2024-05 School District, Federal & State News

Anchorage – Anchorage students celebrate last day of school while their parents consider changes for the next school year – KTUU

Anchorage – School board hears from concerned parents over new ASD start times – Steve Kirch, KTUU

Anchorage – Families, teachers prepare for big changes coming to Anchorage School District next year – Annie Berman, ADN

Anchorage – Meet Phyllis Bowie, Anchorage’s longest-serving teacher who’s retiring after 50 years – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage School District Unveils New Career Academy class, despite deficit and teacher shortage – La’shawn Donelson, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School District unveils ‘career track’ options for high schools – Annie Berman, ADN

Fairbanks – Assembly provides school funding boost in final budget vote – Jack Barnwell, Daily News Miner

Fairbanks – Fairbanks schools Superintendent Luke Meinert reflects on his first year – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – School district seeks public feedback for strategic plan – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – School board holds off on further budget considerations until funding is more certain – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – DEED Commissioner touts charter school performance as Fairbanks district struggles for funding – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Three mayors in support of our local schools – Jim Whitaker, Luke Hopkins and Karl Kassel, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Small Prom is big hit for village teens – Kris Capps, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Fairbanks school district wins award for outstanding financial reporting – Leah Thom, KTVF

Fairbanks – KTN jury convicts former Kayhi volleyball coach of 4th-degree assault, harassment against player – Anna Laffrey, Ketchikan Daily News

Fairbanks – School closure on Alaska Air Force base highlights effects of education policy choices. Military families are rocked by the second school closure on the growing base – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Juneau – School district leaders debate biggest needs for extra $5.2M approved by Legislature, in hope governor won’t veto it – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Juneau – Some Juneau schools will have later start times next year – Clarise Larson, KTOO

Juneau – With staff layoffs pending, Juneau Assembly approves school district budget – Clarise Larson, KTOO

Juneau – Lisa Pearce, analyst who unveiled Juneau School District’s crisis, hired as new chief financial officer – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Juneau – Juneau parents petition to recall school board leaders in response to district’s consolidation plan – Anna Canny, KTOO

Kenai – School board says farewell to this year’s student leaders. Grenier described her time as student representative as “life-changing” – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – Assembly sets school funding floor. The roughly $56.2 million amount is less than the $58.2 million requested last month but is more than what the borough gave the district last year – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – 4-day school week committee adjourns. The committee will deliver recommendations to school board in July – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – Senate’s draft operating budget includes outstanding KPBSD pandemic relief funds. Public education advocates, students and staff have doggedly lobbied lawmakers for an increase to the state’s K-12 funding formula – Ashlyn O’Hara, Peninsula Clarion

Ketchikan – School Board votes to recall about two-thirds of layoff notices – Michael Fanelli, KRBD

Ketchikan – School Board reinstates 36.2 positions in partial recall of layoff notices sent to certificated staff – Scott Bowlen, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Schools budget proposal that could restore some local funding, positions on Assembly agenda – Scott Bowlen, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – What happened with state education funding this session, and why it matters for Ketchikan – Michael Fanelli, KRBD

Ketchikan – School Board OKs staff layoff plan during special meeting filled with public comment – Scott Bowlen, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Update: School Board sets special meeting on staff reduction plan for Monday – Scott Bowlen, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School Board, district preparing for impacts of current Assembly and state budget positions – Sam Stockbridge, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Consideration of borough, school district budgets on Assembly agenda – Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Absent final state funding amounts, School Board reluctantly approves reduced budget for district – Scott Bowlen, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – School Board upholds decision to retain book in high school library – Michael Fanelli, KRBD

Kodiak – Akhiok high school graduate to continue dancing and teaching in her hometown – Davis Hovey, KMXT

Kodiak – The Most Unique District in America Part III: Russian Old Believer Schools – Riley Board, KDLL

Kuspuk – Visa programs draw foreign teachers to Alaska’s rural school districts – Emily Schwing, KYUK

Lower Kuskokwim – LKSD All Stars bring State NYO title home – Greg Lincoln, Delta Discovery

Mat-Su – MSBSD school board introduces ordinance to remove Student Advisory Board Rep altogether – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman

Mat-Su – Student Advisory Board Representative and recent high school graduate announces candidacy for School Board – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman

Nome – Nome-Beltz may get a new roof – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget

Northwest Arctic – Northwest Arctic school officials plan to cut additional meals and middle school sports to balance budget deficit – Alena Naiden, Arctic Sounder

Petersburg – Petersburg School District and teachers union reach agreement, with conditions – Hannah Flor, KFSK

Petersburg – Outbreaks of measles nationwide inspire preparation at the Petersburg School District – Hannah Flor, KFSK

Sitka – Himschoot’s education bill allows out-of-state teachers to bring more years into state retirement system – Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Sitka – Despite promise of help from Juneau, Sitka School Board cuts 16 teachers to balance next year’s budget – Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Unalaska – Unalaska City School District celebrates Class of 2024 – Andy Lusk, KUCB

Unalaska – City council gives Unalaska school district full financial support but worries about future funding – Maggie Nelson, KUCB

Wrangell – School board postpones decision on contract for remote counselor – Wrangell Sentinel

Wrangell – Wrangell Assembly preview: school budget, runway lights and the water treatment plant – Colette Czarnecki, KSTK

Many Alaska lawmakers remain unopposed with election filing deadline looming – Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News

Peltola’s $60.2M in funding requests for community projects meant to benefit rural Alaska – Margaret Bauman, Cordova Times

Alaska lawmakers unite to stabilize homeschool program in wake of court ruling – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Alaska’s education department does not track homeschool allotment spending, but may have to start – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Last ditch attempt to return Alaska teacher, public employee pensions fails on Senate floor – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Lawmakers push to revive Senate-passed pension bill stuck in House committee – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Alaska college scholarships poised to see first boost in years – Sean Maguire, ADN

A look at some of the bills that failed to pass the Alaska Legislature this year – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

State lawmakers wrapped up their four-month session last night. Here’s what they did. – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

After the Alaska House worked past midnight, some wonder: does the legislative session deadline matter? – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska House passes five bills past constitutional deadline – Jeff Landfield, Alaska Landmine

Alaska lawmakers end their session with late bills passing on energy, education – Becky Bohrer, AP

Alaska Legislature adjourns after passing priority bills, but not without a last-hour struggle – James Brooks, Claire Stremple and Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon

Ahead of final day, Alaska lawmakers settle on PFD near $1,655 per recipient – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska House adopts bill limiting transgender athletes over minority filibuster – Iris Samuels, ADN

Debate over transgender sports ban brings Alaska House to a standstill – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska House spends 12 hours debating transgender athletes as session deadline looms – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska House opposition attempts to filibuster bill restricting trans girls in sports – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska House majority set on hearing doomed bill to limit transgender athletes in final days of legislative session – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska Legislature passes capital budget with a focus on school maintenance – Sean Maguire, ADN

By wide, bipartisan margin, Alaska House puts finishing touches on state capital budget – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Opinion: On inflation aid for schools, Dunleavy is still kicking the can – Rich Moniak, Juneau Empire

Alaska Supreme Court schedules date for homeschool lawsuit appeal – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Competing Alaska House and Senate bills propose fixes to homeschool laws ruled unconstitutional – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

In reversal, Gov. Dunleavy signals support for correspondence school program legislation – Iris Samuels, ADN

Dunleavy says lawmakers shouldn’t pass bills to address homeschool decision. Lawmakers say that’s risky. – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

‘Mischaracterizes and misreads’ home-school ruling – Matt Buxton, Alaska Memo

Judge grants stay until June 30 on correspondence school ruling, says state ‘mischaracterizes’ order – Iris Samuels & Sean Maguire, Alaska Beacon

In final judgment, judge blocks Alaska correspondence provisions, keeps current rules through June – Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Beacon

Alaska court grants request to pause ruling decision on state homeschool funding – Joey Klecka & Steve Kirch, KTUU

State lawmakers hear public testimony on possible legislative actions to ruling on homeschooling reimbursements – Steve Kirch, KTUU

Correspondence school families say recent Alaska court ruling left them panicked, shocked and angry – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

State seeks quick Alaska Supreme Court ruling in appeal to resolve correspondence education issues – Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Beacon

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy says homeschool changes must wait until appeal ruling as lawmakers eye fixes – Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

Lawmakers reject state Board of Education appointee in joint session – Steve Kirch, ADN

Legislature rejects Dunleavy appointees to state school board and commercial fishing agency – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Alaska Legislature rejects Dunleavy-nominated state school board member – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Senators question Board of Education appointee’s role in home-school controversy – Matt Buxton, Alaska Current

Some Alaska lawmakers signal opposition to governor’s pick for education board – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska lawmakers aim for last-minute review of public pension reform – Iris Samuels, ADN

The moral imperative before the Alaska Legislature – Robin O’Donoghue, Alaska Beacon

Alaska House votes to require that schools stock overdose-reversal drugs – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Dunleavy signals support for $175 million one-year education funding boost – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Alaska Senate passes draft budget, confirming $175 million in bonus public-school funding – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Senate passes version of operating budget with lower PFD as governor addresses correspondence ruling status – Steve Kirch, KTUU

Dunleavy signals opposition to Alaska correspondence school program legislation – Iris Samuels, ADN

Entering their final two regular weeks, Alaska legislators are narrowing their focus – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Eielson AFB school closure highlights effects of education policy – Claire Stremple, Air Force Times

The correspondence school allotment lawsuit | Talk of Alaska – Lori Townsend, Alaska Public Media

‘We Must Do Better’: School Support Staff Still Earn Below Living Wage – Tim Walker, NEA Today

Students from across the state emphasized the need for mental health resources in rural Alaska during a conference – Alena Naiden