Representative Lynn Gattis (R-Wasilla) brought forward a line of questioning about whether the state should finance Mt. Edgecumbe. A preliminary estimate, based on the Governor’s 2016 budget documents, is that the amount of state money going to Mt. Edgecumbe is approximately $8.4 million.
The battle over education funding in Alaska this year may have an unexpected casualty. This Tuesday (2-10-15), the House Education Finance Subcommittee began a conversation about ongoing state funding for Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.
During the meeting, Representative Lynn Gattis, a Republican from Wasilla and the Chair of the Education Committee, called Mt. Edgecumbe “a great school,” but asked if in a time of budget woes, it should continue to be supported by the state. A video recording of the meeting is here.
Commissioner of Education & Early Development Mike Hanley responded.
LG: Is there a need for a separate school out of our school districts?
MH: Chair Gattis, I don’t think there’s a need for that structure. Is there a need for Mt. Edgecumbe and residential types of schools? I think absolutely and we’re actually seeing an increase in the number of those. But for this structure, it’s the only one left over the BIA…
LG: Correct.
MH: …school program that remains under the state situation. So…no.
Reached for comment by KCAW, Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D-Sitka) said that even amid these belt tightening times, such a policy was not wise.
“The last place you cut in the budget process is where you’re getting the most public value and public benefit,” said Kreiss-Tomkins. “And the amount of value and benefit created by the institution of Mt. Edgecumbe for hundreds and thousands of students who have gone through there and have now gone on to shape Alaska – and many of the leaders, especially from rural and native Alaska, went through Mt. Edgecumbe – is immeasurable.”
Representative Sam Kito III (D-Juneau) said the question put forward by Gattis took him by surprise and during the meeting, spoke in defense of the school.
Although Mt. Edgecumbe is a boarding school, the state still funds it on a per-pupil basis, just like any other public school. If Mt. Edgecumber were to be transferred to the Sitka School District — or closed altogether, and its students sent elsewhere — Kito said the savings would not be significant.
Representative Gattis, however, said that reexamining the budget allocation for Mt. Edgecumbe was “something to be explored.” A preliminary estimate, based on the Governor’s 2016 budget documents, is that the amount of state money going to Mt. Edgecumbe is approximately $8.4 million.
Commissioner Hanley says he is supportive of the school staying open.
“I surely hope that there’s not — across our legislature — that there’s not support to get rid of Mt. Edgecumbe. It just doesn’t make sense to me. But, this is the first time since I’ve been here — this is my fifth session — and we have not heard people talking about removing one of our highest performing schools.”
On the agenda for next week, the subcommittee plans to look at Mt. Edgecumbe in more detail and any potential savings the state would earn by zeroing out funding.
