2025-2026 Legislative Priorities

The Mat-Su Borough School District is dedicated to providing high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, careers, and beyond. With strong academic outcomes, innovative programs, and a focus on student achievement, MSBSD advocates for sustainable investments, flexibility, and resources to ensure every student thrives in a safe, supportive learning environment.

2025-2026 Legislative Priorities

Education Funding

Sustainable, predictable funding for schools

Foundation Funding Formula
Pupil Transportation
Alaska Reads Act
Correspondence Factor

Sustainable and predictable funding for K-12 public education programs continues to be a priority for the Mat-Su Borough School Board. Foundation Formula funding was recently increased, however, future inflation should be addressed. Transportation funding does not cover the cost of this important service and has no inflation proofing or cost escalation language. The Alaska Reads Act continues to be a powerful educational expectation but without needed funding to support its effective implementation. Correspondence students continue to receive funding below their peers, and do not receive funding multipliers for special needs and career and technical education. Increases which are part of a multi-year, sustainable, and comprehensive fiscal plan will allow the Mat-Su School District to continue to achieve high results.

Recruitment & Retention

Flexibility & resources to attract and keep talent

State funded teacher recruitment and retention incentives
Allow school districts to access Alaska Care

In this current fiscal climate, school districts are challenged to be innovative in meeting student needs and community interests. MSBSD continues to rise to this challenge through the development of new programs, effective hiring practices, and embracing student, family, and community choice. The Mat-Su School Board recognizes that continuing to develop innovative programs and recruiting high quality teachers will require expanded flexibility or changes to certain limiting legislative sections.

BOARD TERMS

Allow municipalities and boroughs the ability to align board member terms with other elected officials.

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly voted to extend the terms for assembly members to four years. This was done to align the local elections with the state and national election cycle and reduce the costs associated with facilitating elections. The Mat-Su Borough School District would similarly like to support the increased efficiency by allowing board members to serve a four year term. However, AS 14.12.050 does not allow for this adjustment.

INSTRUCTIONAL BOUNDARIES

Support legislation that limits in-person instructional services provided by a school district outside of their district’s boundary.

School districts receive funding through the foundation formula based on a variety of factors. While correspondence funding is standardized across all geographic regions, in-person learning considers items such as school size, geographic differentials, and municipal contributions. Allowing funding which flows through these while operating in a different location raises several concerns. Draft proposal may include something similar to the following: “A school district may not operate, manage, lease, or facilitate in-person instructional services, including resource centers, tutoring, or enrichment programs, within the geographic boundaries of another organized borough or municipal school district unless authorized by mutual agreement between both districts’ governing boards. This section does not prohibit the operation of virtual instruction provided entirely remotely through a correspondence program approved under AS 14.30.010(b).

Parental Rights

Empower parents in their child's education

During the previous session the Mat-Su Borough School Board expressed support for legislation which ensured parental rights in their child’s education as well as opposition to legislation intended to limit the inclusion of parents. This included support for such initiatives as required notice and affirmative written consent before any activity, class, or program that includes sensitive and personal content involving gender identify, human reproduction, or sexual matters; rights of parents to designate the official name used by schools when addressing or referring to enrolled students; and prevent school districts from refusing to release sensitive and personal student records to the child’s legal parent or guardian. The Board opposes legislation where medical, mental, or behavioral health services are available to students at school without the express written consent of the parent. Similarly the Board opposes legislation which would permit non medical personnel to refer students for any medical, mental, or behavioral health services within the school environment.

School Safety

Enhance safety with trained personnel

The safety and well-being of students are of paramount concern for the Mat-Su School Board, parents, staff, and the community. Establishing a program which seeks to support school districts in implementing strategies to prevent and address the most severe forms of violence in schools is an important priority. Providing legislative measures to limit liability and require appropriate training and support thorough evaluation, will assist schools across the State in maintaining safe learning environments.

Capital Requests

Reinstate School Bond Debt Reimbursement Program Funding for future school construction projects.

Since 1970, the State of Alaska has reimbursed boroughs and municipalities with bonding authority for a fixed portion of principal and interest payments. Most recently, this reimbursement rate was set at either 70% or 60%, depending on allowable space criteria established by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development. In 2015, the Legislature placed a five-year moratorium on new projects through 2020. A separate five-year moratorium was enacted by the Legislature in 2020, leading to an overall 10-year suspension of the program through June 30, 2025. The Mat-Su Borough School District’s current deferred maintenance needs are estimated to be $244 million.

Roofing Replacements (3 Sites): $7.8 Million

This project is for the replacement of the remaining paver-style roof systems within the District. Colony Middle, Wasilla Middle, and Talkeetna Elementary Schools have roofing systems that have exceeded expected life and have expired warranties. Failure in each of the current roofing systems has led to sporadic leakage and collateral damages. This project will remove the existing roofing material and replace it with a modern, insulated membrane roofing system.

Boiler and Boiler Control Upgrades (9 Sites): $6.8 Million

This project will complete critical boiler and boiler control replacements to 13 school district sites. All location boilers are beyond the manufacturer’s predicted life expectancy of 25 years. Work items include removal and new installation of the boiler, connection piping, base stack, blower motors, system circulation pumps, local controls, DDC system programming and tie-in, etc. The Mat-Su School Borough District has been battling emergency repairs on these boilers for many years. All included location boilers have crucial items that are and have been affecting the physical environment, building temperature control, and thus the classroom. Several sites have required emergency repairs just to remain operational.

HVAC Control Upgrades (4 sites): $2.6 Million

All locations have outdated pneumatic Direct Digital Control systems that are past their useful life. These pneumatic systems rely on air pressure to provide communication between the signaling components and the actuating components through plastic lines. The systems are aged and the plastic is becoming brittle and cracks and breaks are occuring. The loss of pressure containment leads to faulty control signals and loss of communication between components. This project will provide the existing HVAC system modifications and replace the pneumatic controls with new electronic controls.

Emergency Generator Replacements (3 Sites): $2.6 Million

This project will replace aging generators that are past their end of life at Pioneer Peak Elementary, Cottonwood Creek Elementary and Finger Lake Elementary. The generators are old enough that we can no longer acquire replacement parts making preventative maintenance difficult and reliability uncertain. Power outages often occur during the winter months and emergency generators are critical infrastructure components to ensure student safety and building health. Additionally, all of the listed locations have served as emergency shelters in the past and updating the generator is important for the broader community as well as the educational environment.

Support funding for Emergency Management Services Radio Communications Bi-Directional Amplifiers purchase and installation for all Borough-owned Schools: $5.4 MILLION

The District has established 14 major safety and security infrastructure standards which are consistently found and maintained across the District. Missing from this infrastructure list is equipment which ensures that radio communications are operating and feasible throughout school facilities. Building construction standards often interfere with or disrupt the radio communications effectiveness at schools, both school radios and radios used by first responders and emergency personnel. The cost to retrofit existing Borough owned schools with bi-directional amplifiers to support VHF multi-channel radios is approximately $5,400,000 (45 schools x $120,000 (estimate)).

Districtwide Athletic Field Electrical and Track Updates (4 sites): $10.1 Million

This project addresses deferred maintenance and upgrades to the athletic field electrical systems and synthetic track surfaces at Palmer High School, Colony High School, Wasilla High School, and Houston High School. Work includes improvements to field lighting, power distribution, and electrical infrastructure, as well as resurfacing and restoration of synthetic track systems to improve safety, performance, and longevity.

Districtwide Exterior Envelope Repairs and Upgrades (4 sites): $9.5 Million

This project addresses deferred maintenance and building envelope improvements at 4 district schools: Colony Middle, Wasilla Middle, Palmer Middle, Willow Elementary. The repairs and upgrades will extend building life and improve energy efficiency. Work includes repairs and upgrades to exterior walls, windows, doors, siding, and weatherproofing systems to enhance structural integrity, prevent water intrusion, and improve thermal performance while ensuring compliance with current building codes.