The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board, recognizing Alaska Native Heritage Month, will hold its meeting Wednesday at the Saxman Community Center. According to Superintendent Bob Boyle, Ketchikan’s student population is 33 percent Alaska Native.
Boyle also reports that the final numbers from the student count show enrollment is up in the district. The increase, which includes an increase in intensive-needs students, correlates to just over $715,000 more in state revenue. The Board will discuss how to spend the additional money. The administration has recommended that it go toward hiring additional special education paraprofessionals, teacher education and other expenditures.
On November 9th, school districts across the state including Ketchikan received the delayed results from the Alaska Measures of Progress test. Ketchikan outscored the state in English Language Arts and equaled the state percentage in Mathematics. Three percentage points separated Ketchikan from the top-performing district, Kenai, in English Language Arts.
Director of Curriculum Shannon Sines says comparing Ketchikan scores to other districts has been helpful in the past. But, because this is the first year students have taken the AMP test, this year’s results serve as a baseline. Individual student reports are expected to arrive in the district later this month and will be mailed to students’ homes.
The Ketchikan School Board meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Saxman Community Center. Preceding the meeting at 5 p.m. is a Native art student exhibit and a Native dance group will perform at 5:45. There is time for public comment at the beginning and end of each meeting.
