NOME, ALASKA — Nome Superintendent Shawn Arnold is following along as Alaska lawmakers craft a budget to close the state’s massive deficit. While cuts could still be coming, he says the current outlook for public education funding isn’t too bad.
“Things look promising — as best as they could,” he said. “I mean, oil’s not any better. But as it is right now, education spending is fairly intact. That’s good.”
Arnold shared a budget update with the board of education for Nome Public Schools at a regular meeting Tuesday night. The district has drafted a $15.3 million dollar budget for the next school year, but CFO Lucienne Smith has also started a contingency budget in case the state makes drastic cuts.
Arnold said he has testified before the state legislature to emphasize the importance of education funding in rural Alaska. At a recent meeting of the Senate Finance Committee, he said he joined by phone to speak in favor of broadband internet assistance and early childhood education funding — both of which face proposed cuts.
“We receive a quarter of the funds that the state gives for early childhood education,” he said. “We’re one of the largest recipients. That funds three certified staff positions: two at the Head Start and one at the preschool. It’ll definitely have a big impact on the community if that funding goes away.”
Arnold said the district should know more about state funding after spring break next week. That’s when legislators have planned to propose a working budget.
With that new information, the school board will review the district’s budget for the fourth time at a work session later this month. Arnold said they’ll present the budget to the public in April.
