Sen. Mike Cronk: School choice, homeschooling deserve facts, not fiction

By SEN. MIKE CRONK

On Sunday morning, it was brought to my attention that I needed to listen to the Mat-Su Borough School District Board meeting from Feb. 4, specifically the portion of Superintendent Dr. Trani’s report where he began discussing homeschooling programs in Alaska.

After about 15 minutes of what can only be described as inaccurate and outlandish claims, I honestly wasn’t sure whether I should laugh or be angry. I ended up listening twice, because I could not believe some of what was being stated on the record.

Dr. Trani opened by saying he was going to “tread very carefully,” and then proceeded to single out the Galena City School District and its IDEA Homeschool program. He raised the issue of a swimming pool in Galena, referencing a comment that the “Big 5” — Alaska’s five largest urban school districts — should not have “built a pool for Galena.”

That framing was misleading from the start.

The Galena pool was built around 1999–2000 through a combination of state fire suppression funds, grants, partnerships, and military support, back when Galena was an Air Force base. It was a cooperative effort involving the school district, the City of Galena, and the local tribe. It was not some urban district subsidy story, and it should not be used as a talking point to pit rural Alaska against urban Alaska.

Then came a slide showing what Dr. Trani called Galena’s “water polo team.” It was, quite plainly, a picture of the volleyball team. A quick look at the Alaska School Activities Association confirms there are no ASAA-sanctioned water polo teams in the state.

More concerning, however, was the next claim: Dr. Trani cited an alleged August 2025 Galena school board meeting and asserted that Galena was building a $31 million high school project, funded by moving millions from capital projects and operations.

But the problem is this: much of the information presented did not appear to come from Galena, Alaska at all.

It came from Galena Unit School District #120 — in Illinois.

In his effort to criticize school choice and parental flexibility, the superintendent relied on AI-generated material that confused two entirely different school districts in two entirely different states. That is not a small error. It was a serious breach of credibility when discussing education policy.

Dr. Trani also suggested that Galena’s Interior Learning Academy buildings were undergoing major new upgrades, when in fact those facilities were completed over a span of years between 2010 and 2019.

So the question becomes: why present information this way?

The answer seems clear. Dr. Trani has openly signaled opposition to school choice and parent choice. He appears to believe families should be forced into attending only the school assigned within their district — regardless of whether another program better meets their child’s needs.

That is not the Alaska way.

What many people may not realize is that IDEA has taken on thousands of students even after official count dates, receiving zero additional funding for them, yet still accepting the responsibility of educating them. IDEA was created to make homeschooling workable across our vast state. What began in 1997 with a small group of families has grown into Alaska’s largest homeschool program, now serving more than 8,000 students statewide.

That success did not happen overnight. It was built through trust, flexibility, support for parents, and a community of families committed to helping their children thrive.

IDEA and Galena Interior Learning Academy are examples of what happens when Alaska communities work together to expand opportunity, not restrict it.

Let me be clear: I respect the Mat-Su Borough School District board, and I believe they have done tremendous work for many students.

But when we debate the future of education in Alaska, we must do so honestly, accurately, and without attacking successful programs using misinformation.

School choice deserves better than that. Alaska families deserve better than that.

Sen. Mike Cronk serves in the Alaska State Senate for District R, Interior Alaska.