Alaska
Kendal Kruse: A case for education reform
By KENDAL KRUSE
Education is the cornerstone of a thriving society, and in Alaska, our education system is at a critical juncture. The need for comprehensive reform is not just a policy discussion; it’s necessary for our future. Despite generous funding per student compared to many states, Alaska continues to lag in outcomes. We must have reforms.
Recent reports and studies have highlighted that Alaska’s public school charter schools achieve some of the best results in the nation. Our charter school success is a beacon, showing that with the right reforms, we can achieve remarkable results. Parents know that charter schools offer their students something that many neighborhood schools cannot, and the growing number of students on waitlists is evidence of that.
Gov. Dunleavy recognizes that parents are demanding a variety of education models for their children and is advocating for policies that expand educational choice. Sadly, his proposals have met with resistance from special interests, who seem more interested in funding a system than meeting the demands of parents and students.
In addition to the creation of more charter schools, increased funding for public homeschool correspondence programs is also a pressing need. These programs have seen a significant rise in enrollment, with over 23,000 students participating last year — about 18% of all Alaska’s students. Currently, families only receive about $2,700 every year for the most common correspondence programs, compared to a statewide average of $21,058 per student. This amount hasn’t kept pace with educational costs, the needs of students in remote areas or those choosing homeschooling for personalized education. It also raises serious questions about equity.
The current correspondence funding calculation also creates a financial burden for school districts that have correspondence programs. Dunleavy’s proposal to calculate funding differently would increase the amount of funding for school districts and could empower more families to tailor education to their children’s unique needs, especially in regions where traditional schooling is logistically challenging.
Another critical aspect to education reform must be the alignment of education with workforce needs. Alaska’s economy is unique, with significant opportunities in fields like skilled labor, resource management, health care and technology. Alaska’s business community supports the governor’s efforts to expand career and technical education (CTE) opportunities for students. His proposed changes will provide more options for CTE training and will better prepare students for real-world jobs that are available in our state.
Finally, the most important reforms could be those that support our teachers and the collaboration between public educators and the people they serve — Alaska’s parents and students. Teachers are the heart of education, and without supported and motivated teachers, no amount of reform will succeed. The implementation of cellphone-free policies during instructional times, as proposed in some legislative bills, could be one way to enhance classroom focus and teacher effectiveness. School district policies must also limit the amount of disruption that occurs in classrooms.
The involvement of parents and communities in educational reforms cannot be overstated. The current system often lacks transparency and accountability, which has led to a disconnect between what Alaskans want for their children’s education and what is currently delivered. Educators must include parents in policy decisions and parents need to be actively engaged in helping their children to be more successful. Everyone should recognize that we must do something different if we want different results.
Alaska has many great educators and local districts have made some good policy changes, but the overall system is crying out for reform. With Alaska’s dubious status of being 51st out of 53 in NAEP scores and over half of our students below basic proficiency in core subject areas, despite spending an average of more than $21,000 per student annually, the evidence for needed change is clear.
We must address the increasing demand for correspondence schooling by boosting funding, alleviating the pressure on charter schools by streamlining their expansion and better supporting our teachers. A multifaceted approach that includes accountability, innovation in teaching methods, strategic funding and community engagement is not just beneficial but essential. The future of our children depends on our ability to reform education now.
It’s not just about funding; it’s about rethinking and restructuring how we educate the next generation of Alaskans.
Kendal Kruse is mother of four young Alaskans and serving on the Mat Su School Board. The opinions expressed here are her own.
Alaska
Dozens of vehicle accidents reported, Anchorage after-school activities canceled, as snowfall buries Southcentral Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Up to a foot of snow has fallen in areas across Southcentral as of Tuesday, with more expected into Wednesday morning.
All sports and after-school activities — except high school basketball and hockey activities — were canceled Tuesday for the Anchorage School District. The decision was made to allow crews to clear school parking lots and manage traffic for snow removal, district officials said.
“These efforts are critical to ensuring schools can safely remain open [Wednesday],” ASD said in a statement.
The Anchorage Police Department’s accident count for the past two days shows there have been 55 car accidents since Monday, as of 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. In addition, there have been 86 vehicles in distress reported by the department.
The snowfall — which has brought up to 13 inches along areas of Turnagain Arm and 12 inches in Wasilla — is expected to continue Tuesday, according to latest forecast models. Numerous winter weather alerts are in effect, and inland areas of Southcentral could see winds up to 25 mph, with coastal areas potentially seeing winds over 45 mph.
Some areas of Southcentral could see more than 20 inches of snowfall by Wednesday, with the Anchorage and Eagle River Hillsides, as well as the foothills of the Talkeetna Mountain, among the areas seeing the most snowfall.
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Alaska
Yundt Served: Formal Charges Submitted to Alaska Republican Party, Asks for Party Sanction and Censure of Senator Rob Yundt
On January 3, 2026, Districts 27 and 28 of the Alaska Republican Party received formal charges against Senator Rob Yundt pursuant to Article VII of the Alaska Republican Party Rules.
According to the Alaska Republican Party Rules: “Any candidate or elected official may be sanctioned or censured for any of the following
reasons:
(a) Failure to follow the Party Platform.
(b) Engagement in any activities prohibited by or contrary to these rules or RNC Rules.
(c) Failure to carry out or perform the duties of their office.
(d) Engaging in prohibited discrimination.
(e) Forming a majority caucus in which non-Republicans are at least 1/3 or more of the
coalition.
(f) Engaging in other activities that may be reasonably assessed as bringing dishonor to
the ARP, such as commission of a serious crime.”
Party Rules require the signatures of at least 3 registered Republican constituents for official charges to be filed. The formal charges were signed by registered Republican voters and District N constitutions Jerad McClure, Thomas W. Oels, Janice M. Norman, and Manda Gershon.
Yundt is charged with “failure to adhere and uphold the Alaska Republican Party Platform” and “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles and priorities of the Alaska Republican Party Rules.” The constituents request: “Senator Rob Yundt be provided proper notice of the charges and a full and fair opportunity to respond; and that, upon a finding by the required two-thirds (2/3) vote of the District Committees that the charges are valid, the Committees impose the maximum sanctions authorized under Article VII.”
If the Party finds Yundt guilty of the charges, Yundt may be disciplined with formal censure by the Alaska Republican Party, declaration of ineligibility for Party endorsement, withdrawal of political support, prohibition from participating in certain Party activities, and official and public declaration that Yundt’s conduct and voting record contradict the Party’s values and priorities.
Reasons for the charges are based on Yundt’s active support of House Bill 57, Senate Bill 113, and Senate Bill 92. Constituents who filed the charges argue that HB 57 opposes the Alaska Republican Party Platform by “expanding government surveillance and dramatically increasing education spending;” that SB 113 opposes the Party’s Platform by “impos[ing] new tax burdens on Alaskan consumers and small businesses;” and that SB 92 opposes the Party by “proposing a targeted 9.2% tax on major private-sector energy producer supplying natural gas to Southcentral Alaska.” Although the filed charges state that SB 92 proposes a 9.2% tax, the bill actually proposes a 9.4% tax on income from oil and gas production and transportation.
Many Alaskan conservatives have expressed frustration with Senator Yundt’s legislative decisions. Some, like Marcy Sowers, consider Yundt more like “a tax-loving social justice warrior” than a conservative.
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Alaska
Pilot of Alaska flight that lost door plug over Portland sues Boeing, claims company blamed him
The Alaska Airlines captain who piloted the Boeing 737 Max that lost a door plug over Portland two years ago is suing the plane’s manufacturer, alleging that the company has tried to shift blame to him to shield its own negligence.
The $10 million suit — filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tuesday on behalf of captain Brandon Fisher — stems from the dramatic Jan. 5, 2024 mid-air depressurization of Flight 1282, when a door plug in the 26th row flew off six minutes after take off, creating a 2-by-4-foot hole in the plane that forced Fisher and co-pilot Emily Wiprud to perform an emergency landing back at PDX.
None of the 171 passengers or six crew members on board was seriously injured, but some aviation medical experts said that the consequences could have been “catastrophic” had the incident happened at a higher altitude.
Fisher’s lawsuit is the latest in a series filed against Boeing, including dozens from Flight 1282 passengers. It also names Spirit AeroSystems, a subcontractor that worked on the plane.
The lawsuit blames the incident on quality control issues with the door plug. It argues that Boeing caught five misinstalled rivets in the panel, and that Spirit employees painted over the rivets instead of reinstalling them correctly. Boeing inspectors caught the discrepancy again, the complaint alleges, but when employees finally reopened the panel to fix the rivets, they didn’t reattach four bolts that secured the door panel.
The complaint’s allegations that Boeing employees failed to secure the bolts is in line with a National Transportation Safety Board investigation that came to the conclusion that the bolts hadn’t been replaced.
Despite these internal issues, Fisher claims Boeing deliberately shifted blame towards him and his first officer.
Lawyers for Boeing in an earlier lawsuit wrote that the company wasn’t responsible for the incident because the plane had been “improperly maintained or misused by persons and/or entities other than Boeing.”
Fisher’s complaint alleges that the company’s statement was intended to “paint him as the scapegoat for Boeing’s numerous failures.”
“Instead of praising Captain Fisher’s bravery, Boeing inexplicably impugned the reputations of the pilots,” the lawsuit says.
As a result, Fisher has been scrutinized for his role in the incident, the lawsuit alleges, and named in two lawsuits by passengers.
Spokespeople for Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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