Schools

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon (right) discusses the Juneau School District’s financial crisis with school board Vice President Emil Mackey (right) and City Attorney Robert Palmer during a meeting Thursday night at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Meetings to comment on Assembly’s proposed $9.6M of help to school district scheduled next two Mondays

Plan includes $4.1 million no-interest loan, picking up “shared costs” this year and next.

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon (right) discusses the Juneau School District’s financial crisis with school board Vice President Emil Mackey (right) and City Attorney Robert Palmer during a meeting Thursday night at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A crowd overflows the library at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Thursday night as school board members meet to select a consolidation option to help resolve the Juneau School District’s budget crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School district leaders approve putting grades 9-12 at JDHS, 7-8 and HomeBRIDGE at TMHS

Elementary schools will be K-6; Marie Drake, Floyd Dryden to close this fall if plan gets final OK.

A crowd overflows the library at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Thursday night as school board members meet to select a consolidation option to help resolve the Juneau School District’s budget crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé students hold up signs during a rally along Egan Drive on Tuesday afternoon protesting a proposal to consolidate all local students in grades 10-12 at Thunder Mountain High School to help deal with the Juneau School District’s financial crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JDHS students, teachers rally to keep grades 9-12 at downtown school if consolidation occurs

District’s proposed move to TMHS would result in loss of vocational facilities, ninth-grade students.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé students hold up signs during a rally along Egan Drive on Tuesday afternoon protesting a proposal to consolidate all local students in grades 10-12 at Thunder Mountain High School to help deal with the Juneau School District’s financial crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Lisa Pearce (center), a financial analyst for the Juneau School District, explains the deadline officials are facing to take action to resolve a massive deficit during a work session Saturday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Seated next to Pearce are Superintendent Frank Hauser (left) and school board member Britteny Cioni-Haywood. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A plan moving forward: Consolidating grades 7-9 and special programs at JDHS, 10-12 at TMHS

School board, with time running out for budget-slashing decision, seeks more details on lone option.

Lisa Pearce (center), a financial analyst for the Juneau School District, explains the deadline officials are facing to take action to resolve a massive deficit during a work session Saturday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Seated next to Pearce are Superintendent Frank Hauser (left) and school board member Britteny Cioni-Haywood. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Lauren Stichert, a senior at Thunder Mountain High School, testifies before the Juneau Board of Education during a meeting about the school district’s budget crisis Tuesday night at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

District leaders focus on least, most dramatic school consolidation options to cope with budget crisis

All proposals consolidate both middle schools into one, leave sizable remaining deficit.

Lauren Stichert, a senior at Thunder Mountain High School, testifies before the Juneau Board of Education during a meeting about the school district’s budget crisis Tuesday night at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, speaks to Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

New bill would require Alaska schools to pay for armed volunteer guards

A new proposal from Palmer Republican Sen. Shelley Hughes would require Alaska school districts to train a volunteer able to carry a concealed handgun on… Continue reading

Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, speaks to Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau School District leaders hold up signs for subgroups they are leading during a Community Budget Input Session at Thunder Mountain High School on Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cost-cutting school consolidation options concerning to teachers, parents and students

Participants in first community budget meeting worry big changes will have wide-ranging impacts.

Juneau School District leaders hold up signs for subgroups they are leading during a Community Budget Input Session at Thunder Mountain High School on Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly to discuss the district’s financial crisis on Tuesday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video

City leaders say they’ll help school district solve financial crisis, but express anger at situation

Loan and taking over millions in service costs proposed — which could result in a mill rate increase.

Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly to discuss the district’s financial crisis on Tuesday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser, left, provides an update about the district’s financial situation to Juneau Assembly members and administrative leaders on Monday night at City Hall. A joint meeting of the Assembly and Juneau Board of Education to discuss possible solutions to the district’s financial crisis is scheduled Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly gets first look at $8M school district deficit they are being asked to help solve

Follow-up meeting of Assembly and school board Tuesday to consider sharing costs, other options.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser, left, provides an update about the district’s financial situation to Juneau Assembly members and administrative leaders on Monday night at City Hall. A joint meeting of the Assembly and Juneau Board of Education to discuss possible solutions to the district’s financial crisis is scheduled Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Leaders at the Juneau School District learned during the past week the district is facing a $9.5 million deficit during the current fiscal year that ends June 30. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

State agrees to five-year repayment plan for Juneau School District’s $9.5 million deficit

District was facing a June 30 deadline to balance books, which local officials said wasn’t feasible.

Leaders at the Juneau School District learned during the past week the district is facing a $9.5 million deficit during the current fiscal year that ends June 30. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

My Turn: When chickens come home to roost at the Juneau School District

On Tuesday I zoomed in to the Juneau School Board work session about our local school district’s recently announced $10 million budget shortfall. The explanation… Continue reading

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)
A sign with newly installed reflectors warns drivers on Back Loop Road about pedestrians crossing near the entrance of Mendenhall River Community School on Wednesday morning. A woman and two kids were hit by a vehicle on the road Dec. 7, prompting local school district officials to seek safety improvements from the state. Additional short- and long-term safety measures are still being discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Back Loop Road near school where pedestrians hit gets some safety improvements, more being discussed

Sign reflectors installed, upgraded entrance lighting and change to city bus route expected soon.

A sign with newly installed reflectors warns drivers on Back Loop Road about pedestrians crossing near the entrance of Mendenhall River Community School on Wednesday morning. A woman and two kids were hit by a vehicle on the road Dec. 7, prompting local school district officials to seek safety improvements from the state. Additional short- and long-term safety measures are still being discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District is facing a deficit of more than $9.5 million for the current fiscal year, according a district report published Jan. 5. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau School District facing $9.5 million deficit this year, new analysis shows

Lower revenues and higher costs mean $7.6M shortfall for FY24, plus $1.9M deficit from FY23.

The Juneau School District is facing a deficit of more than $9.5 million for the current fiscal year, according a district report published Jan. 5. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
A school bus on Back Loop Road prepares to turn into the entrance to Mendenhall River Community School shortly before classes start on Wednesday morning. Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser on Tuesday said he is asking state transportation officials to consider street lights and/or other safety improvements on the road following a collision last Thursday between a vehicle and three people walking to the school. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School district asks state for safety improvements on Back Loop Road near school following collision

Superintendent says DOT safety engineer will discuss lights, crosswalk at local meeting in January.

A school bus on Back Loop Road prepares to turn into the entrance to Mendenhall River Community School shortly before classes start on Wednesday morning. Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser on Tuesday said he is asking state transportation officials to consider street lights and/or other safety improvements on the road following a collision last Thursday between a vehicle and three people walking to the school. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Harborview Elementary School was briefly evacuated Friday after a bomb threat was received at midday, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Harborview Elementary School briefly evacuated after bomb threat

Police say incident appears connected to other threats at Alaska schools in recent months.

Harborview Elementary School was briefly evacuated Friday after a bomb threat was received at midday, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)
A row of rainbow flags are displayed above the bookshelves in the teen room at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Schools, libraries get warning letters from state attorney general about youth content

Local officials say letters lack specifics, aren’t considering changes in policies.

A row of rainbow flags are displayed above the bookshelves in the teen room at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A 15-year-old male student at Thunder Mountain High School was detained Tuesday for bringing a BB-style handgun into the building on Tuesday, according to officials. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

15-year-old student detained after bringing BB gun to Thunder Mountain High School, officials say

Quick intervention by principal prevented need for lockdown, according to police.

A 15-year-old male student at Thunder Mountain High School was detained Tuesday for bringing a BB-style handgun into the building on Tuesday, according to officials. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School receives a five-year banner marking its successful participation in NOAA’s Ocean Guardian School Program on Wednesday, the first school in the state to reach the milestone. Teacher Kristen Wells, far left, and students Lucy Bennett and Steffanie Reynoso were presented with the banner by Kim Raum-Suryan, who coordinates the Ocean Guardian School Program in Alaska, Anne Marie Eich, assistant regional administrator of NOAA’s Protected Resources Division, and Michelle Trifari, an Alaska Sea Grant Fellow. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain High School gets NOAA Ocean Guardian 5-year banner

First school in the state to achieve conservation group milestone.

Thunder Mountain High School receives a five-year banner marking its successful participation in NOAA’s Ocean Guardian School Program on Wednesday, the first school in the state to reach the milestone. Teacher Kristen Wells, far left, and students Lucy Bennett and Steffanie Reynoso were presented with the banner by Kim Raum-Suryan, who coordinates the Ocean Guardian School Program in Alaska, Anne Marie Eich, assistant regional administrator of NOAA’s Protected Resources Division, and Michelle Trifari, an Alaska Sea Grant Fellow. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Alicia Bagoyo, right and her daughter, Madalyn, look for a pre-kindergarten backpack with assistance from staff member Julie James during the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s annual backpack distribution at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Saturday.

Annual backpack giveaway charges up students and parents

2,400 packs with features for all ages distributed by Tlingit and Haida throughout Southeast Alaska

Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Alicia Bagoyo, right and her daughter, Madalyn, look for a pre-kindergarten backpack with assistance from staff member Julie James during the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s annual backpack distribution at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Saturday.
A notice about the arrival of summer is posted outside the entrance to Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ - Glacier Valley Elementary School. The school’s principal told the Juneau Board of Education last Tuesday there was a 55% “chronically absent” rate during the past school year. (Juneau Empire File)

A local principal says more than half the students were chronically absent. Is that cause for alarm?

District officials seek causes, solutions and context of absenteeism, which is also high nationally

A notice about the arrival of summer is posted outside the entrance to Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ - Glacier Valley Elementary School. The school’s principal told the Juneau Board of Education last Tuesday there was a 55% “chronically absent” rate during the past school year. (Juneau Empire File)