Below is the petition to our District 6 representative, Sarah Vance. This petition was sent to her before the vote to overturn the governor’s veto (along with the 120 names of voters from District 6 who had signed the petition by then). Thankfully, the override passed and the $50 million for education is restored for this year’s school year — in spite of her NO vote.
Besides the petition and signatures that were sent to her before her NO vote, constituents had called and sent her many emails and letters in support of this funding and for public education in general. Her constituents in District 6 spoke out strongly, especially parents and working families who live and work here, raising their families and depending on good public education for their kids. Outside groups and advisors do not know what it is like in Alaska and are therefore unlikely to give any sound advice, and they are not her constituents.
HD6: Petition Supporting Public Education in Alaska — July 2025
The critical importance of a quality public education system for maintaining a democratic, prosperous, and free way of life in our state and nation is clear. Founding Father Thomas Jefferson emphasized that democracy requires a well-educated citizenry to survive. That our systems of public education around the nation have been under attack since 1980 hardly can be questioned. The goal of that attack has been to deny our citizenry a quality education equal to that which put 12 men on the moon in order to curtail freedoms and make us all subject to the will of a class of rich oligarchs.
In Alaska, some of our elected officials, including Governor Dunleavy and Representative Sarah Vance, consistently have undermined support for public schools, school districts, teachers, and students. The governor frequently has vetoed bills that would have increased spending on education and that were passed by a majority in the legislature. Representative Vance has been a deciding vote on upholding those vetoes. Those who favor the destruction of our public schools and their replacement with a system of indoctrination based upon particularistic social and religious views should carefully review and alter their stance in light of the following facts:
History tells us that citizens who are taught objective facts and concepts based solidly upon empirical data make better decisions for themselves in their personal lives.
Citizens with the firm foundation of a good public education become more involved in the political processes of democracy.
Alaskans and Americans who receive an excellent K – 12 education are much more likely to graduate from a college or tertiary vocational program than those whose education is undercut by a lack of financial support.
Those with good public school educations are far less likely to commit crimes and to be incarcerated than are those whose lack of education limits their ability to earn a good living.
Data shows clearly that every dollar spent on public education is returned to society many times over in the form of reduced costs for incarceration, public welfare, and health care costs.
The excuse that testing data in Alaska isn’t good enough to deserve additional funding is both perverse and objectively wrong. It is a lack of resources that diminishes the effectiveness of teachers and schools.
Attempting to make schools that are supported by public tax money into religious schools or charter schools runs contrary to the Constitutional separation of church and state, a provision the Founders adopted for compelling reasons based upon recent history in their time.
The obdurate and downright stubborn resistance by the governor, Representative Vance, and others with extreme views flies in the face of the clear desire among Alaskans for much increased school funding.
Increased public school funding generally produces increased lifetime earnings for graduates and reduces achievement gaps between students from low income and high income families.
Increased, timely, and reliable public school funding is essential in the hiring and retention of excellent teachers.
Increased public school funding produces better-built and better-maintained school facilities that enhance learning opportunities for our kids.
In view of these facts, we, the undersigned, petition our Representative Sarah Vance to step away from her adamant opposition to additional financial support for public schools in Alaska. We expect that she will vote in favor of and support, without conditions, the provision of significantly increased funding at the next opportunity, particularly if and when the next special session of the legislature occurs. In order to do that, she must attend the special session from day one.
Lani Raymond is a retired teacher from Homer and a member of Homer Women of Action.
