2023-02 School District, Federal & State News
Alaska School District News
Anchorage – Anchorage School Board passes a budget that largely relies on savings and one-time funds – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media
Anchorage – Future snow days this year to be remote learning days – Lex Yelverton, Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage- Option for hot meals off the table at some Anchorage schools – Carly Schreck and Lauren Maxwell, alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – U.S. Justice Department finds Anchorage School District illegally restrained and secluded students – Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News
Anchorage – Anchorage School Board OKs policy that prohibits students from submitting AI works as their own – Morgan Krakow, Anchorage Daily News
Anchorage – Water main break closes Susitna Elementary, forces students to learn remotely – Alaska’s News Source
Anchorage – Anchorage students put their literary know-how to the test in annual Battle of the Books – Morgan Krakow, Anchorage Daily News
Bering Strait – Vacant teacher housing building burns in Savoonga – Joey Klecka, Alaska’s News Source
Delta/Greely – Small school packs a big punch for Army families at remote Alaska outpost – Ronald Bailey, DVIDS
Dillingham – Dillingham Elementary School will keep its principal, but concerns about learning persist – Izzy Ross, KDLG
Fairbanks – Revised ‘controversial issues’ policy on school board agenda – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Fairbanks – School board takes first crack at the upcoming budget – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Fairbanks – School board briefly considers retaining a ‘student outcomes’ coach – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Fairbanks – Fairbanks Arts Association auctions off autographed guitar to support music education – Haley Lehman, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Juneau – Juneau leaders begin talks over $4.7M school district deficit – Katie Anastas, KTOO
Juneau – Report: Juneau schools see sharp uptick in students experiencing homelessness – Clarise Larson, Juneau Empire
Juneau – Juneau School District chooses new directors – KINY News
Juneau – Douglas Indian Association condemns district’s handling of racist insults complaint – Juneau Empire
Kenai – School budget debate draws attention to home-school enrollment – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – Kenai students ‘shadow’ professionals for annual career event – Cadance Bitterich & Landon Dubber, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – ‘Hands-on’ education equips students with vocational skills – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – Esports back with new games, players – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – Board of education upholds Fischer firing – Riley Board, KDLL
Kenai – Homer High School library experiences water leaks, awaits roof replacement – Delcenia Cosman, Homer News
Ketchikan – Board to revisit plan for staff cuts – Sam Stockbridge, Ketchikan Daily News
Ketchikan – Bills in Legislature could offer a lifeline as Ketchikan’s school district considers layoffs – Eric Stone, KRBD
Ketchikan – Ketchikan celebrates Elizabeth Peratrovich with event at her alma mater – Raegan Miller, KRBD
Kodiak – KIBSD’s Mika: ‘not where we want to be in reading’ – Caleb Oswel, Kodiak Daily Mirror
Lower Kuskokwim – Newtok school adjusting to new routine after fire – Nolin Ainsworth, Alaska’s News Source
Lower Kuskokwim – 2023 LKSD Science Fair showcases student research projects – The Delta Discovery
Mat-Su – The embattled company running school buses in Mat-Su is operating without local permits – Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News
Mat-Su – Mat-Su parents say ongoing bus driver strike has led to lost income and carpool complications – Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media
Northwest Arctic – Husband of Selawik school principal arrested after resident’s body found in dump, troopers say – Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News
Petersburg – Petersburg Schools concerned about student absences – Rachel Cassandra, KFSK
Sitka – School board to interview two for interim superintendent of Sitka Schools – Robert Woolsey, KCAW
Sitka – School district audit recommends tighter ‘internal controls’ for student activities funds – Robert Woolsey, KCAW
Skagway – Skagway School Special Education Department honored with state inclusion award – Melinda Munson, Skagway News
Unalaska – University of Alaska assistant professor selected as Unalaska’s new superintendent – Maggie Nelson, KUCB
Yupiit – Tuluksak educators plead for help after a week without running water – Rashah McChesney, KYUK
State and Federal News
Departing Juneau Superintendent Weiss tapped to be first-ever liaison for UA program that recruits, trains teachers – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire
Senate majority discusses education staffing difficulties – Elena Symmes, Alaska’s News Source
Alaska’s state retirement system shows a benefits gap compared to old pension plan – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Most of the US is dealing with a teaching shortage, but the data isn’t so simple – Arthur Jones II, ABC News
Point Hope teacher was selected as a finalist for the National Teacher of the Year award – Alena Naiden, the Arctic Sounder
Rising costs and flat state funding are hammering school districts, state senators told – Tim Bradner, Frontiersman
Alaska educators voice support for proposed $1,000 funding increase per student – Katie Anastas, KTOO
Alaska senators say $1,000 increase to per student funding is “beginning of a conversation” – Lisa Phu, alaska Beacon
Catching Up: Researchers Track 6,000 Alaskans’ Paths After Their 2005 High School Graduations – Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon
Alaska college scholarship sees record-low acceptance rates – Sean Maguire, Anchorage Daily News
In response to labor shortage, Dunleavy removes degree requirement for most state jobs – Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy presents amended state budget with deficit topping $400 million – Sean Maguire, Anchorage Daily News
In homecoming address to state legislators, Peltola praises the ‘Alaska model’ of bipartisanship – Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media
Alaska House freshmen form an informal bipartisan caucus – Sean Maguire, Anchorage Daily News
Grant Roundup: Senator Murkowski Announces Federal Grants Heading to Alaska – Senator Lisa Murkowski