Email from Alaska Senate Majority Senator Kawasaki's Juneau Note   7 January 2026 View as Webpage Dear Friends and Neighbors, I hope your holiday season was an enjoyable and relaxing time with friends, family and loved ones. 2025 ended with a ‘bang’ due to the record cold month of December weather though we have also begun to see noticeable daylight as we gain a few minutes of sunshine on the horizon. The Alaska Legislative Education Funding Task Force will meet in Fairbanks and Nenana to understand how the model of school funding differs regionally to better understand the foundation funding formula that drives the per pupil state support. The Legislative Office in Fairbanks will close next week as we are transported to the State Capitol to do the business of the people. But before we leave, my office is hosting THREE intimate coffee talks on three different days over the next week! Check out the new year edition of the e-newsletter below. Legislative Education Funding Task Force The Legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill that included a $700 increase to the Base Student Allocation which was permanent, meaningful and affordable – but should have been closer to $1700 if it were just fixed with inflation over the last 10 years. Another part of the legislation included a multi-year, statewide, bipartisan, bicameral legislative Task force on Education Funding. Senator Loki Gale Tobin (D-Anchorage) and Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) as the Co-Chairs brought the committee to Fairbanks to learn about the needs of the Interior. It is important to know that the last time the funding formula went through major changes was in 2007 at the request of a prior Joint Legislative Education Task Force. With many advances in broadband technology, teaching methods, an aging workforce and rising inflation, the formula has proven itself to need adjustments. The Task Force recommendations will inform the funding policy of a future legislature under a new Governor. As a kid who grew up in Fairbanks and went to Joy, University Park, Tanana Middle School and then graduated from Lathrop in 1993 my education experience was excellent. I felt that I had the opportunities to grow and learn in a nurturing environment that suited me as well as my classmates. I just want to ensure that our children have those same education benefits, whether it is at a brick-and-mortar neighborhood school, a career academy, an online academies, charter schools, private parochial schools or homeschool. Come Join Me at One (or Three) Coffee Talks!'the Four' As legislators prepare for Juneau, I am encouraged by the engagement of friends and neighbors, but also of those who are skeptics or the single-issue curious. The Republic works better when your elected officials make themselves publicly available, get your input and comments directly and bring your interests forward to the Capitol. Here are three opportunities at different times in different parts of town to reach me before the office heads to Juneau. Moving Time As mentioned in the introduction, the office is going to move back to Juneau for the legislative session over the next week. During this time we will still be working for you, but we might be a bit slow to respond. Until the beginning of the session on January 21st, the best way to contact my office is to email me at [email protected]. You are more than welcome to call me at 907-456-7423, but we might not get back to you as fast as we usually would since we will be traveling down to Juneau. I look forward to continuing to serve you in the second session of the 34th Legislature. My Staff and I are Here for You  As always, I will continue to keep you updated on what I’m working on in Juneau throughout the session. If you have any questions about anything going on in the Capitol or at home, feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email – as always, my staff and I are working for you. We will assist you with the issues important to you and your family. Working Hard for Fairbanks Families, Senator Scott Kawasaki Alaska State Senator Serving the City of Fairbanks, Ft. Wainwright & Badger Road Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email   As your Senator, I am here to listen and help. Contact me anytime. Senator Lisa Murkowski Fairbanks Office: 101 12th Avenue, # 172 Fairbanks, AK 99701 (907) 456-0233 or Email Senator Dan Sullivan Fairbanks Office: 101 12th Avenue, # 328 Fairbanks, AK 99701 (907) 456-0261 or Email Congressman Nick Begich Fairbanks Office: 542 4th Avenue #210 Fairbanks, AK 99701 (907) 251-4560 or Email     IN JUNEAU: Phone: (907) 465-3466 FAX: (907) 465-2937 State Capitol Building Juneau, AK 99801 IN FAIRBANKS: Phone: (907) 456-7423 1292 Sadler Way Suite 308 (AlaskaUSA Credit Building) Fairbanks, AK 99701 Toll Free: (866) 465-3466 EMAIL Sen.Scott.Kawasaki@ akleg.gov WEB aksenatedems.com/ sen-kawasaki Here are some ways to let your voice be heard regarding issues important to you. Write a Letter to the Editor: submit up to a 350 word letter to the Fairbanks News Miner via their website: [link removed] Contact the Governor: Governor Dunleavy's Fairbanks office may be reached at (907) 451-2920. You can also visit the state website at gov.alaska.gov   Senator Scott Kawasaki | Alaska State Capitol | Juneau, AK 99801 US Unsubscribe | Constant Contact Data Notice