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JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate on Monday joined the House in approving a wide-reaching education funding package that will increase money for school districts by more than $40 million this year and more in future years.

During a lengthy floor debate, members of the Republican minority tried to increase the funding even more as House Democrats had tried last week.

Sen. Gary Wilken, a Republican from Fairbanks and minority member, told how he’d come to realize the funding plan was not as large as he had initially thought because it didn’t include certain funds added in recent years on a one-time basis.

He described the plan as “shortsighted” and urged other Senators to support an amendment that would increase the base student allocation by $200 instead of $100 in the first year.

“This amendment in a small way rights the education world,” he said.

Members of the bipartisan majority, many of whom are longtime advocates for increasing education funding, argued against the amendment, which they said could destroy a delicate compromise reached within the bill.

“This is an odd spot for me to be in,” said Sen. Gary Stevens, a Republican from Kodiak and a retired educator.

“My fear is that this whole thing fails,” he said, “and if the whole thing fails, we lose.”

The bill increases the base student allocation by $100 for each of the next three years, boosts funding for students with intensive needs, provides more money for high-cost school districts, protects districts with declining enrollment and adjusts state reimbursements for transportation costs.

It is based on recommendations made by the Joint Legislative Education Funding Task Force, which was created by the Legislature last spring and met over the interim.

Senate Minority Leader Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, responded to concerns that the amendment, which would increase state funding by $22 million, would kill the package.

“For the life of me, I don’t understand why we say this is going to upset some apple cart,” he said. “If you’re concerned about adequate funding, now is the time.”

Wilken’s amendment failed 5-15, with only minority members supporting it.

The education funding bill passed 16-4.

The bill was held in the Senate on notice of reconsideration but will likely move to the governor’s desk soon.

Gov. Sarah Palin has expressed support for the funding package, but also pushed for a larger increase to the base student allocation.

The bill is HB 273.

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