LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY

A Brief History of The U.S. Dept. Of Education and Its Significance to Alaska

Lon Garrison, AASB Executive Director

With the recent executive order by President Trump to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, I became curious about its history, origins, and evolution. My curiosity is twofold: Alaska has long been affected by federal education policy and has heavily depended on funding from the office.

Additionally, I personally have a connection to federal education efforts through my grandfather, Dr. Lloyd A. Garrison, who worked for what was then known as the Office of Education within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare as a regional representative covering the western U.S. during the 1950s and early 60s. He served as the Dean of the School of Education at Denver University and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to collaborate with the government of Colombia on national education policy from 1958 to 1962. He also served three terms on the Englewood, Colorado school board. I suppose there is something in our DNA!

BOARD DEVELOPMENT

The Role of Advisory School Boards in Alaska’s REAAs

Jenni Lefing, Membership Services Manager

Alaska’s education system offers distinct challenges and opportunities, especially within the state’s 23 Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs).   

A key component of REAA’s are locally elected advisory school boards, which play a critical role as the connection between local communities and their schools.  

While Alaska Statute (AS 14.08.115) requires regional school boards to establish an advisory school board in each community with more than 50 permanent residents, borough school districts may also establish advisory school boards. 

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Defending Civic Trust:

The Responsibility of Local Leadership

Matt Lehrman, Co-Founder & Managing Director

Social Prosperity Partners

Government works best when people help shape solutions, not just oppose decisions. Yet today, cynicism runs deep, and efforts to dismantle government have grown from skepticism into a bold push that weakens local governments’ ability to function.

For local leaders—elected, appointed, and staff alike—this distrust isn’t just an abstract challenge. It fuels efforts to weaken municipalities, school districts, and counties in their ability to govern effectively, make strategic decisions, and serve their communities with confidence.

Local government is where democracy is most tangible. It’s where people interact with decisions that shape daily life—where potholes are filled, parks are maintained, schools are funded, and community planning takes shape. When local government functions well, trust in governance strengthens. But when people see inefficiency, exclusion, or dysfunction, skepticism spreads, reinforcing the idea that government—at any level—cannot be trusted.

Registration is Now Open!

This year’s Spring Boardsmanship Academy is focused on Establishing Meaningful Tribal Consultation for Educational Programs (Day 1) and Building Boardsmanship Skills (Day 2).

Tribal Consultation in Education is a collaborative process between tribal leaders and school districts serving Alaska Native or American Indian students. (From ESSA Tribal Consultation Overview for School Districts).

This event will provide a space for school board members and tribal leaders to collaborate to establish a shared vision and develop initial steps for tribal consultation.

FAPE and Due Process Hearings

Lea Filippi, Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans & Filippi, LLC

Part 8 of the series Back to Basics

Children are legally entitled to a public education. The education appropriate for some students with disabilities may be different from the education appropriate for their peers. Alaska state law includes provisions necessary for ensuring that school districts meet their legal obligations to children with disabilities, including by complying with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law governing the provision of a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities.

The IDEA is a procedural statute. It establishes rules for when and how school districts must work with parents to determine how to appropriately serve students with disabilities.



Under the IDEA, school districts have what is called a “child find” obligation. Each district must take steps to proactively identify, location and evaluate children with disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disability, who may need special education and related services.

Don’t vote to accept, adopt, approve or

receive reports

Ann Macfarlane, Professional Parliamentarian

Boards and councils often fail to process reports correctly. When an officer or a committee submits a written report, the board usually should NOT vote to accept, adopt, approve, or receive it.

Instead, the report is noted as received for filing. No action is necessary.

The minutes simply state: Last month’s expense report was received for filing.

Are our Advisory School Board meetings public meetings? Can the ASB meet in executive session?

Answer: Yes, Advisory School Board (ASB) meetings are public meetings. They should be properly noticed and held at the school to allow community members to attend and observe.

In general, ASBs do not hold executive sessions, as they serve in an advisory role to the school board. Since ASBs do not have binding decision-making authority over personnel, financial matters, or other topics that meet the criteria outlined in the Open Meetings Act for executive sessions, they typically do not qualify to meet in closed session. However, some Regional School Boards in Alaska have authorized their ASBs to enter executive session for specific purposes.

For more information, refer to BP 8320: Meetings (Advisory School Boards) in your district’s policy manual.

Got a question? Email Jenni Lefing or Katie Oliver

Alaska Educators Honored with National

STEM Teaching Awards

Congratulations to the Alaska educators who have been awarded the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

This award recognizes outstanding educators from across the country who teach science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) at either an elementary or secondary grade level. Recipients of the Presidential Award represent the best of STEM education—demonstrating deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable student success.

Looking for a New Superintendent?

The Association of Alaska School Boards has been conducting successful and economical superintendent searches for over twenty years. Our Superintendent Search Service provides expert facilitation of the entire search process, including identifying the needs of the district, recruiting candidates, conducting background searches, facilitating interviews, and all the steps to help with the hiring process.

If you would like AASB to conduct a superintendent search for your district, or have questions, Learn More or Contact Us