{"id":8825,"date":"2018-06-26T22:55:55","date_gmt":"2018-06-27T05:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spijue.wpengine.com\/news\/funding-of-new-pre-k-program-could-be-on-october-ballot-2\/"},"modified":"2018-06-26T22:55:55","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T05:55:55","slug":"funding-of-new-pre-k-program-could-be-on-october-ballot-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/funding-of-new-pre-k-program-could-be-on-october-ballot-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Funding of new pre-K program could be on October ballot"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new pre-kindergarten program for Juneau youth is still in the works,<\/span> but funding the program may be up to voters this<\/span> October.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> City<\/span> and<\/span> Borough<\/span> of<\/span> Juneau<\/span> Assembly during Monday night’s regular meeting discussed putting the Best Starts for Juneau program on the municipal ballot as an advisory proposition resolution. If that were to happen, voters would decide whether to fund the program with property tax revenue.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Through<\/span> the<\/span> recommendation<\/span> of<\/span> Mayor<\/span> Ken<\/span> Koelsch,<\/span> the<\/span> Assembly<\/span> moved that<\/span> the issue<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> discussed<\/span> at<\/span> a<\/span> future<\/span> special<\/span> Finance<\/span> Committee<\/span> or<\/span> Committee<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Whole<\/span> meeting<\/span> in<\/span> July.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joy<\/span> Lyon,<\/span> Executive<\/span> Director<\/span> of<\/span> Association<\/span> for<\/span> the<\/span> Education<\/span> of<\/span> Young<\/span> Children<\/span> of<\/span> Southeast<\/span> Alaska<\/span>,<\/span> and<\/span> part<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Best<\/span> Starts<\/span> group,<\/span> said<\/span> deciding<\/span> to<\/span> go the<\/span> direction<\/span> of<\/span> a<\/span> ballot<\/span> measure<\/span> came<\/span> after<\/span> recommendations<\/span> from<\/span> the<\/span> Assembly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Many<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Assembly<\/span> members<\/span> said<\/span> we<\/span> need<\/span> to<\/span> hear<\/span> more<\/span> from<\/span> the<\/span> community,”<\/span> Lyon<\/span> said<\/span> during<\/span> Monday’s<\/span> meeting.<\/span> “We<\/span> need<\/span> to<\/span> know,<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> sustainable,<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> whole<\/span> community<\/span> is<\/span> understanding<\/span> the<\/span> importance<\/span> of<\/span> it<\/span> and<\/span> committed<\/span> to<\/span> solving<\/span> this<\/span> problem<\/span> in<\/span> our<\/span> community.”<\/span><\/p>\n

According<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> Alaska<\/span> Department<\/span> of<\/span> Education<\/span> and<\/span> Early<\/span> Childhood<\/span> Care<\/span> and<\/span> Development, only<\/span> 32<\/span> percent<\/span><\/a> of<\/span> kindergarten<\/span> students<\/span> in<\/span> Juneau<\/span> demonstrate<\/span> 11<\/span> of<\/span> 13<\/span> goals<\/span> determined<\/span> by<\/span> the<\/span> department<\/span> as<\/span> “kindergarten<\/span> ready.”<\/span> Those<\/span> skills<\/span> range<\/span> from<\/span> communication<\/span> to<\/span> social<\/span> interaction<\/span> to<\/span> general<\/span> knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n

After<\/span> discussion<\/span> at<\/span> one<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> committee<\/span> meetings,<\/span> the<\/span> proposal<\/span> will<\/span> then<\/span> be placed<\/span> in<\/span> front<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Assembly<\/span> as<\/span> part<\/span> of<\/span> a<\/span> public<\/span> hearing.<\/span> If<\/span> the Assembly<\/span> approves the proposition, it<\/span> will<\/span> be<\/span> placed<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> Oct.<\/span> 2<\/span> municipal<\/span> ballot.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> program’s<\/span> goal<\/span> is<\/span> to<\/span> give<\/span> child<\/span> care<\/span> providers<\/span> financial<\/span> incentives.<\/span> The<\/span> idea<\/span> is<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> incentives<\/span> will<\/span> increase<\/span> teacher<\/span> wages,<\/span> improve<\/span> learning<\/span> environments<\/span> and<\/span> adopt<\/span> the new<\/span> curriculum.<\/span> The<\/span> program’s<\/span> incentive<\/span> awards<\/span> are<\/span> based<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> number<\/span> of<\/span> children<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> class<\/span> and<\/span> quality<\/span> level<\/span> of<\/span> teaching,<\/span> based<\/span> on<\/span> Learn<\/span> &<\/span> Grow,<\/span> Alaska’s<\/span> statewide<\/span> Quality<\/span> Recognition<\/span> and<\/span> Improvement<\/span> System.<\/span> Incentives<\/span> would<\/span> range<\/span> between<\/span> $125-$250<\/span> per<\/span> month<\/span> per<\/span> child. According to Learn & Grow Director Meghan Johnson, 149 programs currently participate in Alaska in the statewide quality system. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lyon said Best Starts started in Juneau when members of Raising Our Children with Kindness Juneau (R.O.C.K. Juneau) heard of Best Starts for Kids in King County, <\/a>Washington<\/a>. Lyon said they got permission to use that name from the group and began starting their work.<\/p>\n

“It is an initiative modeled after (King County) and customized to fit our area,” Lyon said.<\/p>\n

Back<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> May<\/span> 3<\/span> CBJ<\/span> Finance<\/span> Committee<\/span> meeting<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> Lyon,<\/span> along<\/span> with<\/span> Ted<\/span> Wilson,<\/span> Director<\/span> of<\/span> Teaching<\/span> and<\/span> Learning<\/span> Support<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> Juneau<\/span> School<\/span> District,<\/span> Brian<\/span> Holst,<\/span> Executive<\/span> Director<\/span> of<\/span> Juneau<\/span> Economic<\/span> Development<\/span> Council<\/span> and<\/span> Blue<\/span> Shibler,<\/span> owner<\/span> of<\/span> Discovery<\/span> Preschool,<\/span> gave<\/span> a<\/span> presentation<\/span> asking<\/span> for<\/span> funding<\/span> of<\/span> $2.18<\/span> million<\/span> spread<\/span> over<\/span> the<\/span> city’s Fiscal<\/span> Years<\/span> 2019<\/span> and<\/span> FY20<\/span> budgets.<\/span> At<\/span> the<\/span> May<\/span> 9<\/span> Finance<\/span> Committee<\/span> meeting<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> the<\/span> city<\/span> decided<\/span> not<\/span> to<\/span> fund<\/span> the<\/span> project.<\/span><\/p>\n

Assembly<\/span> member<\/span> Norton<\/span> Gregory,<\/span> who<\/span> was<\/span> a<\/span> proponent<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> program<\/span> being<\/span> placed<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> ballot,<\/span> said<\/span> going<\/span> this<\/span> direction<\/span> gives<\/span> the<\/span> public<\/span> the<\/span> opportunity<\/span> to<\/span> take<\/span> part<\/span> on<\/span> whether<\/span> they<\/span> support<\/span> the<\/span> program.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I<\/span> think<\/span> it<\/span> is<\/span> important<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> community<\/span> is<\/span> well-informed<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> issues<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> ballot,”<\/span> Gregory<\/span> said.<\/span> “The<\/span> community<\/span> will<\/span> be<\/span> able<\/span> to<\/span> weigh<\/span> in<\/span> and<\/span> share<\/span> their<\/span> thoughts<\/span> with<\/span> the<\/span> Assembly,<\/span> which<\/span> will<\/span> help<\/span> assembly<\/span> members<\/span> steer<\/span> their<\/span> vote<\/span> for<\/span> this<\/span> to<\/span> go<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> October<\/span> ballot<\/span> or<\/span> not.<\/span> This<\/span> is<\/span> an<\/span> extremely<\/span> important<\/span> issue<\/span> for<\/span> our<\/span> community<\/span> members<\/span> and<\/span> especially<\/span> to<\/span> our<\/span> young<\/span> families.<\/span> Our<\/span> community<\/span> has<\/span> a<\/span> lot<\/span> to<\/span> think<\/span> about.”<\/span><\/p>\n

This<\/span> effort<\/span> is<\/span> expected<\/span> to<\/span> cost<\/span> up<\/span> to<\/span> $2.8<\/span> million,<\/span> adjusted<\/span> for<\/span> annual<\/span> inflation,<\/span> of<\/span> CBJ<\/span> funding<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> fifth<\/span> year<\/span> when<\/span> the<\/span> program<\/span> is<\/span> fully<\/span> implemented. The<\/span> Assembly<\/span> would<\/span> need to increase<\/span> property<\/span> taxes<\/span> to<\/span> fund<\/span> this<\/span> effort<\/span> but<\/span> may<\/span> be<\/span> able<\/span> to<\/span> partially<\/span> offset<\/span> property<\/span> tax<\/span> rate<\/span> increases<\/span> over<\/span> the<\/span> next<\/span> five<\/span> years<\/span> with<\/span> natural<\/span> increases<\/span> in<\/span> local<\/span> sales<\/span> and<\/span> property<\/span> values.<\/span> The<\/span> amount<\/span> given,<\/span> $2.8<\/span> million,<\/span> is<\/span> the<\/span> equivalent<\/span> of<\/span> 0.58<\/span> mill<\/span> of<\/span> property<\/span> tax<\/span> in<\/span> 2018,<\/span> or<\/span> $58<\/span> per<\/span> $100,000<\/span> of<\/span> assessed<\/span> value.<\/span><\/p>\n

Best<\/span> Starts<\/span> spokesperson<\/span> Kevin<\/span> Ritchie<\/span> is<\/span> confident<\/span> that<\/span> if<\/span> the<\/span> resolution<\/span> is<\/span> on the<\/span> ballot,<\/span> it<\/span> will<\/span> pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The<\/span> public<\/span> deserves<\/span> to<\/span> have<\/span> the<\/span> ability<\/span> to<\/span> have<\/span> a<\/span> discussion<\/span> about<\/span> it,”<\/span> Ritchie<\/span> said.<\/span> “We<\/span> have<\/span> no<\/span> problem<\/span> at<\/span> all<\/span> if<\/span> it<\/span> comes<\/span> down<\/span> to<\/span> a<\/span> vote.<\/span> We<\/span> think<\/span> there<\/span> is<\/span> an<\/span> undeniable<\/span> case<\/span> that<\/span> kids<\/span> in<\/span> Juneau<\/span> need<\/span> to<\/span> be better-prepared<\/span> to enter<\/span> kindergarten.<\/span> Families<\/span> need<\/span> the<\/span> benefits<\/span> of<\/span> good<\/span> care<\/span> and<\/span> early<\/span> learning<\/span> system.”<\/span><\/p>\n

City<\/span> approves<\/span> the sale<\/span> of<\/span> lots<\/span> to<\/span> Alaskan<\/span> Brewing<\/span> Company<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> CBJ<\/span> Assembly<\/span> also<\/span> unanimously<\/span> approved<\/span> the<\/span> sale<\/span> of<\/span> four<\/span> former<\/span> city<\/span> lots<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> Alaskan<\/span> Brewing<\/span> Company<\/span> during<\/span> Monday’s<\/span> meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> city<\/span> sold<\/span> the<\/span> four<\/span> lots,<\/span> located<\/span> near<\/span> the<\/span> brewery’s<\/span> Lemon<\/span> Creek<\/span> location<\/span> on<\/span> Shaune<\/span> Drive,<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> brewery<\/span> for<\/span> a<\/span> fair<\/span> sale<\/span> price<\/span> of<\/span> $2.87<\/span> million.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brewery<\/span> co-founder<\/span> Geoff<\/span> Larson<\/span> said<\/span> the<\/span> brewery<\/span> has<\/span> expanded<\/span> eastward<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> past<\/span> and<\/span> being<\/span> able<\/span> to<\/span> move<\/span> west,<\/span> will<\/span> help<\/span> the<\/span> brewery<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> future.<\/span><\/p>\n

“On<\/span> our<\/span> western<\/span> boundary,<\/span> we<\/span> are<\/span> busting<\/span> out<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> seam,”<\/span> Larson<\/span> said<\/span> about<\/span> the<\/span> workspace<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> western<\/span> end<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> building.<\/span> “This<\/span> would<\/span> alleviate<\/span> that<\/span> and<\/span> will<\/span> allow<\/span> us<\/span> to<\/span> continue<\/span> to<\/span> thrive<\/span> in<\/span> this<\/span> community.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> city<\/span> sold<\/span> the<\/span> lots<\/span> after<\/span> wanting<\/span> to<\/span> consolidate<\/span> all<\/span> waste<\/span> programs,<\/span> including<\/span> recycling,<\/span> household<\/span> hazardous<\/span> waste<\/span> (HHW)<\/span> and<\/span> composting.<\/span> The<\/span> former<\/span> lots<\/span> sold<\/span> to<\/span> Alaskan<\/span> Brewing<\/span> used<\/span> to contain<\/span> the<\/span> water<\/span> utility<\/span> and<\/span> HHW<\/span> facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> water<\/span> utility<\/span> will<\/span> move<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> old<\/span> Valley<\/span> Street<\/span> maintenance<\/span> shop<\/span> and<\/span> HHW<\/span> will<\/span> need<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> relocated.<\/span> The<\/span> CBJ<\/span> Committee<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Whole<\/span> recommended<\/span> entering<\/span> a<\/span> lease<\/span> agreement<\/span> with<\/span> Waste<\/span> Management<\/span> to<\/span> use<\/span> its<\/span> Capitol<\/span> Disposal<\/span> Landfill<\/span> at<\/span> 5600<\/span> Tonsgard<\/span> Court<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> Assembly<\/span> for<\/span> all-inclusive<\/span> waste<\/span> management<\/span> site<\/span> during<\/span> its<\/span> May<\/span> 21<\/span><\/a>meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com<\/a> or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.<\/b><\/p>\n

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A new pre-kindergarten program for Juneau youth is still in the works, but funding the program may be up to voters this October. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly during Monday night’s regular meeting discussed putting the Best Starts for Juneau program on the municipal ballot as an advisory proposition resolution. If that were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":431,"featured_media":8826,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","wds_primary_category":4,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-8825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/431"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8825"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8825\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8825"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=8825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}