Hurricane Sandy left parts of New Jersey and New York in devastation. But who would have thought that it had affected so many parts of America? This had to be the perfect storm […]
Accountability Improves Education for the Kids
There is a movement going on in Anchorage to change the way School Board members are elected. Currently, they are elected at-large. That is, the entire Municipality votes for a member. The change […]
Governor Parnell on the Right Track with Teacher Evaluations. We are Not Chicago.
Governor Parnell has recommended that the State Board of Education and Early Development (Board) “set the bar higher in weighting teacher and administrator evaluations based on student learning”. Currently, the Board has set […]
Give Employees the Right to Choose Health Insurance
Because health insurance costs are increasing dramatically, some employers are switching from a plan that covers all employees for a specified cost to a cafeteria-type plan in which the employee chooses a particular […]
Should the State of Alaska Pay For Union Facilities?
The labor unions in Alaska perform an excellent job of training future union workers, particularly in the construction industry. However, is it right and proper for the State of Alaska to use public […]
Does Adding More Staff Increase Education Achievement?
The Friedman Foundation released a report that studied the increase in student population versus the increase in public school employees. The report noted that nationwide for the period FY1992 to FY2009 the number […]
Military Health Care Under the Knife
It would seem as if the overall intent of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is to eventually morph into a single payer government health insurance program. This can be largely accomplished by rendering […]
Health Savings Accounts Empower People
Alaska seems to be a predictor of health care in the future under the Affordable Care Act. We have a very limited market for healthcare, limits on accessibility, limits on number of providers […]
Help Your Kids, and All Kids, with Math-It Needs Fixing in Anchorage
Math is one of the core subjects. It is in any education program anywhere in the world. Like it or hate it, you use it every day. Have a bad grasp of basic […]
Parents, Get Involved with ASD Math Review-Here’s Help
The Anchorage School District is asking for public input on selecting a math program to replace the EveryDay Math (EDM) program. If your child is having a rough time mastering the fundamentals of […]
Help Our Kids with Math-Sign Petition
The Anchorage School District is asking for public input on a new mathematics curriculum to replace the “fuzzy math” program, EveryDay Math, which has failed many of our children. We need your help […]
Next Big Storm to Hit Anchorage-Schools Close
This past week, Anchorage was almost blown away by an early season wind storm that uprooted and blew down many trees, especially on the east side of town. Of course, in Alaska neighbors […]
Told ‘Ya So: New DNA Testing Technology Makes Some Alaska Crime Lab Requirements Obsolete
One of the reasons Alaska didn’t need a super large crime lab was because forensic technology was getting smaller in size, not larger.
Should Anchorage Taxpayers Bail Out Teamster Pension Fund?
The Anchorage School Board is considering adopting the proposed union contract renewal with Teamsters Local 959 (bus drivers/attendants) which will require the taxpayer to help bail out an underfunded Teamster Pension Fund. Why […]
Guest Opinion: A Careful Look at Ballot Measure 1
In the primary election 2012, Alaska voters will consider Ballot Measure 1. Dave Donley says the measure isn’t what it appears to be and that Alaskans should vote it down.
You Can Get Out of a Failing School-Here’s How
This month the Anchorage School District had to send out more than 8,000 letters to parents who had children in failing Anchorage Schools. These letters were to inform parents that they had the […]