Juneau School District

A Juneau Police Department car sits in front of Juneau-Douglas High School on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A Juneau Police Department car sits in front of Juneau-Douglas High School on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Director of Student Services Bridget Weiss, right, and Superintendent Dr. Mark Miller talk on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Juneau School District Director of Student Services Bridget Weiss, right, and Superintendent Dr. Mark Miller talk on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Super Bear/Foodland IGA employees Whitney Oudekerk, center, and Michael Stults, right, hand off bags of food for Super Bear IGA Director Tony Demelo to box at Super Bear IGA on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 20128, as part of the grocery store’s Project 3 Squares. (Michael Pernn | Juneau Empire)
Super Bear/Foodland IGA employees Whitney Oudekerk, center, and Michael Stults, right, hand off bags of food for Super Bear IGA Director Tony Demelo to box at Super Bear IGA on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 20128, as part of the grocery store’s Project 3 Squares. (Michael Pernn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District’s interim Superintendent Bridget Weiss watches first day of school activities on Aug. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Juneau School District’s interim Superintendent Bridget Weiss watches first day of school activities on Aug. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Senior Arias Hoyle is one of a number of Juneau-Douglas High School students looking to add “Yadaa.at Kalé,” the Tlingit name for Mount Juneau, to the high school’s name. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Senior Arias Hoyle is one of a number of Juneau-Douglas High School students looking to add “Yadaa.at Kalé,” the Tlingit name for Mount Juneau, to the high school’s name. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Lead by Student Body President eighth grader Grant Pierson, left, Floyd Dryden Middle School students uses carts to move donated food to a waiting Southeast Alaska Foodbank van on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

School food drives exceed expectations

Teachers, students alike were impressed with turnout.

Lead by Student Body President eighth grader Grant Pierson, left, Floyd Dryden Middle School students uses carts to move donated food to a waiting Southeast Alaska Foodbank van on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Students at Mendenhall River Elementary School run through playground equipment on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, that is up for replacement by the school district. The hill leading to the equipment ices up in the winter and students use the tubes to hide from yard attendants. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Students at Mendenhall River Elementary School run through playground equipment on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, that is up for replacement by the school district. The hill leading to the equipment ices up in the winter and students use the tubes to hide from yard attendants. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss speaks during a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Weiss is currently the interim superintendent, and the board members discussed next steps for selecting a permanent superintendent at Tuesday’s meeting. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss speaks during a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Weiss is currently the interim superintendent, and the board members discussed next steps for selecting a permanent superintendent at Tuesday’s meeting. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School students attend a chemistry class on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School students attend a chemistry class on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Former teacher Linda Buckley leads Auke Bay Elementary School students in the school song on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau elementary school celebrates 50th anniversary

The school has changed substantially since it was first built.

Former teacher Linda Buckley leads Auke Bay Elementary School students in the school song on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau City Attorney Robert Palmer, left, swears-in new school board members Paul Kelly, Kevin Allen and Elizabeth “Ebett” Siddon on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at Thunder Mountain High School. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Three join school board, new superintendent search starts

Three new members of the City and Borough of Juneau Board of Education took their seats at a Tuesday meeting at Thunder Mountain High School… Continue reading

Juneau City Attorney Robert Palmer, left, swears-in new school board members Paul Kelly, Kevin Allen and Elizabeth “Ebett” Siddon on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at Thunder Mountain High School. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mayoral candidate Beth Weldon, with family and friends, react as they watch Election results come in at the Assembly chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mayoral candidate Beth Weldon, with family and friends, react as they watch Election results come in at the Assembly chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Solomon Dunlap cleans and makes up beds in the day surgery department as part of his internship at Bartlett Regional Hospital on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Soft skills, hard work: health care interns with disabilities learn the ropes of work life

> On a Friday at noon, the maze of hallways, staircases and corridors at Bartlett Regional Hospital is a hive of activity. Just getting around… Continue reading

Solomon Dunlap cleans and makes up beds in the day surgery department as part of his internship at Bartlett Regional Hospital on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Harborview Elementary School students load up on fruit at a free school breakfast on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Donation keeps free school breakfast going

Breakfast on Friday was served with a check for $24,000.

Harborview Elementary School students load up on fruit at a free school breakfast on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees Kim Raum-Suryan, left, Alicia Schuler, middle, and Aleria Jensen speak to Sayeik Gastineau Community School students about ocean conservancy on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Gastineau is one of two Juneau schools to start an Ocean Guardian program, which will work to clean up local shorelines and advocate for ocean issues. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Juneau schools launch Ocean Guardian program to combat marine mess

Students at Sayéik Gastineau Community School rummaged through trash at a school assembly on Friday. A shark, a dolphin, a salmon and a warrior looked… Continue reading

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees Kim Raum-Suryan, left, Alicia Schuler, middle, and Aleria Jensen speak to Sayeik Gastineau Community School students about ocean conservancy on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Gastineau is one of two Juneau schools to start an Ocean Guardian program, which will work to clean up local shorelines and advocate for ocean issues. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Juneau School Board candidate Elizabeth Siddon reacts to the timer’s bell as she answers questions with Kevin Allen, left, Paul Kelly, center, during a candidate forum by the League of Women Voters at KTOO on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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School Board candidates talk priorities during forums

The candidates have a great deal of common ground but all bring different perspectives to the board.

Juneau School Board candidate Elizabeth Siddon reacts to the timer’s bell as she answers questions with Kevin Allen, left, Paul Kelly, center, during a candidate forum by the League of Women Voters at KTOO on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Juneau, state test scores rise from 2017

Juneau, state test scores rise from 2017

Alaska students improved in the state’s standardized testing program, but fewer than half are proficient in math, science and English. According to figures released Wednesday… Continue reading

Juneau, state test scores rise from 2017