State Rep. Mark Neuman came to visit our GILA campus to see how our school taught vocational classes and served Alaska’s young people.

Neuman said in an interview with The GILA Monster that he wanted to “check up on the vocational programs and help promote location and regional learning centers.”

Neuman is a two-term Republican representing Wasilla and the Mat-Su valley.

He is sponsoring House Bill (HB) 2, which will get funding for 10 educational  institutions including GILA. The bill is a general fund to help pay for classes and programs in schools and educational institutions statewide, according to the Legislature House Majority website.

“The vocational educational account assures that the money will go to vocational education,” Neuman explained during his interview.

            This is Neuman’s third time to visit our school.

            “This is an interesting regional learning center,” said Rep. Neuman. “You have an opportunity as young adults to get into vocational traits like cosmetology, aviation, culinary arts, and automotive.”

            Neuman added that bills such as the one he was sponsoring affects all students equally, not for GILA specifically. He said he didn’t want to show favoritism.

            Neuman came to Galena four years ago to have a visit in the old dorms. He stayed overnight and stated that he liked to sit down and talk to the kids in their environment. When he asked the kids why they came to GILA, they told him it was “to get a better education and they were at risk to sexual abuse and using alcohol and drugs.”

            The thing that Neuman liked most about GILA is the fact that there are students from all around the state and they all bring different cultures and traits to the school.