By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
At their Tuesday meeting, Sitka School Board members made it clear that local schools are functioning normally despite $152,000 in budget cuts. They and school principals noted that faculty and students have proven resilient during the period of funding uncertainty.
Because of the state’s delayed action on school funding, some teachers received their contracts only days before classes began.
Blatchley Middle School Principal Ben White said, “we were able to offer contracts to the new science teacher Thursday (August 22) at 4:30 p.m. and she had kids Friday (August 23) at 8 a.m.” That science teacher position had been at risk of being cut prior to the board’s vote on August 13.
Keet Gooshi Heen Principal Casey Demmert told the School Board that he was amazed by “how everybody steps up and helps each other get whatever needs to be done.”
Sitka High School Principal Laura Rogers said that even with the fiscal troubles, “it’s been a really smooth start.”
The board recognized the Sitka High School softball team players for their victory in the championship in Anchorage. Also recognized was the Sitka High Best Buddies Program, which advocates on behalf of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
District Superintendent Mary Wegner told the board that school enrollment numbers are very close to projected figures, although the final enrollment count will not take place until October. Wegner said the numbers are good news, since having a correct enrollment estimate is vital to accurate budgeting.
But Wegner could not make a positive report on all topics. She reported that the grant which had funded a Youth Advocates of Sitka after-school program had not been renewed. She said she believed that the program had “made a difference,” and regretted its ending.
Wegner reported that Blatchley art teacher Mindy Samman resigned on August 20, but school officials managed to fill the position before school began.
“Luckily, we have really qualified people in Sitka ready to go,” Wegner said.
In other business at the meeting, the board agreed to set up a forum to take comments from the public. Although the idea is nebulous at the moment, board member Elias Erickson thought that the forum would be “a more consistent mechanism for people to submit thoughts to the board.”
The board also will delegate members to review the list of resolutions proposed by the Association of Alaska School Boards. These resolutions touch on topics including governance, finance, child advocacy, personnel, and education programs.
Board members also approved new teacher contracts and minutes from previous meetings.
Asked whether she believed that fiscal uncertainty hurt teacher morale or retention, Wegner told the Sentinel that there was a chance that it could. However, she concluded that the budget-induced time crunch has helped teacher cohesion.
“What it’s actually done is increase the connections that new teachers have with existing staff,” she said. “It’s worked to break down barriers.”
