District announces activities to be merged

The Juneau School District has decided which activities at its two traditional high schools will be merged starting next school year. Participants in wrestling, tennis, drama debate and forensics, and possibly dance will be housed under one roof next fall, at either Juneau-Douglas High School and Thunder Mountain High School.

Wrestling and DDF programs at JDHS will be cut and students will be invited to try out for TMHS’ programs. Tennis players from TMHS will be invited to try out for JDHS’ team (TMHS currently doesn’t have a tennis program).

If TMHS Dance can’t identify a qualified coach within the timeline specified by the Juneau Educators Association, their program will be consolidated with JDHS’.

Director of Student Services Bridget Weiss released the announcement Wednesday after securing approval from ASAA on Friday. Weiss met with principals and athletic directors to identify programs and communicate with coaches and the school board before making any decisions.

Juneau’s high school athletics and activities have been operating with “one, if not both arms tied behind their back,” according to Weiss, and changes needed to be made. Ongoing school district budget pressures have made identifying efficiencies in Juneau’s extracurriculars a necessity.

Weiss said there are other programs that could have brought more “bang for their buck” if consolidated, but there are many moving parts to deciding which programs to consolidate, including upending region and conference identifications. She also added that the idea was to lay the groundwork for merging bigger programs down the line, and that the district was trying to “dip its toes in the water” and not try to do everything at once.

The school district will revisit the idea in the fall and assess whether they want to continue to pursue the merger past the one-year waiver granted by ASAA.

More in Sports

Natural hydrogen gas may be trapped under the surface of Alaska in many areas, such as here in the Brooks Range. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Alaska Science Forum: Geologic hydrogen may be an answer

The internal combustion engine is less than 100 years old. Same for… Continue reading

The Dalton Highway, built in 1974 to construct the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, allows the public to access the Brooks Range and North Slope like the author did in 2022. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: The theater is over, let the work begin

The election is over. It’s time to catch our collective breath and… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Parker Boman and sophomore Kennedy Miller swim the 100 breaststroke final at the Region V Championships last weekend in the Petersburg Aquatic Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears about to plunge into state swim championships

Girls look to defend team title behind top qualifying times, boys look to earn top-five team placing.

A pair of Petersburg wiener dogs. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Pure Sole: ‘Bread and Butter’

So, evidently, I now have a nickname in my hometown of Petersburg.… Continue reading

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears volleyball team pose for a photo in Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow. From left are senior Evelyn Richards, junior Lavinia Ma’ake, senior Nina Jeter, assistant coach Abby Dean, sophomore Amelia Elfers, juniors Cambry Lockhart, Braith Dihle, Neela Thomas, sophomore June Troxel, junior Natalia Harris, sophomore Leila Cooper, assistant coach Mark Ibias and sophomore Braith Dihle. (Courtesy photo)
Crimson Bears face northern test on Utqiagvik courts

JDHS volleyball team learned a lot from Barrow community.

A short-eared owl pounced on something deep in the grass. (Photo by Greg Chaney)
On the Trails: Owls and voles and other observations

In the middle of October, bird watchers estimated about 40 short-eared owls… Continue reading

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls swim and dive team won the 2024 Region V Championship Saturday at Petersburg. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears girls swim to Region V team championship

JDHS sweeps girls relays, boys place second to Ketchikan.

Fairbanks’ first real winter storm of October 2024 left behind an uncommon wet, slushy mess. (Photo by Bobby Bianco)
Alaska Science Forum: The numbers behind a weather forecast

A meteorologist from the National Weather Service’s local office recently told a… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors Parker Boman, Lucia Chapell and Brooklyn Kanouse sport the teams new official JDHS Crimson Bears swim caps during practice Tuesday at Augustus Brown Pool in preparation for the Region V Swim & Dive Championships in Petersburg this weekend. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
‘Water’s water’ as swim team prepares for region championships

Tapering and secrecy lead to records set and championships won

Most Read