus our attention where learning occurs -- in the classroom between the teacher and the student. That should be our focus and that should be where our budget flows, not on a growing administration. We added 1,023 new employees this last decade, the vast majority of which were not added to classrooms. Before touching any programs that benefit our students we should make our administration and capital improvement process more efficient.
Question 9. What major step would you propose for improving our schools? Answer: We need expand our charter and alternative schools -- they are working. We currently have a wait list of over a thousand students for these schools. We need to give our parents more choices for their children's education. This will increase parental involvement. We need to increase the autonomy of our teachers and principals. They are on the ground level and know what our children need in order to learn and succeed.
Question 10. Numbers of poor, homeless and neglected children are rising in Anchorage schools. How should district respond to this change? Answer: While it is ultimately up to the students and parents to take advantage of the educational opportunities provided, increased choices for these children's education, such as charter schools (which are almost entirely missing in lower income neighborhoods), would help. Allowing parents the choice to control the state money allocated to each student for transportation (>$400 per year) could allow these parents an expanded school choices beyond their neighborhood schools.
Question 11. What volunteer work have you done in schools? Answer: My wife and I have been actively involved in our children's schools. We have participated in everything from fundraisers to reading programs. I have also been actively involved in various youth programs and make an effort to attend the extra-curricular activities of these youth. As an adult Boy Scout leader, I also participated in many service projects, one of which was to install shot put and discus rings at Dimond High School.