The regular Sitka School Board meeting was cancelled on Tuesday (6-16-26) when it fell short of the attendance requirements to hold a public meeting.
The board must meet its quorum in order to convene – in other words a majority of members must be present. Right now, the board is not at its full capacity, after Amanda Williams and Tom Williams stepped down last month. Board members Courtney Amundson and Paul Rioux were present at the district office ahead of the meeting, along with Superintendent Deidre Jenson who participated remotely, but Board President Phil Burdick’s unexpected absence triggered the cancellation.
The board planned to review a revision to its cell phone policy for students and hear an update on the budget for next school year. Rather than reschedule, the board will move its agenda items to a special meeting that was already set for later this month. At that time, it will also appoint two new board members to fill the recent vacancies.
District staff say, so far, two Sitkans have submitted applications to fill the vacant seats. The deadline to apply is June 22 at 4 p.m. The following day, applicants’ names will be published, allowing a week for public input before the board appoints two candidates at the June 30 meeting. Both appointed members will serve on the board until the October 6 municipal election.
