2023-06, 07, 08 School District, Federal & State News

Anchorage – Anchorage school administrators warn of staff cuts after Dunleavy’s $87.5 million education veto – Sean Maguire, ADN

Anchorage – As Anchorage students head back to class, district budget crisis looms – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – ASD superintendent says conversation around school closures will continue this year – Lauren Maxwell, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Late-start Mondays begin in Anchorage schools – Lauren Maxwell, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Anchorage School District officials anticipate having enough drivers for normal bus service when school starts – Annie Berman, ADN

Anchorage – ASD encourages parents to talk to children about school safety – Lauren Maxwell, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Anchorage School District is beefing up training and availability of opioid overdose kits at local schools – Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – HUGSS helps families with school supplies distribution – Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – For the first time, Hawai’i middle school students traveled to Anchorage to join Alaskans for ANSEP Middle School Academy – Alaska Native News

Anchorage – Anchorage police investigate fire at elementary school playground as ‘intentionally set’ – Emily Goodykoontz, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board approves funding to rebuild Inlet View Elementary – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Alaska Gateway – School administrators decry governor’s education-funding cuts – Tim Ellis, KUAC

Cordova – Is public education funding in Alaska reaching a breaking point? – Alex Russin, Cordova Times

Dillingham – Dillingham’s school district to receive more funding from city, less from state – Christina McDermott, KDLG

Dillingham – Dillingham’s historic school building emptied and closed – Christina McDermott, KDLG

Dillingham – Moose Pass School faced school year start with staffing uncertainties – Riley Board, KDLL

Dillingham – Dillingham City School District to buy hydroponic tank – Christina McDermott, KDLG

Fairbanks – Sting of governor’s vetoes takes hold as funding vanishes – Carter DeJong, News-Miner

Fairbanks – ‘I don’t know where else to cut’: School district struggles for funding amid Dunleavy veto – Carter DeJong, News-Miner

Fairbanks – Fairbanks North Star Borough School District to reevaluate budget after Gov. Dunleavy vetoes education funding – Adrian Peterson, Webcenter, Fairbanks

Fairbanks – Rally held in opposition of education vetoes – Webcenter, Fairbanks

Fairbanks – School board postpones purchasing health textbooks – Jack Barnwell

Fairbanks – Board of Education approves budget in special meeting – Webcenter, Fairbanks

Fairbanks – Superintendent presents plan to Chamber of Commerce for school improvements – Carter DeJong, News-Miner

Fairbanks – Driver shortage forces school district to reconfigure bus routes – Carter DeJong, News-Miner

Fairbanks – Fairbanks school board adopts two new policies in last meeting before classes begin – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – New superintendent looks forward to a great new year – Jack Barnwell, News-Miner

Fairbanks – Dueling ordinances propose additional school funding – Jack Barnwell, News-Miner

Fairbanks – Karen Melin reflects on time as chief school administrator – Webcenter Fairbanks

Fairbanks – Students get behind-the-scenes look at criminal justice in inaugural Junior DA Program in Fairbanks – KINY News of the North

Haines – School district budget passes, with big draw from savings – Chilkat Valley News

Juneau – Wise last lessons from Weiss: Former superintendent looks back at 39-year K-12 career, ahead to new job inspiring future teachers – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Juneau – Attendance, reading and communication important focuses for new JSD Superintendent Frank Hauser – Jasz Garrett & Jordan Lewis, KINY

Juneau – Longtime school board member rescinds candidacy – Clarise Larson, Juneau Empire

Juneau – Dunleavy’s education funding veto leaves Juneau School District with budget gap – Katie Anastas, KTOO

Juneau – A federal rule that saves the state millions is at the heart of its dispute with the Juneau School District – Katie Anastas, KTOO

Juneau – What does the state’s objection to ‘outside the cap’ funding mean for Juneau schools? – Yvonne Krumrey, KTOO

Juneau – State broadens challenge of ‘outside the cap’ funding to all school districts in Alaska – Clarise Larson, Juneau Empire

Juneau – JSD receives notification from DEED regarding the recent $2.3M non-instructional local appropriation – KINY News of the North

Juneau – Borough Assembly advances school supplemental funding ordinance – Jack Barnwell, News-Miner

Juneau – Juneau School District will cut 2 positions, dip into savings to fill budget gap – Katie Anastas, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau elementary school students will have early dismissal on Mondays next year – Katie Anastas, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau city, school district to remain neutral on proposed statewide transgender sports ban – Clarise Larson, Juneau Empire

Kenai – Dunleavy budget veto puts school district funding plans in jeopardy – Riley Board, KDLL

Kenai – Dunleavy budget vetoes include peninsula projects, bonus funding for schools – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – Kenai Peninsula Borough School District responds to education funding veto – Joe Cadotte, Alaska’s News source

Kenai – School district plans to draw on savings to offset Dunleavy education vetoes – Riley Board, KDLL

Kenai – School board starts conversation about 4-day school week – Ashlyn O’Hara, Homer News

Kenai – School district prepares to launch ‘Budget 101’ informational meetings – Ashlyn O’Hara, Homer News

Kenai – The evolution of drivers education on the Kenai – Sophia Micciche, KDLL

Kenai – School board revises policy for challenging instructional materials – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – New reading curriculum to cover Alaska history, culture instead of religion – Ashlyn O’Hara, Homer News

Kenai – Amid misconduct allegations, new district policies promise diligence – Ashlyn O’Hara, Homer News

Kenai – KPBSD says it is confident the Title IX policies implemented will prevent harm against students by staff members – Ashlyn O’Hara & Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – Kenai grand jury indicts former SoHi teacher on 61 counts of sexual abuse of a minor, possession of child pornography – Ashlyn O’Hara, Homer News

Ketchikan – School Board eyes budget talks with Borough – Sam Stockbridge, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Ketchikan School Board postpones funding request – Sam Stockbridge, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – KTN School Board OKs request for $1.68m in funding to balance budget – Sam Stockbridge, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – KTN School Board to consider change to its meeting schedule bylaws – Sam Stockbridge, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Kayhi students attend ANSEP Acceleration Academy at UAA – Danelle Kelly, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – A school year in KTN: Exchange teacher Kasane Ema shares experiences – Danelle Kelly, Ketchikan Daily News

Kodiak – KIBSD to slash $2 million from budget after Dunleavy’s education funding cut – Brian Venua, KMXT

Kodiak – KIBSD approves new budget after education funding cuts – Brian Venua, KMXT

Kodiak – BOE gets Karluk school debrief – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – Talks under way in Karluk with family of five kids – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – Thousands respond to Karluk’s viral ad for cost-free living – Ben Venua, KMXT

Kodiak – KIBSD Superintendent Cyndy Mika reflects on first year at district – Brian Venua, KMXT

LKSD – Alaska school district changes calendar to allow time for traditional culture – Evan Erickson, KYUK/NPR

LKSD – Beloved Napaskiak principal retires – Sunni Bean, KYUK

Mat-Su – Mat-Su school board proposes sidelining student member after pointed exchanges on controversial topics – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Mat-Su – School board issues clarifying statement regarding proposed policy change to Student Advisory Board representative – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman

Mat-Su – Mat-Su Borough School District board proposes changes to student advisor role – Georgina Fernandez, Alaska’s News Source

Mat-Su – Mat-Su school board unanimously approves contract agreement with education association – Lex Yelverton, Alaska’s News Source

Mat-Su – Wasilla teacher who sexually abused students sentenced to 46 years – Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media

Nome – International teachers to fill rural teaching vacancies this school year – Ava White, KNOM

Petersburg – Petersburg School District’s budget is balanced this year, but the future is uncertain – Hannah Flor, KFSK

Petersburg – Price of elementary school lunches in Petersburg increases by 25 cents – Hannah Flor, KFSK

Sitka – Governor’s veto a quarter-million dollar hit to Sitka Schools – KCAW

Sitka – Sitka’s interim superintendent ready to ‘pound on doors’ to level up state education funding – Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Sitka – Williams appointed to fill vacant seat on Sitka School Board – Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Skagway – DEED warns of school funding issues in memo – Melinda Munson, The Skagway News

Southwest Region – Arnaq Esther Ilutsik’s work in Yup’ik Studies uplifted students throughout the region – Christina McDermott, KDLG

Wrangell – Governor’s education vetoes ‘dramatically’ affect Wrangell schools, says superintendent – Sage Smiley, KSTK

Wrangell – Governor’s veto plus a deficit keep school district struggling to meet basic needs – Wrangell Sentinel

Wrangell – New principal looks forward to helping students, staff achieve their best – Marc Lutz, Wrangell Sentinel

Yupiit – Yupiit School District aligns itself with traditional knowledge during its first year on a subsistence calendar – Evan Erickson, KYUK – Bethel

Yupiit – Trial of former Akiachak school teacher accused of sexual abuse begins – Francisco Martínezcuello, KYUK

Yupiit – Southwest Alaska teacher convicted of child sex abuse charges – Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News

Fearing a financial ‘house on fire,’ Sen. Stedman warns against overdrawing the Permanent Fund to pay dividends – Robert Woolsey, KCAW Sitka

Alaska house swept away by floods was being rented out by two teachers. Kayaker finds owner’s family photos in a Ziploc bag – Keith Griffith, Daily Mail

Alaska Native nonprofit launches program to support Alaska Native teachers – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Alaska’s student absenteeism problem got worse after school pandemic closures, following national trend – Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media

How schools are trying to enroll more students after pandemic dip – KDLG, Dillingham

A grieving father helped develop a new Anchorage curriculum on the dangers of opioids – Rachel Cassandra, Alaska Public Media

Tuckerman Babcock resigns from UA Board of Regents after 2 months – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Alaska education board delays action on proposal to bar transgender girls from girls’ high school sports teams – Becky Bohrer, Associated Press

Alaska education board picks former Anchorage superintendent Deena Bishop as commissioner – Annie Berman, ADN

Alaska and Puerto Rico High School Students Connect through Seismology – Alaska Earthquake Center, UAF

UA Schools of Education provide quality, accessible pathways for aspiring teachers – Amy Vinlove, Carlee Simon and Tonia Dousay, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Editorial: The curious case of Dunleavy’s education vetoes – Anchorage Daily News editorial board

Interview: Gov. Dunleavy on public school funding and more – Trill Gates, Your Alaska Link

Murkowski Introduces Bill to Modernize and Expand Apprenticeship Programs to Meet 21st Century Workforce Needs – KINY News of the North, Juneau

Dunleavy education vetoes drive early campaigning by House opponents – Adelyn Baxter, KTOO Juneau

Study: To hire and keep teachers in remote Alaska, school districts need to pay a lot more – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Some legislators are still hoping for a special session to override budget vetoes – Adelyn Baxter, KTOO

Ransomware criminals are targeting nation’s schools, dumping kids’ private files online – Frank Bajak Heather Hollingsworth and Larry Fenn, Associated Press

Rep. Ortiz wants to hear public’s opinions on vetoes – Wrangell Sentinel

Dunleavy veto cuts Head Start increase as centers struggle to pay teachers, serve children in need – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Rural Alaska school administrators say implementing new reading law will be challenging – Sean Maguire, ADN

Legislators disappointed but not surprised at Dunleavy’s education funding veto – Larry Persily, Wrangell Sentinel

New task force faces bleak reality of Alaska’s overwhelmed child care system and desperate parents – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Alaska schools struggling to keep up with the cost of food – Thomas Copeland. KFSK Petersburg

Connecting Alaska: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Delivers Over $1 Billion More for Broadband Deployment Across the State – Senator Lisa Murkowski

Officials, telecom industry say $1B federal investment will go a ‘heck of a long way’ toward closing Alaska’s digital divide – Senator Lisa Murkowski

State opens public comment period on rule limiting transgender girls in high school sports – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska legislators lack the votes to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska House Coalition urges override on governor’s budget vetoes – The Cordova Times

The Alaska House Coalition Calls on Legislature to Override Irresponsible Vetoes – Alaska Native News

Alaska lawmakers push long-shot effort to override governor’s education funding veto – Iris Samuels, ADN

Lawmakers call for override of Dunleavy’s budget cuts to education funding – Clarise Larson, Juneau Empire

School leaders urge special legislative session – Shannon Cole, Alaska’s News Source

School district leaders react to Dunleavy’s partial veto of proposed K-12 funding increase – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

About 85 percent of Dunleavy vetoes fell on education services, projects – Dermot Cole, Reporting From Alaska

Dunleavy cuts $87.5 M out of education funding – Margaret Bauman, Cordova Times

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoes half of proposed funding increase for K-12 public schools – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Dunleavy slashes education funding boost as part of budget vetoes – Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media

Being a new teacher is hard. Having a good mentor can help – Cory Turner, NPR

Ten educators recognized for distinguished service in schools, communities – KINY News of the North, Juneau

Alaska to launch $5 million state-run reading academy amid skepticism – Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News

Alaska education board to seek public input on barring transgender girls from girls’ sports – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska lawmakers this session passed a budget bill that includes $175 million in one-time funding for Alaska’s K-12 schools – Ashlyn O’Hara, Homer News

Judging the Alaska Legislature on education – Mike Bronson, ADN

Alaska to launch $5 million state-run reading academy amid skepticism – Iris Samuels, ADN

Here’s what passed and what didn’t in Alaska’s legislative session – KINY News of the North, Juneau

Murkowski Reinforces Need to Support Child Care Availability, Affordability, and Workforce – Senator Lisa Murkowski

Millions of kids are missing weeks of school as attendance tanks across the US – Bianca Vazquez Toness, AP

Alaska education board to consider policy on transgender athletes – Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News

Alaska state school board considers rule that would limit transgender athletes – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Dunleavy administration pushes for policy change to limit trans kids in school sports – Iris Samuels, AD