Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

Assembly approves funding increase for school district

The city is increasing its contribution to Sitka’s public schools this year. When the Sitka Assembly met with the school board Thursday, it approved a $7.6 million dollar contribution. That’s an increase of more than $333,293 from last year.

Shortage of childcare: Centers struggle to balance tuition costs, teacher pay

Childcare is costly and limited in Sitka. The town’s two biggest centers are both at capacity -- and have waitlists -- but the market for childcare is complicated. Even with increased fees, the centers struggle to stay afloat, and can’t afford to pay staff enough to curb high turnover.

Shortage of childcare: new parents scramble to find affordable options in Sitka

In part one of our three-part series on childcare in Sitka, KCAW Reporter Katherine Rose talks to three mothers about how they’re handling the affordability and availability of local childcare.

Assembly approves pay increase for vacant library director position

The lowest paid department head at city hall could be getting a pay bump. When the Sitka Assembly met on Tuesday (1-28-20) it voted to raise the salary of the library director position from $71,000 to $82,000.

Assembly delays vote on tiny house rules

An effort to make room for more affordable housing in Sitka was put on pause Tuesday (1-28-20) night, when the Sitka Assembly postponed voting on a proposal that would bring tiny houses under Sitka’s residential zoning code.

January 28, 2020: What’s on the agenda at tonight’s assembly meeting?

The future of Sitka’s smallest dwellings will be up for discussion when the assembly meets tonight. The group will consider updating city code to make space for tiny homes.

Assembly considers new items in FY21 budget process

The Sitka Assembly is considering recommendations from city staff to raise the salary of the library director, to add an assistant fire chief position, and to not rehire engineering positions in the public works and electric departments.

Assembly considers taxability of food containers, gift cards

At its regular meeting Tuesday evening (1-14-20), the Sitka Assembly took a hard look at gift cards -- how and when to tax them -- and other less-than-clearcut sales, such as pizza boxes and coffee cups.

Sitka assembly considers makeover for dated city seal

Sitka’s nearly 50-year old city seal is showing its age. Depicting a Russian cannon aimed over Sitka Sound at something that looks like a Tlingit fort, the seal evokes a painful past for many in the community. Now, the Sitka Assembly is getting behind a proposal to redesign it.