education funding Archives

Despite promise of help from Juneau, Sitka School Board cuts 16 teachers to balance next year’s budget

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | May 2, 2024 | Local News, Syndicated

The Sitka School Board Wednesday night (5-1-24) passed a budget for next year with the most sweeping jobs cut in recent memory. A total of 16 teaching positions are gone, with most unlikely to be restored – even after a pledge by the governor to sign a one-time boost in education funding in the next state operating budget. Read More

‘There are still things we can do’: Sitka’s legislators join unsuccessful effort to override governor’s education veto

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Mar 19, 2024 | Local News, Syndicated

Both Rep. Rebecca Himschoot and Sen. Bert Stedman joined the effort to override Gov. Dunleavy's veto of SB140, which would have been the first major funding boost for public education in eight years. Read More

With cuts looming, educators back a ‘Bill of Rights’ for Alaskan students

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Nov 1, 2019 | Local News, Syndicated

With another battle over school funding in Alaska shaping up for next year, some residents are taking a closer look at the state’s obligation to educate its children. A ballot initiative petition called “Alaska Students’ Educational Bill of Rights” is now circulating in Sitka and the state’s other urban centers. Read More

Kreiss-Tomkins: Recall effort may not deter governor’s plans to cut education

by KCAW News | Oct 30, 2019 | Local News, Syndicated

In a recent town hall meeting at Sitka High School (10-23-19), Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins told a gathering of teachers, parents, and other residents that education funding was especially at risk -- despite the very real threat of recall faced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Read More

As education stalemate wears on, 18 Sitka teachers to get contracts

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Jul 26, 2019 | Local News, Syndicated

Under the threat of court action, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy last week (7-17-19) released statewide education funding, which will allow school districts to open as usual later this August. In Sitka, 18 untenured teachers were just delivered contracts. Read More