Dave Johnson
97:08 - 97:56
“I had a conversation with my kids and I told them, you know, the sad reality is the education you're getting this year is probably the best you'll get while you're while you're in school. It's only going to get worse. For me, the kind of final straw, or whatever you want to call it, was going down to Juneau last, last winter and here being told that until the state's congressional budget reserve is fully depleted, there's no appetite to really do anything to fix things.”
- Speaker
- Dave Johnson
- Timestamp
- 97:08 – 97:56
- Community
- Alaska News
- Location
- Kodiak Island Borough
- Captured at
- May 21, 2026
From the transcript
Um, you know, we've talked a lot about the anecdotes, and I do agree with the mayor on there, but I'll share a different anecdote. I had a conversation with my kids and I told them, you know, the sad reality is the education you're getting this year is probably the best you'll get while you're while you're in school. It's only going to get worse. For me, the kind of final straw, or whatever you want to call it, was going down to Juneau last, last winter and here being told that until the state's congressional budget reserve is fully depleted, there's no appetite to really do anything to fix things. So yeah, when we talk about outmigration, that sadly one of the, you know, families considering it because The state is in a mess and we're not giving our kids the futures they deserve in Alaska.
Related Coverage
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly approves $13.8M for schools, $836K below district request
Assembly approved 13.7 million dollars for schools, 836 thousand less than requested. • District already cut 2.7 million and warned more cuts mean losing aides, nurses, and counselors. • Federal COVID aid and education grants have ended, leaving borough to fill the gap. • State funding unlikely to improve until Alaska depletes its constitutional budget reserve.
