August 22, 2013

Dear Neighbors,

Back To School!

Today marked the first day of school for our Fairbanks youth! The end of summer vacation comes too soon for most of us Alaskans. It’s a bittersweet time for the kids and parents alike who spent the last couple months enjoying quality family time outdoors. On the other hand, the start of the school year is an exciting time: children get to see old friends and start new classes, and parents themselves get a small break. During this week, please remember that traffic is increasing as people go back to school and work and different driving patterns are emerging.

Safety Reminders

Here are some tips to keep our children and each other safer on the road as the school year starts:

· Watch out for school buses! School bus drivers are dealing with dozens of kids, loud background noise and other distractions, while making frequent and sometimes unexpected stops. Keep a safe distance between them if you are behind one and yield when they are attempting to merge. Watch out for children waiting on the side of the road and at bus stops and make sure your children know to always walk in front of the school bus, never behind.

· Obey speed limits especially in school zones! Be on the lookout for pedestrians crossing streets or riding bikes along the road. Be aware that school activities take place at all hours, not just during school time. After school activities, sport games, and other events are good reasons to be cautious whenever you are passing through a school zone. Also keep in mind that there are many teenagers who just became new drivers and are inexperienced or unfamiliar with the rules of the road so be careful and drive defensively!

· Remind kids to buckle up! If you are carpooling, remember to check that everyone is wearing a seatbelt. Wearing a seatbelt is not only the law, it saves thousands of lives every year.

· Be a good pedestrian! Talk to your children about being a smart pedestrian. Remind them not to jaywalk, cross during red lights, dart in front of traffic, or text while walking.

· Put down your cell phone! There is no text or call more important than someone’s life. Distracted driving causes numerous fatalities every year that are so easily preventable. Honor others by waiting to pick up your cell phone until you are stopped.

Thank Your Teachers!

Your teachers and staff are the skilled and educated professionals with whom children will spend some of their most formative years. We entrust our teachers with our most precious resources. It can be very challenging to corral dozens of 2nd graders, teach them life skills and assess their learning within an eight hour day. Most teachers spend even more hours, grading papers or refining their own skills. Thank your teachers today.

Get Involved with Your PTA!

Students perform better when everyone is involved in education. Join your local Parent Teacher Association or just attend a meeting! The Fairbanks Council of PTAs (FCPTA) provides support for local unit PTA members and training for those interested in PTA executive board positions. To find your local unit, go to http://www.k12northstar.org/parents/pta.

Legislative Challenges!

This time of year always reminds me of the important role education plays in Alaska. As a graduate of Lathrop and UAF, I am proud of our local schools. I believe the education of our youth is the responsibility of the state and we are continuing to making improvements. But the work is never done and the Legislature must continue investing and making a commitment to education. This week, the Senate Finance Committee met to discuss K-12 funding issues. I hope my colleagues consider the high cost of education and realize the cost of not funding education is even higher.

With the legislative session getting closer every month, I would like to hear from you. If you have any suggestions, ideas, or concerns about legislative issues regarding education in Alaska, please contact my office. I am always encouraged when I meet with you personally to discuss how we can get things done in Juneau and make Fairbanks a better place to live, work and play. If you have time, please consider coming by my office. The office hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, or by appointment on weekends. I am located in Suite 308 on the 3rd floor of the AlaskaUSA Financial Building at 1292 Sadler Way (across from Home Depot). As always, please contact me if I can be of service in any way.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,