Carol Comeau, Superintendent

Phone: 907-742-4312
Calls to the superintendent's office may be recorded.
Fax: 907-742-4318
E-mail: comeau_carol@asdk12.org
Address: 5530 E Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99504-3135

Ms. Carol Comeau was an elementary classroom teacher in Springfield, Oregon from 1963-1964. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Physical Education. She received a Master's Degree in Public School Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage and also has taken post-Masters coursework in curriculum, educational leadership and instruction. She has her Superintendent endorsement from UAA and was presented an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage in May 2007.

The Anchorage School Board appointed her as ASD's superintendent in December 2000. Before that, Ms. Comeau served as the Executive Director of Elementary Education for the Anchorage School District (1990-1993), the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction (1993-2000) and the acting Superintendent from September-December 2000. Ms. Comeau also served as the President of the Anchorage Education Association from 1984 to 1985. Other positions of service in the Anchorage School District include: elementary principal (1987-1989), administrative intern (1986-1987), elementary classroom teacher (1975-1986) and noon duty attendant and teacher aide (1974-1975).

Ms. Comeau believes it is essential to be an active participant in community organizations. She is co-chair of the Red Ribbon Coalition and is the former Chair of the United Way Board of Directors. Ms. Comeau currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, the Anchorage Chamber's Business Education Committee and the ISER Policy Council at UAA. She was recently appointed to the Providence Hospital Community Ministry Board. Ms. Comeau has been a member of the Anchorage East Rotary Club since 2000 and served on the Mayor's Anti-Gang and Violence Task Force Leadership Team. She has served as president of the Alaska Association of School Administrators, the Council of the Great City Schools Executive Committee and the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA). In May 2010, Gov. Sean Parnell appointed her to the Council on Education for Military Children. Ms. Comeau has received recognition from many community groups for her service to the Anchorage community including: ATHENA (2004), Japanese Foreign Minister's Award (2004), Alaska Superintendent of the Year (2004), Soroptomist "Woman of Distinction" (2008), Congregation Beth Shalom "Shining Light Award" (2008), Bridgebuilders President's Award (2008), the ACLU Alaska Foundation 2008 Liberty Award as the Champion of Student Rights, and the 2010 NOBEL Award. She was inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame in 2009. Carol recently received the Guiding Star Award by the Catholic Social Services Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services for her "unwavering commitment to refugee resettlement in Anchorage" 2011 and the Covenant House's program, Passage House presented her with the Women Helping Women Award 2011.

Ms. Comeau co-signed the Military Child Education Coalition agreement with General Lovelace in 2002 and was an early-on advocate for the Military Compact legislation in 2009. She signed an Anchorage School District Partnership agreement with U.S. Army Alaska's General Ray Palumbo, which will be renewed this August 2011.

Ms. Comeau has been married to Dennis Comeau for 48 years. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law, a daughter and son-in-law and five grandchildren all living in Washington state and Georgia.

A word from Superintendent Carol Comeau

Superintendent Comeau talks budget, bonds and other February 2012 activities

There has been a great deal of apprehension recently as we work to through our budget process. On Jan. 23-24, I presented the preliminary 2012-13 budget and recommendations on how to close the $19 million budget gap to the Anchorage School Board. This is one of many steps in the budget process. The board will hold public hearings on Feb. 1 and 9 to conduct the first and final reading of the budget.

Preliminary budget

Many of you have voiced concerns with the proposed cuts. I want to assure you that none of these recommendations are desirable. I believe all of the items slated for elimination are beneficial, however, personnel expenses account for 89 percent of our budget and unfortunately must be reduced to bring forward a balanced budget. Flat funding for the second year in a row from the governor and the legislature, coupled with reductions in federal and local funding, require these cuts. I encourage you to attend the public hearings where you will have an opportunity for public testimony. Comments may be submitted online at www.asdk12.org/depts/budget.

School bond

The district will place one bond proposition, totaling $59 million, on the municipal ballot for the April 3 election. The bond package includes funds for building life extension projects; career and technical education improvements, including a new CTE structure at West High School and Romig Middle School; funds that would match a state grant for Service High School; and funds for the Girdwood K-8 school design. The majority of these projects qualify for 60-70 percent reimbursement from the state, which will ease the burden on taxpayers. Funds received through a bond are used for capital projects, not to offset a budget deficit or reinstate personnel positions. I hope you will make an informed decision and learn more before heading to ballot box this spring.

Parent conferences

For the second year in a row, the district will hold parent-teacher conferences in February. The decision to conduct conferences in February, as opposed to late-March as in previous years, is to give students and parents a proactive update on student progress and allow time for improvements to be made before the end of the school year.

Civil rights

The Anchorage School Board passed a resolution recognizing Feb. 16 as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. Peratrovich was an important civil rights activist and was the driving force behind the passage of the first anti-discrimination law in Alaska. This day provides an opportunity to remind the public and our students of the invaluable contribution of this Native Alaskan leader who was an advocate for Native citizens and their rights.

In the coming months, I hope you will join me in speaking with our elected officials about the importance in investing in public education, both locally and statewide, and of the ramifications these cuts will have on our young people. Together, we can continue to provide outstanding educational opportunities to our youth.

Most sincerely,
Carol Comeau
Superintendent