Paul Rioux

Age: 49

How many years have you lived in Sitka and in Alaska? 30 Years

Occupation: Self employed tradesman; contract trainer to Alaska Association of School Boards

Family: I have three adult children that graduated from the Sitka District and live and work in Sitka, and a 7th grader at Blatchley Middle School

Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?

School board 2019-2021; 2024-2025


Previous government or other relevant experience:

 

Community involvement, past and present:
Boy scout leader, 4H leader, Sitka Community Development Corp board member, Sitka Sportsmans Assoc board member, Sitka Unitarian Fellowship Board member

 

Why are you running for a seat on the Sitka School Board this year?

To continue to work for best possible results for our students

What are your top priorities if elected?
Help provide continued stability to the district, ensure strong public involvement in governance

 

 

Budget

In recent years, the Sitka Assembly has been spending the maximum allowed by state law on instructional expenses in the school district – the so-called “cap” – and spending money over-and-above the cap on things like student activities, managing the Blatchley Pool and funding the contract for the Sitka Performing Arts Center. Do you support this spending plan? Why or why not?

Absolutely support, it provides the best possible environment for our students

 

During the budget process, the Sitka School Board typically has to balance academics, activities, and class size (also called pupil-teacher ratio, or PTRs). In your view, should any of these three areas receive more weight?

PTR’s balanced with best data for student outcomes

 

Technology

Districts around the state are considering cell phone bans. Would you support a full or partial cell phone ban in the Sitka School District? Why or why not?

I don’t support a full ban from the board, instead I support entrusting the regulation to our administration on a building by building basis


What role should artificial intelligence play in the classroom? Should the Sitka School District develop a policy addressing or restricting AI use? Why or why not?

AI is tool that’s becoming mainstream, I support our staff in there efforts to manage tool usage with academic honesty. There should be regulations in place, but I support board policy that entrusts the decision to staff.

 

Classroom

Social emotional learning and culturally responsive teaching are both guiding principles in the district. Do you support the continued emphasis on these approaches to education? Why or why not?

The data clearly shows that these practices result in best outcomes for students, I support following the data as recommended by

 

Teacher Pay 

Last year, the Sitka School Board and the Sitka Education Association negotiated a three-year contract with raises built in each year (6% in 2024, 4% in 2025 and 4% in 2026). In June 2027, when it’s time to negotiate a new contract, as a board member, where would you stand? Would you hold the line on teacher salaries, or support increases to the pay scale?


The teacher recruitment and retention environment has become critical in the past 2 decades, coupled with Alaska’s less than competitive public retirement system it’s important that pay keeps pace as well as we possibly can.

 

 

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