Mt. Edgecumbe High School has been through a lot.

If you’ve seen any of the posts, news articles, or even radio broadcasts, then you know what’s been going on at Edgecumbe.

Hi, my name is Kadyn Cross. I’m a junior, and I’m the student body president at Mt. Edgecumbe High School.

This year has felt a lot different than last year, with all of the funding and promises of change. But I still have a few concerns regarding the school as a whole.

First off, it’s the Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendations and how they’ll be ensured to be implemented. I’m not doubting the committee’s competence or effectiveness, or even the administration’s. But I am questioning how the recommendations will actually happen, especially when it comes to planning, follow-through, and implementation.

Secondly, it’s the teacher-to-student ratio. Our classrooms feel bigger because they are. We have two math teachers, and a majority of our AP classes have been taken away because of a lack of funding. We need more teachers if we want our students to receive the adequate teacher-to-student attention they deserve. And not just here in Edgecumbe or Sitka, but throughout the State of Alaska.

Thirdly, how is DEED going to make sure this problem doesn’t happen again, especially to the extent it has over these past two years? How are the State Board of Education and DEED going to make sure this school operates at the capacity it has in the past? This is a school that has benefited thousands of students across Alaska, and will continue to do so.

It isn’t just Edgecumbe, either. All across Alaska, public schools have been suffering. That’s why I’m personally watching this upcoming gubernatorial election very closely.

I want a governor who’ll fight for education. Who’ll fight for me and the future youth of Alaska.

I’ve seen how education funding can affect my day-to-day life as a student, and I realize how important elections are. I realize how important adequate funding is for schools, and how much the legislature and governor play a role in deciding how much our schools get.

I hope that the Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and the future governor will prioritize education and listen to the voices of Alaskans speaking up for our youth.