2023-12 School District, Federal & State News
Alaska School District News
Anchorage – OPINION: Dunleavy’s budget falls short of what Alaska schools need to succeed – Jharrett Bryantt, ADN
Anchorage – Anchorage School District faces deficit approaching $100 million, seeks public input – Your Alaska Link
Anchorage – Anchorage resolution on state education funding warns of painful cuts to school district – Annie Berman, ADN
Anchorage – Anchorage School Board unanimously approves new contract with teachers union – Annie Berman, ADN
Anchorage – Indigenous fashion lights up runway at Anchorage School District show – Annie Berman, ADN
Bering Strait – Little Diomede school struck by collapsing building closed indefinitely – Ava White, KNOM, Nome
Delta Greely – Teacher remembered fondly by colleagues – Denise Wilhelm, Delta Wind
Fairbanks – Fairbanks school board talks advocacy game plan at legislative committee meeting – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Juneau – State says Juneau School District can keep last year’s additional city funding – Katie Anastas, KTOO
Juneau – School board unanimously votes to seek outside legal advice on new statewide transgender sports ban – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire
Juneau – School district seeks quick temporary help with budget after administrative services director quits – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire
Kenai – School funding, accountability dominate school board work session with lawmakers – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion
Kenai – District wraps up Budget 101 series with chart of accounts discussion – Riley Board, KDLL
Kenai – ‘Budget 101’: How KPBSD organizes funds – Ashlyn O’Hara, Homer News
Kenai – State legislators and school board define lawmaking priorities – Riley Board, KDLL
Ketchikan – School Board closes out ’23 with reports, plan for superintendent evaluation – Sam Stockbridge, Ketchikan Daily News
Lower Kuskokwim – LKSD Superintendent Kimberly Hankins is retiring, and the board is looking for the right replacement – Sunni Bean, KYUK Bethel
Mat-Su – Students file lawsuit against Mat-Su school district over free speech violations – Amy Bushatz, ADN
Mat-Su – Lawsuit contends Mat-Su school district illegally isolates and restrains disabled students – Amy Bushatz, ADN
Mat-Su – Mat-Su School District sued over restraint and seclusion practices – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media
Mat-Su – Mat-Su School Board selects replacement member – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media
Mat-Su – Mat-Su school board appoints new member – Amy Bushatz, Anchorage Daily News
Nome – Superintendent delivers state of the schools report – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget
Petersburg – Petersburg School Board to look at revised 2024 budget – Hannah Flor, KFSK
State and Federal News
School board association, legislators, superintendent weigh in on education funding in governor’s budget – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News Miner
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s budget has millions for education, but no increase to funding per student – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon
Gov. Dunleavy’s budget includes large PFDs, but no increase to per-student education funding – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Gov. Dunleavy wants to make an experimental public reading academy permanent – Iris Samuels, ADN
OPINION: The state of our schools and their never-ending budget battles – News-Miner Editorial
OPINION: What a tour of Anchorage schools taught me – Rep. Cliff Groh
Alaska’s education spending lags behind national average when costs are factored in, economists say – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media
Rep. Ruffridge predicts school funding, energy security will be top issues in Juneau next session – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion
Interior legislators talk priorities for next session – Haley Lehman, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
State seeks to change rules for ‘local contribution’ funds to school districts beyond the ‘cap’ – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire
Same data, gentler framing: State publishes previously suppressed wage analysis for teachers – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon
UAF secures $14.9 million to mentor teachers new to Alaska – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Lacking counselors, US schools turn to the booming business of online therapy – Associated Press
Alaska organizations teach kids how to avoid online predators – Rachel Cassandra, Alaska Public Media