May 11, 2011
Thursday

I find it fascinating the controversy I've generated by simply asking the school district for detailed budget information in a consistent and comprehensive format. FY2011 funding for the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District totaled $40,472,050 for 2,100 students (www.borough.ketchikan.ak.us/manager/documents/FY2011EducationFunding.pdf). Everyone in this community has a right to question how their education dollars are being utilized and the school district has a legal responsibility to provide the information in a timely manner.

The concept put forth by a segment of this community that if you question education funding you must not support education is completely wrong. I believe just the opposite is true. If you care about education you need to challenge how the money is used. Education dollars are held in trust for our children and it is our responsibility to insure that our children benefit from every education dollar spent.

If the school district was truly spending our education dollars wisely, why are they so reticent in supplying details? I found it shocking that during this current budget cycle a school board member asked for additional information she felt she needed in order to make a sound decision on the budget and it was not provided to her. Additionally, the other board members publicly rebuked her for asking. What are they hiding?

I have children in the school district. I care about education and I will continue to challenge the district s education spending even if a segment of this community is intent on vilifying anyone who dares to ask.

Agnes Moran
Ketchikan, AK