The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted on Monday to approve the school district’s budget with the full spending authority, but only part of the actual funding requested. That included about $3.1 million out of a potential $5.5 million from the portion of the local education fund that the borough has discretion in how to spend. The assembly decided not to fund the full discretionary amount, out of concern for money from that pool being needed to cover outstanding costs from the 2023-24 school year.
The vote came after another night of emotional citizen comments, reminiscent of those that preceded the School Board’s vote last week to issue more than 50 layoff notices.
The school’s budget, as it stands, would still require substantial cuts, because it assumes no new state funding. The state legislature did pass one-time funding equal to about a $680 increase per student before completing their session last week. That has yet to be signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy though, who could reduce the amount, as he did last year.
Stephen Bradford, who heads the Ketchikan School Board, said at the borough’s Monday meeting that the newly approved funding would allow them to recall some unspecified number of the 52 layoff notices they delivered last week.
The School Board meets Wednesday, May 22, and will consider how to proceed following the budget approval.
Correction: This story has been updated to clarify the difference between funding amounts approved for “spending authority” and “discretionary spending.” (July 17, 2024)
