Education

Skylar Taug, 6, holds up a snow globe following a crafts project Tuesday afternoon during RALLY. “We try for a ‘Wow!’ every day,” said Christina Ackmann, RALLY site manager for Sít Eetí Shaanáx-Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau School District decides to close the RALLY program

The summer RALLY program will continue through the district’s advertised end date of Aug. 8

 

The Juneau Board of Education meets and discusses a resolution in response to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s draft regulation on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Public comment period opens for proposal limiting local governments’ contributions to schools

JSD’s potential loss from limiting non-instructional funding becomes more significant after review

 

Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire
Sacred Ground baristas Raven Salduvar and Mackenzie Gray serve coffee in their new location, Aan Hít, on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

‘Healthy tribes make healthy communities’

Richard Peterson speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce about building opportunities for Juneau

 

Then-Rep. Grier Hopkins, D-Fairbanks, speaks on the floor of the Alaska House, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Hopkins is now the mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Officials warn of possible lawsuit in wake of Alaska governor’s education funding veto

Among issues are if veto violates Alaska’s constitutional guarantee of adequately funded public schools.

Then-Rep. Grier Hopkins, D-Fairbanks, speaks on the floor of the Alaska House, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Hopkins is now the mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau state Rep. Andi Story (left) and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl (standing) participate in a legislative town hall at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Monday, June 9, 2025. Both are among the six legislators named to an education task force on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislature forms six-member education task force, including two from Juneau, to study funding and policy

School accountability, absenteeism and open enrollment among issues members will consider.

Juneau state Rep. Andi Story (left) and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl (standing) participate in a legislative town hall at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Monday, June 9, 2025. Both are among the six legislators named to an education task force on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Kristin Bartlett, chief of staff for the Juneau School District, discusses the new cellphone policy on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

School board OKs limits on student cellphone use

New regulation seeks to reduce distractions, sparks privacy concerns for some members.

Kristin Bartlett, chief of staff for the Juneau School District, discusses the new cellphone policy on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser watches Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, discuss the federal disparity test for education funding provided by states during a Senate Education Committee meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

State education board delays decision limiting local funding for schools

DEED blames local contributions for failure of disparity test — testimonies point the finger back.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser watches Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, discuss the federal disparity test for education funding provided by states during a Senate Education Committee meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Serjoe Gutierrez plays violin with the Kodiak High School Orchestra during warm ups (Brian Venua/KMXT)

Alaska schools need teachers. They’re hiring them from the Philippines.

Alaska schools are hiring teachers from the Philippines amid a massive national shortage. It’s the latest wave of immigrants from Southeast Asia to come to… Continue reading

Serjoe Gutierrez plays violin with the Kodiak High School Orchestra during warm ups (Brian Venua/KMXT)
Hayden Aube is the first student to receive his diploma from Principal Paula Casperson during Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s graduation ceremony Sunday, May 25, 2025. Aube, a multisport star athlete for the Crimson Bears, was in a wheelchair after sustaining an injury Saturday competing in the Region V Track and Field Championships. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Class of 2025: Expanding by consolidating

Former TMHS students get tributes as nearly 300 seniors walk the stage in first post-merger commencement.

Hayden Aube is the first student to receive his diploma from Principal Paula Casperson during Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s graduation ceremony Sunday, May 25, 2025. Aube, a multisport star athlete for the Crimson Bears, was in a wheelchair after sustaining an injury Saturday competing in the Region V Track and Field Championships. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School’s seniors enter the Dzantik’i Heeni gymnasium during the school’s graduation ceremony Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School celebrates Class of 2025

38 seniors get individual tributes from their advisors before walk across stage at Dzantik’i Heeni.

Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School’s seniors enter the Dzantik’i Heeni gymnasium during the school’s graduation ceremony Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)
Juneau high school seniors Peyton Edmunds of IDEA Homeschool (left), Ryan Song of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé (center) and Maxie Lehauli of Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School. (Photos of Edmunds and Song by Juneau Empire staff, photo of Lehauli provided by her family)

Senior Spotlight 2025: Adapting to where the ‘real world’ might take you

Homeschool grad honored Friday; ceremonies for Juneau’s two public high schools are Sunday.

Juneau high school seniors Peyton Edmunds of IDEA Homeschool (left), Ryan Song of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé (center) and Maxie Lehauli of Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School. (Photos of Edmunds and Song by Juneau Empire staff, photo of Lehauli provided by her family)
Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Steve Whitney (left) is sworn in as a Juneau Board of Education member by Superior Court Judge Amy Mead in the library at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after five candidates were interviewed by the other board members to fill the seat vacated when Will Muldoon resigned last month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Steve Whitney returns to Juneau school board six years after departure to temporarily fill vacant seat

Fisheries manager and parent selected from among five candidates to serve until October’s election.

Steve Whitney (left) is sworn in as a Juneau Board of Education member by Superior Court Judge Amy Mead in the library at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after five candidates were interviewed by the other board members to fill the seat vacated when Will Muldoon resigned last month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Lupita Alvarez, a teacher at Montessori Borealis Children’s House, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Educators, the ‘backbone of our schools,’ are breaking

Teachers say district contract counteroffer with less pay sends the message they should leave.

Lupita Alvarez, a teacher at Montessori Borealis Children’s House, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Board of Education members including Will Muldoon (foreground), whose seat is currently open after he resigned April 21, meet at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Sept. 10, 2024. Five candidates for the open seat are scheduled to be interviewed on Saturday at TMMS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Five people seeking open seat on Juneau school board set for public interviews on Saturday at TMMS

Former board member Steve Whitney, recent runner-up candidate Jenny Thomas among applicants.

Juneau Board of Education members including Will Muldoon (foreground), whose seat is currently open after he resigned April 21, meet at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Sept. 10, 2024. Five candidates for the open seat are scheduled to be interviewed on Saturday at TMMS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Axel Baumann films and Max Osadchenko captures sounds of Juneau Alaska Music Matters students performing a “Gratitude” concert at the Sealaska Heritage Institute Clan House on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The event was a wrapup performance after the film crew followed JAMM participants for two weeks as part of a feature-length documentary. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Filmmakers seek to share cultural lessons of Juneau Alaska Music Matters with a wider audience

Crew spends two weeks with students after following similar program in Texas for full-length documentary.

Axel Baumann films and Max Osadchenko captures sounds of Juneau Alaska Music Matters students performing a “Gratitude” concert at the Sealaska Heritage Institute Clan House on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The event was a wrapup performance after the film crew followed JAMM participants for two weeks as part of a feature-length documentary. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Selah Judge, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences, gives the student speech at the University of Alaska Southeast commencement on Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Selah Judge, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences, gives the student speech at the University of Alaska Southeast commencement on Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Senate Minority Leader Mike Shower (R-Wasilla), right, explains why he is changing his vote on a compromise education bill during Wednesday’s floor session at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Compromise education bill passes Legislature by veto-proof margin despite Dunleavy administration threats

Education commissioner tells school districts to support governor’s policy goals or risk losing funds.

Senate Minority Leader Mike Shower (R-Wasilla), right, explains why he is changing his vote on a compromise education bill during Wednesday’s floor session at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
State Sen. Löki Tobin (D-Anchorage) reviews an amendment on an education bill with other senators during a break in floor debate Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Effort to rush compromise education bill through Legislature hits snag due to ‘drafting error’

Bill returned to Senate, which passed it 19-1, to fix error in amendment; House vote expected by Wednesday

State Sen. Löki Tobin (D-Anchorage) reviews an amendment on an education bill with other senators during a break in floor debate Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)