Robbins says state needs to change funding formula for schools

Brittani Robbins is running for a three-year term on the school board in a contested election against fellow incumbent Angela Allen and newcomer Dan Powers. The top vote-getters will win the two seats.

In addition to serving on the school board since 2021, Robbins also serves on the borough assembly, a seat she won in 2022. She has worked as executive director for Wrangell's chamber of commerce and served as chair of the school district's budget and finance committee.

A graduate of the Wrangell school system, Robbins was born in town. She has kids in the school system and believes that gives her an advantage on the board.

She said her biggest priority in a second term on the school board would be to "promote equity in the school district," though she admitted this is a difficult task in practice.

"You're not going to make everyone happy. If there was a magical solution that just made everything perfect, we would already be doing that."

The incumbent also discussed financial issues facing the school district. The district's reserve fund is dwindling and is likely to run out of money in a couple of years unless the state or borough increase their contributions to the district's operating budget.

Robbins attributes this to an outdated per-pupil allocation formula set by the state. She said statewide reform of the formula and additional funding from the Legislature and governor is the only way to increase the state's contribution.

She believes she is the best person for solving this problem, citing her time on the assembly in addition to the school board as an advantage over the other candidates.

"I know a lot of different things that happen within the state on the political side that maybe others don't because of my time on the assembly, and because I ... enjoy politics," she said.

Robbins discussed cost-saving measures for the schools. She said the school board contemplated consolidating the middle and high schools but she is against it. She cited both upfront financial costs and student well-being as reasons to not explore that concept further.

She also said she "wants to see a stronger electives program" offered to students, adding that if there were unlimited school funding, an expansion of elective offerings should be the first recipient of funding.

Robbins came to local government with a bit of a unique background.

"I have a bachelor of fine arts in acting in directing. I was a theater nerd, a music geek," she said. "I taught drama, public speaking, debate and health."

She believes this time spent inside classrooms allows for a greater understanding of how to properly run schools from the administrative side.

When asked why the public should check the box next to her name, the candidate's response was direct: "I'm not afraid to be a voice. I'm not afraid to stand up for what I belive in. I'm not afraid to listen to what other people believe in, and I'm not afraid to hear other people's opinions and maybe change my mind."

She believes the purview of the school board extends beyond Wrangell.

"I want to be a voice for education, not just in Wrangell, but in the state."