JUNEAU — Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s staff and a small group of legislators met Tuesday behind closed doors to start discussing how to reach a consensus deal on education.
Dunleavy and a majority of state lawmakers have been sharply divided over how to address a school funding crisis and Alaska’s bottom-of-the-nation test scores.
Leaders of the bipartisan House and Senate majorities have favored approving a substantial school funding boost separate to policy debates. Dunleavy, meanwhile, has supported more modest funding increases that are tied to policy changes, including by expanding charter schools.
The education working group is set to have two weeks to negotiate an education agreement that is acceptable to the Legislature and Dunleavy. But legislative leaders say the group may end its work early if members are at loggerheads.
“Governor Dunleavy is encouraged that lawmakers from all four caucuses have agreed to hold meetings this week to try and negotiate an education policy and funding bill that all sides can agree to and pass,” said Jeff Turner, a spokesman for the governor’s office, by email.
“School choice, improving educational outcomes and increased school funding are among the governor’s top priorities for the 34th Alaska Legislature. By working together with lawmakers, it is possible to achieve all three this session,” he said.
Jordan Shilling, the governor’s newly-appointed legislative director, will negotiate on behalf of Dunleavy. The working group is set to have two members from each of the four legislative caucuses — the House and Senate majorities and minorities:
• House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, a Dillingham independent, is representing the bipartisan House majority. Sitka independent Rebecca Himschoot will be the caucus’ alternate member.
• Anchorage Democratic Sen. Bill Wielechowski is negotiating for the bipartisan Senate majority caucus, alongside fellow Democratic Sen. Löki Tobin.
• Palmer Republican Rep. DeLena Johnson will represent the House minority. Soldotna GOP Rep. Justin Ruffridge will be the alternate member.
• Sen. Mike Cronk, a Tok Republican, will negotiate for the Senate minority caucus, alongside Palmer GOP Sen. Shelley Hughes.
Dunleavy last year vetoed an historic bipartisan education funding package because it did not include his plans to expand charter schools. Legislators fell one vote short of overriding Dunleavy’s veto.
Wielechowski led negotiations at the time with the governor’s staff. He said those efforts were frustrating because Dunleavy repeatedly reneged on settled agreements.
Tuesday morning’s meeting was a big-picture discussion about the current state of education in Alaska, legislators said.
Wielechowski said Tuesday’s meeting was “a productive conversation,” which was a description echoed by other members of the working group.
“We’ll continue the discussion and see where it goes,” he added.
But talks have not yet turned to thornier issues of school funding increases or policy changes.
”There are not lines being formed on anything at this point,” Hughes said.
Legislative leaders largely welcomed Dunleavy’s working group as a way to advance education discussions.
“This exercise will afford us an opportunity to have something more substantial and policy focused than just a blanket funding proposal,” said Anchorage GOP Rep. Mia Costello, the House minority leader, through a prepared statement.
Wasilla Republican Sen. Mike Shower, the Senate minority leader, applauded Dunleavy’s “novel approach” to resolve the education funding debate.
Dunleavy unveiled a sweeping education package on Friday at a cost of $181 million per year for the first three years. The measure includes bonuses for teachers; a funding boost for homeschooled students and reading intervention programs, and provisions intended to expand charter schools — among other policy changes.
Meanwhile, members of the Democrat-dominated House majority recently introduced a measure that would increase school formula funding by over $460 million per year over three years.
Legislative leaders say that bill, and other education measures, will not advance through the committee process while Dunleavy’s working group meets.
Anchorage GOP Rep. Chuck Kopp, the House majority leader, suggested on the House floor Monday that there could be points of agreement with Dunleavy on cellphone restrictions, and boosting funding for career and technical education.
But some of Dunleavy’s other proposals could prove more contentious, including one that allows charter schools to first be authorized by organizations other than locally elected school boards.
Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, stressed Monday he remains a strong supporter of “local control of schools.” But he said that Dunleavy’s education working group concept was “positive.”
“If we can come to an agreement in two weeks, great. If we can’t, we go back to the same system we have right now, which is, we pass a bill and the governor has the opportunity to veto,” Stevens said. “But hopefully, if we can work well with the governor, we won’t get to that point.”
“We live in hope. That’s my family motto,” he added.