The Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) extends sincere gratitude to the bipartisan efforts of the Alaska Legislature for swiftly passing HB 193 as well as to Governor Dunleavy for promptly enacting the legislation. Special thanks to Senator Hoffman and Representative Edgmon for their leadership.
Through the enactment of HB 193, rural and remote schools across Alaska will now benefit from much faster internet download speeds of 100Mbps. This critical enhancement will empower students to remain competitive with their counterparts statewide and enable educators to employ innovative teaching methods utilizing technology.
We commend legislators for acknowledging the digital disparity and diligently working towards a solution to narrow the gap, thereby fostering a more equitable learning environment for students in Alaska’s most rural and remote communities. By capitalizing on a 9:1 match of federal funding for E-Rate, this effort stands as a testament to the positive outcomes achievable when state and federal resources are effectively leveraged.
While celebrating this significant milestone, ACSA urges continued bipartisan collaboration within the legislature to advance further support for students, educators, families, and communities throughout this session. Specifically, we call upon legislators to prioritize increasing the Base Student Allocation (BSA), thereby collectively fostering enhanced opportunities for all Alaskans.
In the spirit of unity and progress, and on behalf of our members across Alaska, ACSA remains committed to working alongside legislators and the executive branch to ensure the continued advancement of education across the state.
Alaska Council of School Administrators
Juneau, AK
Update from the Ted Stevens Foundation
I am pleased to report that the Ted Stevens Foundation recently completed the donation of the Stevens Collection of official papers to the APU/UAA Consortium Library. At over 4500 boxes, the processing and curating of the Collection was a massive undertaking, and we are excited that the Senator’s work will be made available to the public.
The donation of the Stevens Collection is just the first stage of the Foundation’s vision in harnessing the resources and lessons of the Senator’s legacy and those of others who helped shaped our state. To this end, the Foundation has partnered with the University of Alaska Anchorage to establish an Alaska Leaders Archive and Center for Public Policy and Leadership. Utilizing the archival collections of Alaska’s congressional delegations, Native leaders, and other prominent Alaskans, the Archive and Center will be a research and academic center to educate and inspire future leaders to address local, state, national, and global challenges.
This project is currently in its design phase, building out both the physical space and the strategic plan. The physical design entails the renovation and repurposing of the existing Consortium Library to accommodate the Alaska Leaders Archive, as well as creating and incorporating a new Native Gathering space.
On a personal note, after almost 11 years with the Foundation, I will be departing on March 31st. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the Foundation’s board and staff, the Senator’s friends and family, corporate and individual donors, and numerous community organizations and volunteers as we worked collectively to honor Senator Stevens’ significant legacy.
Our projects and programs would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our Foundation team throughout the years: Robin Phillips, Elsie Eckman, Jolene Kennah, Erik Hill, Fran Durner, Jeff Sinnott, Rosemary Austin, Stacey Baldridge, Lynn Halquist, Terranova Tasker, Sharon Palmisano, Mallory Hillary, Kae Bergstrom, and Tony Fedullo.
As the search for a new Executive Director continues, Robin Phillips will be serving that role on an interim basis to ensure the continuation of the Foundation’s work.
Karina Waller
Ted Stevens Foundation
Require tugboats for transiting ships
The recent crash of the ship Dali into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore harbor, and the attendant loss of life, the destruction of the bridge, and the economic impact reminded me of mariner concerns for the lurking dangers to ships entering and leaving ports.
I served on 13 Navy ships that made many ports of call in the U.S. and foreign countries. As a conning officer and navigator I remember being on total alert as we transited harbors through designated channels. We typically maintained enough speed at about five knots to provide headway for steering, and we always had two to four tugboats assisting our transits.
The Dali was transiting at around eight or nine knots, which is too fast, and it did not utilize any tugboats. Its speed was excessive, but the absence of tugboats was the critical mistake. The tugs could have prevented the collision.
All port authorities should review their ship transit policies and procedures and require all major sea going vessels to utilize tugboats when entering and leaving ports.
Donald Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH
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