NEWS: Gara: Non-Education Session Adds More Layoffs to Three Years of Massive Layoffs
ANCHORAGE - Today Rep. Les Gara (D-Anch), a lead sponsor of legislation to start reversing the last three years of over 600 layoffs to teachers and educators across the state, called the “three-year” education bill that passed “two, and likely three more years of layoffs on top of the more than 600 teachers staff Parnell and the GOP have cut since 2011.” Since 2011 Alaska schools have lost over 600 teachers and staff due to flat funding.
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NEWS: Gara: More Teacher Layoffs Won’t Fix Alaska’s Near-Bottom Graduation Rates
JUNEAU – Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) responded to a recent study that found Alaska ranks near the bottom of state rankings in high school graduation rates. Gara, who joined other Democratic lawmakers in pushing to reverse Alaska’s course of educator cuts, tied Alaska’s slow progress on improving graduation rates to three years of teacher and staff layoffs, a problem the Legislature failed to address this session.
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NEWS: The ‘Education Session’ that Wasn’t
JUNEAU – Today, on the ninety-fifth and final day of the 28th Alaska Legislature, House Democratic Leader Chris Tuck released the following statement on behalf of the House Democratic Caucus.
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NEWS: It’s Not Rocket Science - Prioritize Education Not Bailouts and Boondoggles
Today Representative Les Gara said the solution to helping Alaska’s students is to re-prioritize spending away from last-minute oil refinery bailouts and controversial megaprojects and put it into education.
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NEWS: Democrats Move to Fix Broken Education Bill
JUNEAU – Today, Representatives Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and David Guttenberg (D-Interior/Wade Hampton) offered amendments before the House Finance Committee to make much needed improvements to the committee’s omnibus education bill (HB278).
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NEWS: Administration Confirms: Much Larger BSA Increase Needed to Fill Education Shortfalls
JUNEAU – A new analysis of Parnell administration data confirms Alaska’s school districts need between three and six times the amount of the governor is proposing to increase per-student classroom funding in order to fill budget gaps for next school year. Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) released the analysis today as the House Finance Committee considers the governor’s omnibus education bill and other education measures.
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