The Anchorage Daily News asked candidates for School Board in the 2019 election to answer a series of issue questions. Many of the questions were based on suggestions from readers. Here are their responses, in some cases edited for length. Find all candidates’ responses here. We did the same thing with candidates for Anchorage Assembly.
Candidate name: David Nees
Age: Declined to state
Occupation: Retired math teacher
Current employer: n/a
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Previous public offices held or sought / community leadership positions: Boy Scout Troop leadership Rabbit Creek LionsMember 2015 House Sustainable Education Task Force
Education: Pacific University, UAA, UAF, APU and online courses
List the K-12 schools your children currently attend or have attended. Service High, Hanshew Middle, Springhill Elementary
What steps have you taken to prepare for this job? What strengths do you bring to office, and what in your life demonstrates those strengths?
I have been an education activist since 1983, first as a classroom teacher, then upon retirement as a education researcher at AK Policy Forum. As a member of the Alaska House Sustainable Education Task Force, I was able to talk to the commissioner and policy makers as well as tour three Northwest Arctic Borough schools. I am a tireless advocate and promoter of the idea that every child regardless of socioeconomic standing has the ability to achieve their maximum potential, if given a fair chance.
Have you ever worked for the Anchorage School District? If so, in what capacity?
I was a math teacher 28 years, and taught social studies and electives as a teacher. Active in sponsoring recycling and student council, and a multi-season/multi-sport coach.
What is the largest budget you’ve managed? State the amount, length of time and your level of responsibility.
The ASD board decided to raise ASD budget 10% to $880 million, while facing the reality that we have 2000 less students, the source of state funds. The ASD school board only sets budget goals and can modify the budget presented. The superintendent and staff propose and develop the budget. I review the ASD proposed budgets and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report on a regular basis to look for efficiencies and use of available funds to ensure maximum dollars go to the classroom.
Name two things the Anchorage School District does well and two things you think the school district needs to improve. As a school board member, what would you do about the two areas of improvement?
ASD does well at employing people both as their employees and as contractors. ASD has been investing for decades in modernizing facilities, stimulating the construction industry and is one of the largest employers in Anchorage, which stimulates the local economy. This focus on facilities seems to have detracted from the educational mission, with poor results in reading and math for most students.I want the ASD to refocus on its core business—educating all students.
If you had to identify $10 million in cuts to the Anchorage School District’s budget, name two areas you would look for cuts and two areas you would seek to protect.
The classrooms must be protected from cuts—that is where the education occurs. I would also protect the charter/optional/ABC schools. Both of these are mission critical.The charter schools can only spend 4% of state funds on administration. They have been successful in meeting this goal and most have reserves. I believe the ASD could also trim its administration/support costs but when a 1% cut in exempt pay to employees making more than $100,000 was proposed it was not approved.
The Anchorage School Board decided last year to not change school start times after a lengthy study. Do you support this decision? Why or why not?
I was an education activist encouraging parents to testify against the Starr Marsett-led policy to run an experiment on our elementary school children. Current research does not show any proven positive benefit for elementary students and that costs have gone up in all districts who have tried it. I was glad to see so much parent participation in killing bad policy that would have affected parents and students. One of the few victories for parents in the last 3 years.
The Anchorage School Board approved a three-year contract with the local teachers union in December 2018. If you were a member of the school board at that time, would you have voted in favor of that contract? Why or why not?
I would have been one of the “no” votes. Not because the teachers did not deserve a raise, but because the most senior teachers were not rewarded equally. The contract still contains a first-hired last-fired clause which prevents schools from keeping their best new teachers. I would also have voted “no” because of the tenuous state funding situation, and the non-Janus compliant language which does not allow teachers to take a religious exemption.
How would you rate the Anchorage School District’s performance during or after the earthquake? What changes would you propose as a school board member?
ASD spent in excess of $22 million just cleaning up schools, mostly ceiling tiles. The inspection process took longer than estimated. The ASD has bonded for millions to make schools emergency centers, Gruening for instance has a back up diesel generator set, but failed as a structure. The Alaska Star ran the history of its design problems. Duck-and-cover worked, emergency procedures worked, as practiced, as did student pick up and notification. Parents in ER were given scheduling problems.
Does Anchorage need better preschool options for children? What steps would you take to increase the availability of preschool education?
Yes, in Anchorage most employers do not provide assistance in daycare, including ASD, and it is a major expense for working parents. However, I believe preschool should be provided by the private economy. It is estimated that public-provided preschool in the K-12 system would cost more than $10,000 per child. Research shows that the benefits of preschool are questionable. I firmly believe that the parent(s) are the best preschool teachers and know what is best for their child.
Do you vaccinate your children, and how do you feel about vaccination requirements for children entering the school system?
Yes, I did have both of my children vaccinated. The recent measles outbreak in the Lower 48 shows the efficacy of the program. The outbreak in BC was due to a family visiting a country were vaccinations are not prescribed. Vaccination is not a choice that schools can or should waive, as it is good public health policy.
What will you do on the School Board to support students living in poverty, homeless students, and students in the foster care system?
ASD has excellent programs for children in transition under the McKinney-Vento federal law. Providing continuity and opportunity is important. However, most of the students do not have access to optional or charter programs, because of the lottery timelines. This could be fixed by holding seats in those programs.
What sex education and support services do you believe school-age children should be getting at school?
The Body Shop program ASD has in place is an opt-in for sex education model. It seems to be doing healthy choice education very well. I like the use of school for school-based clinics, as a means to provide physicals and urgent care. I believe sex education should not begin before the middle school grade. Ideally, parents should be responsible for their child’s sex education.
Do you support consolidation of underutilized schools? Why or why not? If you do support consolidation, are there any schools you’d consider consolidating now?
Starr Marsett and the board’s choice to close Mt. Spurr, a high preforming school on base, was not embraced by the parents or teachers. They were punished for doing a good job with great results. Eagle River/Chugiak had two schools currently closed as a result of the earthquake and the receiving schools did not go over capacity. ASD closed Kennedy, Mt. Spurr, Mt Iliamna and ASD Data center in last 10 years, but has excess capacity in the remaining Anchorage schools. Eagle River Area is full.
ASD’s graduation rates are among the lowest in the country. How can the school district take meaningful steps to boost this rate?
Graduation rates like the United Way sponsored 90% by 2020 are the worst metric to measure student performance choosing to focus on this metric is how we got to the abysmal test scores. Reading at grade level is the best metric to evaluate our students. Graduation instead of learning will surely handicap that child during the rest of his/her life. I will always choose Literacy over graduation rates.
The biggest challenge facing the school district is (fill in the blank and explain):
Proper allocation of limited financial resources to the classroom, increase it to 75% of budget, and increasing student achievement. ASD needs to get feedback from parents and listen to it on current math and language arts programs.This is the best way to ensure they are working for the majority of our children.
What are your thoughts on school vouchers or public support for private schools?
Private schools have a long history in Alaska, with all Native education being given out to Protestant Missions in the late 1800s. They have had interesting results. Juneau was sued and lost because it would not enroll a mixed-race child in the white-only Juneau School District in the 30′s. Alaska educational funds are being used to fund students who enroll for correspondence and online courses, These educational materials that are offered by religious universities like Notre Dame and BYU.
What are your ideas for ensuring students and staff feel safe in Anchorage schools?
Nearly all of the current surveys show staff and students feel safe. Feeling safe is not as important as being safe. The survey does not address how the lack of discipline is affecting morale and creating unsafe classrooms. At a recent School Board meeting a parent addressed the loss of education time due to classroom outbursts by a disabled child. I know of staff who have been hurt by this bad policy of mainstreaming ED [emotionally disturbed] children.
What steps should ASD take to improve its career and technical education curriculum?
I have always favored career training as only 30% of ASD students will go on to college. I favor a European apprentice program, but do not like the Board policy of requiring apprentices on construction jobs funded by ASD. The current dual credit system works well but should not use BSA funds for tuition.
What specific ideas do you have to improve overall performance of students?
Reading by age 9, 4th grade literacy. Too many of our students reach 4th grade a year or more behind in reading level.4th grade literacy has worked in every state that has implemented it and it improves achievement in all socio-economic classes, while often reducing SPED rates. Reading at grade level is the absolute best way to ensure students can be successful throughout their K-12 education.
What other important issue would you like to discuss here?
Parents it is your school system, chose your schools wisely, advocate for your child if need be, become and remain active as a volunteer. Be sure to organize with like minded parents, read to your kids. Lobby for more of the current state and Muni money to get to your kids classroom.