Legislators would convene for a joint session to consider an override as soon as next Monday if the governor vetoes the education bill on Thursday, legislative leaders say.
With just a day left until the veto deadline in a wide-ranging education bill that contains the first significant increase to the state’s school funding formula in years, Alaska lawmakers and Gov. Mike Dunleavy have not reached an agreement.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, said he had good meetings with the governor on Monday and Tuesday nights, but there has been no agreement and he doesn’t know what will happen tomorrow. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said the governor’s attempt to move control of charter schools under the state school board and away from local districts is one of the biggest issues the caucus has with the administration. Dunleavy has also cited a teacher bonus incentive bill and issues with funding related to reading as reasons for a potential veto.
Sen. Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage and chair of the Senate Education Committee, said basic school funding would benefit charter schools. She said a lack of funding has at least one district considering closing a charter school for cost savings. “The Nome public charter school has been in existence for over 25 years, and it would be a travesty to see their doors close,” she said.
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