2024-11 School District, Federal & State News

Anchorage – STrEaM Academy students build tiny home for homeless residents – Peggy McCormack, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Alaska middle-schooler claims victory, $100K as winner of first-ever National Civics Bee. 14-year-old from Romig Middle School receives first prize in Washington, D.C. – Olivia Nordyke, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – New security visitor management system to be in every ASD school by January – KTUU

Anchorage – Academies of Anchorage high school schedule changes postponed – Casandra Mancl, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board still ‘wide open’ on proposed school closures – Jenna Kunze, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage School District pauses controversial schedule change for high schools – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board holds first meeting after district receiving feedback on ‘rightsizing’ plan – KTUU

Anchorage – ASD holds their last in-person conversation about closing, combining, repurposing schools – Joe Allgood, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – What’s being said in Anchorage School District ‘community conversations’ regarding proposed school closures – Olivia Nordyke, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Anchorage School District holds first of 5 ‘conversations’ on school closures initiative – Alaska’s News source

Anchorage – Negative and confused feelings—a look at enrollment numbers as some schools prepare to close – Rebecca Palsha, KTUU

Anchorage – More Anchorage School District families meet, form plans to prevent ‘rightsizing’ closures – Olivia Nordyke, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Anchorage School District releases list of schools facing potential closures – Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Anchorage School District officials propose closing 7 elementary schools – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board holds first meeting after announcing schools considered for ‘rightsizing’ – Alaska’s Neews Source

Anchorage – Spanish, Yup’ik, Lao and more: Anchorage School District students speak a combined 112 languages – Jenna Kunze, ADN

Dalta Junction – It was hands on learning for Delta Elementary students regarding elections – Principal Milton Hooten, Delta Wind

Dillingham – Dillingham City School District School Board considers policy change on withholding academic materials for unpaid fees – Margaret Sutherland, KDLG

Fairbanks – ‘Can’t nickel and dime our way out of this’: Fairbanks school district’s abysmal budget outlook – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Fairbanks schools could face $32M budget shortfall – KTUU

Fairbanks – Borough mayor starts a delve into school district deficit – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – School board members reflect on time in office – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News Miner

Fairbanks – North Pole’s Wescott Pool will no longer offer swim classes once it reopens – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Renew America’s Schools Announces 60 Local Educational Agencies to Participate in 2024-2025 Energy CLASS Program, including airbanks North Star Borough School District – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Juneau – Positive ending: School district emerges from fiscal crisis with first audit without a deficit in years – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Juneau – Juneau’s high school has seen an uptick in fights this school year – Clarise Larson, KTOO

Kenai – Charter school proposed by Kenaitze Indian Tribe given approval by school board – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – Aurora Borealis charter renewal clears school board. The school is seeking routine renewal of its charter through the 2035-2036 school year – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – School board considers ‘hypothetical’ 4-day calendar, asks for community survey – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – KPBSD considers stricter cell phone policies after state guidance – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL

Ketchikan – School Board to update borough on budget – Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School Board hears budget process update – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Ketchikan School Board approves full week off for Thanksgiving – Michael Fanelli, KRBD

Kodiak – District seeks views on proposed health curriculum – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – ‘Empathy the whole way’: 5 teens badly burned at Kodiak bonfire recovering in Anchorage – Zaz Hollander, ADN

Kodiak – KHS shooting threat found not credible by Kodiak Police – Brian Venua, KMXT

Lower Kuskokwim – Underwater internet fiber cables bring Bethel a step closer to faster, cheaper internet – Sage Smiley, KYUK

Mat-Su – MSBSD, ACLU, plaintiffs reach settlement in challenged book lawsuit – Katie Stavick Frontiersman

Mat-Su – Mat-Su Schools to Pay $89K in Book Ban Suit – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Nome – Nome teachers rally for higher wages, new contract amid rising cost of living – Ben Townsend, KNOM

Nome – Community “Wears Red for Ed” to support teacher negotiations – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget

Sitka – ‘Barkadas’ debut at Sitka School Board meeting – Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Yupiit – Yup’ik Values: Akiachak School – Mary George, Delta Discovery

State Rep. Andi Story to co-chair House Education Committee under new Democrat-led majority – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

What to expect from the 34th Alaska Legislature – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

U.S. House passes bill to move up annual FAFSA release deadline – Shauneen Miranda, Alaska Beacon

Senators Murkowski, Sullivan welcome passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman

Senator Murkowski Supports Passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act – Alaska Native News

Robyn Burke holds major lead in Alaska’s House District 40 race – Alena Naiden, Arctic Sounder

Alaska House control flips from predominantly Republican coalition to mostly Democratic coalition – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Coalition lawmakers say they’re confident bipartisan Alaska House majority will hold – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Bipartisan coalitions claim control of both Alaska House and Senate – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Alaska House and Senate announce bipartisan majority coalitions, with several races too close to call – Iris Samuels, Sean Maguire, Anchorage Daily News

Alaska school districts could take financial hit as education department considers tighter limits on local funding – Sean Maguire, ADN

Alaska House Speaker’s comments raise concerns over voter disenfranchisement – Delta Discovery

Trump won the presidency. What does that mean for education? – Shauneen Miranda, Alaska Beacon

‘He’s Not Kidding,’ Advocates Warn as Trump Threatens to Defund Schools for Teaching US History – Julia Conley, Alaska Native News

State education board moves toward cellphone policy for schools – Claire Stremple & Larry Persily, Wrangell Sentinel

UAA launches Alaska’s first in-state training program for school psychologists – Rachel Cassandra, Alaska Public Media

Students can now apply for federal college aid. Officials hope for a smoother rollout this year – Associated Press