Where I stand: A strategic investment approach to education
As the newly appointed Commissioner for the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), I am honored to serve the people of Alaska, particularly our youth, as well as our educators and essential state workers at DEED. My unwavering commitment to public education stems from its transformative power in shaping intelligent problem solvers, responsible citizens, and diligent individuals.
Since assuming my role, I have engaged in numerous interviews and fielded many questions. Some have asked about my perceived shift in perspective regarding the Base Student Allocation (BSA) following the release of the education budget. I have always advocated for investing in public schools, but while many advocate for a simple increase in the BSA, I endorse a strategic investment approach.
The existing BSA formula uses multipliers to allocate funds to educational priorities. For example, a special needs factor directs additional funds towards gifted education, special education, English language learners, and career and technical education. However, funding through the BSA does not ensure that money gets directly into the classroom to support better academic achievement.
I believe that we can improve student learning with strategic funding that supports teachers and high-quality instruction. This approach finds support in an analysis by the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), presented by Dr. Dayna DeFeo on January 9, 2024. In summary, the recommendation is “a shift in our focus from how much we spend to what we buy with our dollars.” Additionally, a recently released report by Picus Odden, titled “An Evidence-Based Approach to the Basic Student Allocation in Alaska,” identified specific school improvement strategies that lead to improved student performance.
Governor Dunleavy has taken steps in this direction by prioritizing teacher recruitment and retention through House Bill 106, which would be a study on how additional payments to teachers impact recruitment and retention. The payment amounts range from $5,000 to $15,000 annually based on geographic areas and needs. This approach is grounded in a comprehensive study and a statewide survey on Teacher Retention and Recruitment completed in August of 2023. It is essential to note that this initiative concentrates on the vital individuals closest to our students – classroom teachers.
As Commissioner, my stance is clear: investments in education should be directed to areas that generate the best outcomes and prepare students for a successful future. To do this, we should support the foundation of learning with specific financial investments, such as funding implementation of the Alaska Reads Act and funding initiatives that connect students to their career interests
and our state’s workforce needs.
Addressing broader challenges that impact school districts, such as energy and healthcare costs, is also crucial. We should take a prudent approach to funding that ensures our investments in education result in the best outcomes for students, parents, and teachers. It is imperative that we focus our time and money on preparing students for success after high school.
Alaska can invest in education; we can focus on student learning outcomes, and we can attract and hire the best teachers. As Commissioner,
I choose to look to the future, have conversations with education stakeholders, and advocate for education funding that results in the improved student performance Alaskans want to see.
Sincerely,
Deena M. Bishop, Ed. D
DEED Commissioner
see that as a likely scenario,” he said. “The hunt is skewed to older, seasoned hunters who know how to place a shot.”
Lean added that there is a safety concern. To kill a musk ox with a shotgun, one has to get within a 10 to 50-yard range. Given that even a well-placed shot won’t immediately kill the animal, it is a safety concern as the wounded animal or others in the group could charge. A clean rifle shot could be taken from a 100-yard range.
The reason for the restriction in the first place was to avoid rifles being used in residential areas as oftentimes musk oxen found inside city limits in the summer and fall. “We see musk oxen in residential areas and the risk of using high-powered rifles was a concern,” Henslee explained. Also the risk of hitting unintended targets when trying to shot a ‘sky-lined’ animal was a concern. Since musk oxen are herd animals and usually stick together in congregations, the rifle restriction was also in place to avoid through-shots that may injure a second animal.
However, Henslee said, since 2012 that the Tier 2 hunt has been around with the weapon restrictions in place, most harvested musk oxen are not taken in the city of Nome proper, but outside the city limits.
The timing is such that hunters prefer to take musk oxen in the winter, when the animals have retreated to the hills, their coat is lush, the qiviut is thick, the meat is not stinky from the rut and clean butchering on snow is possible. Most musk oxen taken in the summer or fall when the animals congregate in town, are dispatched not as part of the Tier 2 hunt, but in defense of life and property. Henslee said over an eleven-year period, only seven percent, or five animals of 76 harvested musk oxen taken in the fall.
She said only rarely does a hunter use bow and arrow, and she wasn’t aware of anyone using a muzzleloader.
ADF&G’s Alicia Carson added that it is permissible to use a rifle hunting moose or bear in the Inner Nome Area.
Ethan Kelso also stepped up to the podium, saying that he had hunted musk oxen since he was seven years old and that he is a firearms instructor, attesting to the inefficiency of shotguns. Musk oxen are herd animals, he said. Once one is shot, they tend to bunch up and rub the blood of the wounded animals on them, making it impossible to find out which one has been shot. “You have no idea which animal you shot and you wait around while the animal is suffering,” he said. “One of the central rules is ‘Know your target and what’s behind it.’ I would strongly support rifles.”
Henslee said that those hunters applying for the Tier 2 permit will be required to have a Hunter Education certificate and will require a one-onone musk ox hunter orientation course completion.
The department plans to remove the weapons restriction for the TX095 Inner Nome Area hunt beginning August 1, 2024.
The three council members present for the work session also heard updates on the overdue Heating and Ventilation and Firealarm system at City Hall and a brief update from de
partment heads Cole Cushman of Public Works and the Interim Nome Police Chief Will Crockett.
The regular meeting was postponed to next Monday, for lack of quorum.