Pat Higgins - School Board Seat C

Name: Pat Higgins

Occupation: Human Resources Consultant

Why are you running for the School Board?

I want to continue the job I started only three years ago.

When I was first elected 3 years ago I promised to challenge the status quo and speak out.  I was frustrated with the lack of a comprehensive plan to improve graduation and drop-out rates. Career and vocation education was a low priority, and the Board was not leading the District.

Today I am one of four Board Members in their first term and I am leading the Board and the District in new directions. For the first time, the Board is approving directives that will result in real change in the Anchorage School District. Board Directives I championed includes expanding career technology, cuts to District Administration, a new budget system linking funding with outcomes, measuring academic advancement for every student every year to evaluate the effectiveness of classrooms, and an external professional review of low achieving curriculum like Every Day Math and Mathscape. 

The Board has been challenging the Administration to take new initiatives to improve academic outcomes and they are responding to the challenge. Since 2007 drop outs rate has declined 30%, graduation rates increased 10%, and District Administration costs have been cut 10 percent. Additionally, sixty percent of students not graduating in four years are continuing in school to obtain their diploma or Certificate of Achievement.

I am working effectively with all School Board Members and proud the new Board is leading change and obtaining positive results. I want to continue with a board that places education ahead of politics.

The School District should aggressively identify and pursue new opportunities to increase academic outcomes and graduate all students prepared for college and career success using public funds in the most cost effective manner.

What letter grade would you give the current school board, and why?:

B. When I joined the School Board three years ago the majority of the School Board Members believed their role was to support the Administration. Today, the new School Board is challenging the status quo and demanding real change. Nine directives approved by the School Board will create a new budget system linking funds with outcomes, measure academic improvements for every child every year, further cut District Administration costs, expand Career Technology, improve communications to the public and conduct an external review of under-achieving curriculum. The Board has also begun initiating new steps to provide more effective academic intervention in elementary school.  

What letter grade would you give Superintendent Carol Comeau and school administration, and why?

B. Carol Comeau is an employee who reports to the School Board and she has consistently received very high evaluations by the Board, particularly in regards to her accessibility to the public and press.   Carol also has a well deserved national reputation as one of the top superintendents among the Council of Great City Schools. Carol Comeau's relationship with the Board has been changing during the last three years with the new Board is demanding faster changes and more options prior to voting on many issues. This transition has not been without some challenges; however, Carol and her staff are responding positively and professionally to the new expectations.    

What are your thoughts on the 2011-12 school budget approved by the school board? Is the budget too big? Not big enough? At the right amount?

The School District is very complex and often misunderstood. 

While increases below the inflation rate over an extended period of time will obviously impact options to improve educational outcomes, I do not believe there is a "right" amount for funding the Anchorage School District. Public funds will always be limited and I respect the right of the Assembly, Mayor, Legislature and Governor to decide how to allocate funds for competing needs.

The Anchorage School Board is responsible for maximizing the benefit of every public dollar. To achieve that goal the Board must question all expenditures and ensure that all funding is linked to improved educational outcomes. That requires the Board to constantly look for opportunities to redirect current dollars in addition to new funding. I am proud that during the past three years the Board has cut District Administration costs 10 percent, making more funds available for intervention programs. I am also confident that the Board directive creating a new budget process will help identify more opportunities to redirect funds or relatively marginal value to programs more cost beneficial.  

What school services would you like to see reinstated, and how would you suggest they are paid for?:

I would like increases in classroom sizes approved for the 2011-12 reversed. I voted against this action but it was approved by the Board on a 4 to 3 vote. The importance of classroom size relative to other programs is a matter of considerable debate based on national studies. However, I believe the public shares my opinion that we must stop increasing classroom sizes to balance the budget during lean years. 

I believe this increase to classroom size should be reversed this year only if the State provides an adjustment to the Base Student Allocation. However, even with additional State funding, classroom size will again become an issue because of a loss of $7.6 million job grant. To avoid significant increases in classroom sizes and provide funding for more effective early intervention programs, a major reorganization will be required to streamline services in a more cost effective manner. The Board will have the benefit of a new budget process to prioritize areas to cut and highly effective programs to expand.

I also believe that two program multicultural positions at South and East should be reinstated this year.  I have visited both programs and obtained additional information after the School Board approved these cuts. After listening to parents and students, I am convinced that these two positions have a significant impact on keeping students in school. I believe funding for these positions should come from additional cuts to support programs.

Are property taxes too high? Explain your answer: 

Yes, because I believe the State is obligated to pay for public education and they have not met their constitutional obligations. I am disappointed that the State Legislature in the past has linked any increased State funding with the condition that local taxpayer tax to the maximum allowed. This is unfair to local taxpayers and unfair to our children’s education.  

What is the most important issue affecting the school district as a whole?:

We need to bring children who are academically behind up to grade level while they are still in elementary school.

Forty percent of children entering kindergarten are not prepared to learn, and too many are being advanced year after year when they are not academically ready. We must find an effective intervention plan. As these students fall further behind academically, many become eligible for special education services. In a ten year period, the number of special education students in our country increased thirty percent. Special education services are legally required and require a disproportional amount of the budget on a per student allocation.

The School District is beginning to redirect resources to meet this challenge. However, to be fully successful will require State support for expanding pre-school opportunities and increase parental/guardian involvement in the children’s early development years.

What are your thoughts on the three school bond propositions in front of voters?:

I support all three bonds.

The first bond will complete the renovations to Service High School. This bond proposal was originally $68 million three years ago and is now $37 million, and sixty percent of the $37 million will be paid by the State. The bond cost reduction was accomplished by a state grant and redirecting funds from prior bonds. This bond will provide one theatre for south Anchorage schools and expand career technology education.

The second bond will fund building life extensions and design projects. While I do not believe bonding for building life extensions is appropriate, the State Legislature will not contribute their fair share unless it is bonded. The alternative to bonding is for local taxpayers pay the entire cost and that is unacceptable. This bond will also provide design work for Airport Heights Elementary, Girdwood K-8,  Gladys Wood Elementary, and Inlet View. The Board bond also includes funding for the design for a Career Technology and Vocational Education center at West/Romig. 

The third bond is the result of a board directive I proposed and was approved unanimously by the Board. It will significantly expand career technology and vocational education at middle and high schools. These vocational classes are important because they keep many students interested in school, hands-on applications help students learn classroom subjects, and it connects students with a career path when they graduate from high school. 

In the past three years since the public has approved school bonds, approximately $150 million in bond equity has been paid off. The total cost of all three bonds is approximately $70 million and will cost the taxpayer $8.01 per year for $100,000 of assessed property value. I believe all three bonds are focused on what goes on in the schools and less with the appearance.

The last municipal election had the lowest voter turnout in at least 20 years.  Why should people head to the polls and vote on April 5?:

I believe it is our civic responsibility to vote every election.  Democracy is a precious gift we have been given in this country and a gift that is being protected by the sacrifices of men and women in our military today. We teach this is schools, and we should practice it in our lives. Democracy works best when all citizens vote. I believe Alaskans understand that very low voter turnout can result in the election of candidates who do not represent the interest of the majority of Alaskans. 

I am passionate about public education; believe in challenging the status quo, asking tough questions and achieving high goals. I have three years on the School Board, and during my tenure I have devoted extensive amount of time learning the Anchorage School District and studying education issues on a local, state and national issues. I am part of a new Board and proud of my role in leading the Board in a new direction. I want to continue to provide leadership that will expand on our progress during the past three years. 

I am asking for your vote April 5th.  Thank you.