By Terri Stavig
It was the beginning of my freshman school year (1971), I was 14 years old and seated in my first civics class. Our teacher, Mr. Agnew, began our very first lesson by explaining to us the purpose of government. He explained that government has four primary responsibilities: Public safety, public health, infrastructure and education. He had them written on the chalk board, and it has been imprinted in my mind ever since.
As a member of the local school board and as a retired teacher, I am especially concerned about education here in Alaska. Locally, we are fortunate in that our city government is very financially supportive and that the Native Village of Eyak generously funded our school food service and extracurricular activities. Our school district is very grateful; because of those efforts we did not have to cut any programs or staff this year.
While the school population is dropping in many Alaska communities, ours is growing! A growing school population reflects positively on our community! Parents want to live, work, and raise their children here in Cordova! Alaska’s children need adequate, predictable, and reliable education funding from the state. School districts need funding that is consistent so that they can focus on planning and implementing strategies that ensure student academic success.
One of the goals your local school board has this year is to encourage community advocacy. As we move forward to secure funding for our district, we will be asking you to join us in voicing concerns about school funding and any other school-related issues that come up during the 2025 Legislative Session. The easiest way to advocate is to vote!
If you’re curious about why a 14-year-old girl would so vividly remember her first day in civics, let me give you some context. The boys in that classroom assumed that in four short years, they would be receiving their military draft numbers. By the time we entered that classroom, we all knew friends, neighbors, and relatives who were serving in the Vietnam War. And we all had attended funerals. We wanted to understand government, how it worked, and how we could influence it.
As I approach this and every Election Day, I remember that first civics lesson. I encourage you to do the same. Look around our community, our state, and our nation, assess the strengths and weaknesses you find. Consider carefully the facts on how those currently in office have performed and how candidates seeking office might perform. I urge you to make your voting decisions based on what is best for public safety, public health, infrastructure and education. Please advocate by voting!
Terri Stavig, a Cordova resident for 40 years, is a retired teacher and currently serves on the Cordova School Board.
