KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Steiner, LaBelle compete for Anchorage School Board, Seat D

Steiner, LaBelle compete for Anchorage School Board, Seat D

by Sean Doogan
Thursday, March 20, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Anchorage municipal elections are less than two weeks away and as the old saying goes, "all politics are local."

Several Anchorage School Board seats are open in this election, including Seat D, a seat currently held by two-term incumbent John Steiner, who says his work on the board is not yet complete.

"I've got a lot invested in my service on the school board and I think I have come up to speed, know what I am doing and have contributed significantly to the board," Steiner said. "And I want to continue that."

James LaBelle wants the school board seat as well. He says he has an inherent investment in the education that school children in Anchorage receive.

"I grew up in Anchorage schools," LaBelle said. "I was born and raised in Anchorage. I have three children of my own -- one each in elementary, middle and high school."    

Both candidates agree on the biggest challenges facing the Anchorage School District, which is one of the nation's largest.

"Our biggest challenge is our high school graduation rate and the drop-out rate," Steiner said. "And the fact that the rate is disproportionate in the minority community."

LaBelle wants to know what is happening to the large portion of students who don't complete high school.

"With 65 percent of students completing high school, I'd like to know what's going on with the other 35 percent," LaBelle said.

LaBelle said the state needs to go back to a defined benefits pension system so Anchorage schools don't lose good teachers to other districts.

"Although we don't have full control over that," LaBelle said. "We should be the loudest voice and advocate for a defined benefit system, as well as equipping teachers and schools with the resources they need to deliver an education in an effective way."    

Steiner said the district needs to expand vocational education opportunities for students not interested in college.

"We've got a real shortage," Steiner said. "We've got a brain drain and a muscle drain here and we need to be filling those gaps when the people who came up here in the 1970's are retiring."

Both men believe they are best suited to help guide the district from a seat on the school board.

Despite several attempts, Channel 2 News was unable to connect with a third candidate for the school board seat, Toni Truelove.    

Truelove has also not yet answered questions posed to all municipal candidates by Channel 2 News.

Contact Sean Doogan at sdoogan@ktuu.com