The Cape Fox Dancers perform at the Saxman Community Hall in 2014. (File photo by Leila Kheiry)
The Ketchikan School Board will hold Wednesday’s regular meeting at the Saxman Community Hall, in recognition of National Native Heritage Month.
The meeting officially starts at 6 p.m., but the hall will be open earlier for a special student Native art exhibit, with food provided by the Ketchikan High School culinary arts class. The New Path Dancers will perform at 5:45.
According to Superintendent Robert Boyle, Native students make up about 32 percent of the district’s population.
In his report to the Board, Boyle includes a letter from Ketchikan Indian Community about a proposed new Haida language program at Ketchikan High School. The program would be offered in partnership with KIC, and would be a pilot program leading toward also offering courses for the Tlingit and Tsimshian languages.
Also in his report to the Board, Boyle writes that the Ketchikan School District’s enrollment this fiscal year is 2,230 students, with an additional 66 in the correspondence program. About 75 students are classified as “intensive needs” special education students, which leads to a higher level of state funding.
That overall count, and the number of intensive students, is more than the district estimated. Boyle writes that the district now anticipates nearly $1.9 million more in state funding than it had budgeted for this fiscal year.
However, the district will receive about $200,000 less in other areas, according to Business Manager Adam Thompson. That’ due to the closure of the Ketchikan Regional Youth Facility, loss of the Construction Academy grant, and the governor’s veto of some transportation grant funds.
Wednesday’s School Board meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Saxman Community Hall. Public comment will be heard at the start of the meeting.
