Schools

School district

Superintendent: School staff highly vaccinated

Lots of testing.

School district
Capital City Fire/Rescue’s Cadet Program is in session once again, meeting at Hagevig Regional Fire Training Center the on the first three Saturdays of each month for high schoolers to learn more about the job. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

CCFR rekindles Cadet Program for high schoolers

Nineteen high schoolers are taking part in the freshly restarted program.

Capital City Fire/Rescue’s Cadet Program is in session once again, meeting at Hagevig Regional Fire Training Center the on the first three Saturdays of each month for high schoolers to learn more about the job. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File David Kimbrough, 7, right, Clayton Haywood, 6, center, and Kyla Belcourt, 8, play in sprinklers set up during the RALLY program at Harborview Elementary School on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. RALLY provides before- and after-school care to families with school-age children and offers care during school breaks. Recently, some parents have complained that the price of the program is too high. Meanwhile, school officials say RALLY routinely loses money and that changes are needed to make it more sustainable.

RALLY attendance stresses family and program budgets

School administrators look for a sustainable operating model

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File David Kimbrough, 7, right, Clayton Haywood, 6, center, and Kyla Belcourt, 8, play in sprinklers set up during the RALLY program at Harborview Elementary School on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. RALLY provides before- and after-school care to families with school-age children and offers care during school breaks. Recently, some parents have complained that the price of the program is too high. Meanwhile, school officials say RALLY routinely loses money and that changes are needed to make it more sustainable.
Election workers Nora Laughlin and Bob Laurie man the City Hall election station on the last day of voting for Juneau's municipal election, Oct. 5, 2021. On Friday, results started to roll in with more expected Monday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Update: Continuing count shuffles early results

With almost 70% of the vote counted, results remain unofficial

Election workers Nora Laughlin and Bob Laurie man the City Hall election station on the last day of voting for Juneau's municipal election, Oct. 5, 2021. On Friday, results started to roll in with more expected Monday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18. Earlier this fall, vandalism including stolen soap dispensers and toilets clogged with foreign objects such as paper towel rolls were a problem at schools nationwide and in Juneau. But, principals say the local situation is improving. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

After brief surge, vandalism subsiding at local high schools

Principals say internet trends, stress likely behind incidents.

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18. Earlier this fall, vandalism including stolen soap dispensers and toilets clogged with foreign objects such as paper towel rolls were a problem at schools nationwide and in Juneau. But, principals say the local situation is improving. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire On Sept. 27, Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stood outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Later this week, Weiss will accept the 2022 Alaska Superintendent of the year award in Anchorage.

Words from the Weiss: Catching up with Alaska’s superintendent of the year

She’s had one heck of a year.

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire On Sept. 27, Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stood outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Later this week, Weiss will accept the 2022 Alaska Superintendent of the year award in Anchorage.
This photo shows the school board candidates that will appear on ballot's in next month's municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

School board candidate forum responses

Find out where local candidates stand

This photo shows the school board candidates that will appear on ballot's in next month's municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021, during the window that school officials were administering PEAKS tests to students on campus. This week, the Department of Education and Early Development said only about 64% of Alaska’s eligible students took the tests in 2021. Locally, test participation was even lower. As a result of the low participation, DEED cautions against comparing 2021 PEAKS data to previous years at the statewide level. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

State officials release PEAKS test data

A peek at PEAKS.

This photo shows Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021, during the window that school officials were administering PEAKS tests to students on campus. This week, the Department of Education and Early Development said only about 64% of Alaska’s eligible students took the tests in 2021. Locally, test participation was even lower. As a result of the low participation, DEED cautions against comparing 2021 PEAKS data to previous years at the statewide level. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. The Juneau School District Board of Education voted on Tuesday unanimously adopted additional COVID-19 mitigation measures. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau schools add COVID-19 mitigation layers

School board candidates react.

Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. The Juneau School District Board of Education voted on Tuesday unanimously adopted additional COVID-19 mitigation measures. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Bridget Weiss, seen here outside of Harborview Elementary School on Sept. 8, 2021, was named by Time Magazine as one of 29 educators or school staff across the country to be recognized for their exemplary efforts in the face of the pandemic. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Time in the spotlight: Juneau school superintendent named as year-saving educator by magazine

The Juneau School District was on of 29 educators and staff named nationwide.

Bridget Weiss, seen here outside of Harborview Elementary School on Sept. 8, 2021, was named by Time Magazine as one of 29 educators or school staff across the country to be recognized for their exemplary efforts in the face of the pandemic. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

WATCH: Municipal candidate forum

School board, Assembly candidates talk issues ahead of Oct. 5 election.

A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale, pictured here in November 2020. The school board’s decision to prevent the basketball team from going to the Region V state tournament because of a district policy that precluded traveling to regions with high levels of coronavirus risk is one of the issues that prompted Kyle Scholl to run as a write-in candidate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Write-in candidate seeks school board seat

Board decision on basketball tourney sparks run

Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale, pictured here in November 2020. The school board’s decision to prevent the basketball team from going to the Region V state tournament because of a district policy that precluded traveling to regions with high levels of coronavirus risk is one of the issues that prompted Kyle Scholl to run as a write-in candidate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This July 30 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Aaron Spratt. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire File)

Get to know a candidate: Aaron Spratt

He’s seeking a seat on the school board.

This July 30 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Aaron Spratt. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire File)
This Aug. 2 photo shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Get to know a candidate: Amber Frommherz

She’s running for school board.

This Aug. 2 photo shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Ibn Bailey

He’s seeking a school board seat .

This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo / Elizabeth Siddon)

Get to know a candidate: Elizabeth Siddon

Incumbent defends seat on the school board.

Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo / Elizabeth Siddon)
Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo/Elizabeth Siddon)

Siddon sets sights on a second term

Three open seats attract six candidates

Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo/Elizabeth Siddon)
Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)

Teachers take a turn as students

Training class focuses on equity, restorative practices

Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey.

Bailey seeks school board seat

Local business owner says he brings unique perspective

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey.
A sidewalk-based message welcomes students and staff back to Sít’ Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School ahead of the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16.

Teachers share excitement about return to classrooms

There’s nothing like in-person instruction for teaching

A sidewalk-based message welcomes students and staff back to Sít’ Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School ahead of the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16.