The Cordova City Council voted to pass a resolution earlier this month that acknowledged the funding and resources available for the school district next fiscal year, while public schools across the state say they’re still struggling financially.
The Cordova City Council approved a maximum contribution of $2,418,000 for the Cordova School District. This includes a $2,273,000 in cash contribution in addition to a $145,000 for in-kind services, water, sewer and utilities. The City of Cordova has a statutory requirement to make a minimum contribution, based on assessed property value.
“If we have to put up a fight, that is what we will do,” commented state Rep. Louise Stutes while visiting Cordova. Alaska public schools have been flat-funded since 2017, with no increase in the Base Student Allocation (BSA) to parallel inflation or increased costs of goods and services.
This year the reality of budget cuts reached a boiling point statewide after Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed state Senate Bill 52, which would have increased the BSA by $680. The House and Senate set to override his veto, however the override failed by two votes, which sparked protests locally and across the state.
With no increase to the BSA, a one-time funding was added to Dunleavy’s capital budget, however, approval will not be determined until the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2024. The BSA for 2023 was $5,930. Even in 2017, it only had a nominal increase of $50.
Cordova City Council Member Cathy Sherman showed support for the resolution passed earlier this month.
“We know that the governor has yet to even touch the budget even if it has approached his desk,” she said. “There are a lot of things out there flapping in the wind. This is a good resolution that shows our support as a community for the Cordova School District.”
In the Cordova School District (CSD) no BSA increase means subjects like music, art and P.E. tend to be the first ones cut, said Superintendent Alex Russin. Other direct impacts would be to the schools’ food service program and extracurriculars.
For the past nine years Russin has been the Superintendent for CSD, which includes Cordova Jr/Sr High School, Cordova School District Innovative Learning, and Mt. Eccles Elementary School. Quality education, safety and the wellbeing of students and staff are the district’s primary focus, states Russin.
Alaska’s public schools are funded with a combination of state, local and appropriate federal funding. The federal government is present, however education policy is left to the state board of education, a nine-member board appointed by the governor.
The fiscal landscape is a current concern, as the school does not generate revenue like a city or business.
“The concern became where will we find revenue, at a legislative level?” Russin said. “Planning our initial budget for the fiscal year 2025, being fully staffed with all of our programs intact, had the cost of doing business at a $1.5 million deficit for the CSD.”
Russin said if Dunleavy doesn’t line-item veto the legislation — which refers to nullifying or canceling specific provisions of a bill without vetoing the entire package — CSD’s capital budget amount could net $600,000, which is approximately the amount needed to be fully funded.
“We could be fully staffed with all of the needs being met for next school year,” he said “Should that not happen from the governor’s desk, we still would be looking at cutting $600,000 from our budget for next year.”
For the coming year, half day kindergarten is in place, with overlapping sessions with one teacher. If the state funding goes through, the school district plans to hire a second kindergarten teacher. There will be one large sixth grade class with a paraprofessional aid, with relocations being made to the special education classroom and the library at Mt. Eccles Elementary. Flex Fridays will also continue, with a four-day school week at the high school.
“You do less with less,” remarked School Board President Barb Jewell.
Amidst the financial woes, the Native Village of Eyak (NVE) back in May donated $700,000 to CSD to help with operational costs, which education officials have been thankful for.
“We so appreciate NVE being willing to come together as a community and help support the school district,” said Russin.
NVE said that they would cover the cost of the food service program and extracurricular activities for next school year. A $200,000 contract was also negotiated with NVE for the use of the high school facility for the National Guard while they’re here this summer working on the Shepherd Point project.
On June 14 CSD announced that it will continue to participate in the National School Lunch Program’s Community Eligibility Provision, which means that meals will be available to all children for no cost at Mt. Eccles and Cordova Jr/Sr High. The two schools will participate in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the After School Snack Program (Mt. Eccles Homework Club). Program meals will meet nutritional standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Cordova Mayor David Allison expressed appreciation to NVE for the donation to support the food service program and extracurriculars, and said if the governor approves one-time funding the district might not have to make big cuts. He also commended Russin for his work balancing a tight budget.
“Since Alex has been superintendent, every year is always better than expected with the budget,” Allison said. “He has done a pretty good job managing the money that they do get and that hasn’t always been the case over the years.”
Even with NVE’s gift and the prospect of obtaining the necessary funding, City Council Member Tom Bailer said the financial burden will take time to alleviate.
“In my mind it’s going to be a year or two and it’s going to fall right back to the property taxes, to make up funding for our schools,” he said. “That’s my concern where we’re headed.”
Russin said the community will be having similar discussions next year as it relates to advocacy for an inflation-proofed increase to the BSA. The yearly increases to the costs of goods and services, including energy, fuel, food services, and staffing, have grown exponentially compared to the state’s efforts in fulfilling its fiscal obligations to adequately fund public schools, according to Russin.
Notably this past year, the Cordova Jr/Sr High School received an accolade as the No. 1 school in Alaska from U.S. News and World Report. Although the placement is primarily based on academics, advanced placement, graduation rates, and demographics are other contributing factors.
