[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6576396,"mediaKeyId","3113380-afd8fd41366583b1f8419ae62788b605","parentId",3113380,"title","Ketchikan school board approves FY2025–26 budget on first reading amid public criticism and state‑funding uncertainty","audioSeconds",5029,"startMs",7748000,"endMs",12777000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113380-afd8fd41366583b1f8419ae62788b605&start=7748&end=12777","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113380-afd8fd41366583b1f8419ae62788b605/thumbnail_7748000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576396/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Ketchikan-school-board-approves-FY202526-budget-on-first-reading-amid-public-criticism-and-statefunding-uncertainty","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576396-46a4b23fee947cf9c245616678019f12/orig.mp4?Expires=1776072947&Signature=SPk1zx~dyTO9PB9be9vb15P31hBTHZkbhqo9c6ep72Th6PtPfpUH2Lizral5gYIJga~EABf11ajzHP9U7tFbqjHdoEg~U8wh4pkc3w3kq6YHNB~RHG6YeRrA77JjW7Pzwek2fPnNj5uTAvDGR9mRB3vbtcPYusdHhv6fg~eRZQ3jwCtFAukAFY45j4PtCfLZ6TpNzaHd5CXzLIBpJxiz0ovIloSC0GnZr2AQ6EF~ShMbDIup5v1IzC1RoZeN328QE90PHWSm63xMvNCYFzVGgnGpMoIO08cYnSI9Cqyg8oQ8~lwQN6SalfPhLsF~JknrhUtukf5k39qPvIhakqQipg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ketchikan Gateway Borough","date","2025-04-23T00:00:00Z","article","The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board voted 5–1 on April 23 to approve the district's proposed FY2025–26 budget on first reading, moving the measure to a second reading next week while several community members raised detailed objections about missing numbers, internal inconsistencies and possible misuse of restricted funds.

Business manager Daniel Schueller presented the budget and told the board the draft uses a set of assumptions about state funding when calculating revenues. Schueller said the draft assumes a Base Student Allocation (BSA) increase that local advocates have discussed with legislators and that the borough will provide the ordinance‑level in‑kind contributions the district requested; he cautioned that the final state appropriation remained uncertain. \"What I can speak to is the fact that that is the beginning fund balance for fiscal year 25–26; that does not mean that this budget is in deficit,\" Schueller said during the meeting, explaining that the negative beginning balance resulted from prior years' operations and audit entries.

Several members of the public used the public‑comment and public‑hearing portions of the agenda to press the board to delay approval. One commenter, identified in the transcript as Urquhart, told the board, \"This budget's $4,000,000 in the hole, in the red,\" and described multiple line‑item problems she said she found while reviewing the packet. Public speakers asked for clearer accounting about restricted funds — particularly the transportation and food service funds — and questioned a contract for leasing computers. A number of commenters said the budget packet contained missing figures, copied entries and inconsistent job titles.

Board discussion touched on the district's multi‑year health insurance note receivable and borough negotiations. Schueller told members the borough intends to apply in‑kind contributions under Borough Ordinance 2066 to reduce the district's health‑insurance note receivable; he said the board would have clearer appropriation numbers after the borough's second‑reading activity in May. Schueller also outlined the formula mechanics: the district's adjusted average daily membership (ADM) drives the foundation calculation and, with the assumptions used, the draft projects operating revenues and expenditures that balance in 2526 under the stated assumptions.

On staffing, the draft includes approximately 13 full‑time equivalent reductions compared with current staffing levels, Schueller said; several speakers and board members called for clearer, school‑by‑school detail on proposed changes. The budget also assumes a modest health‑insurance premium increase in the next year and includes contingency language tied to whether the legislature passes a larger BSA outside the base formula.

Board member Ali Ginter voted against the first reading, saying she was not prepared to approve the proposal based on information available at the meeting. \"I feel it would be irresponsible since I'm not entirely wrapping my mind around this, so I'm gonna vote no,\" Ginter said during roll call.

The roll call on the motion to approve the budget in first reading recorded the following votes: Paul Robbins Jr. — Aye; Hewitt — Yes; Tabb — Aye; Thomas — Yes; Ginter — No; Tatsuta — Yes. The motion passed 5–1. Second reading and another public hearing are scheduled for the board's April 30 meeting; the board must submit appropriation requests to the borough by May 1 per the borough's ordinance schedule.

Public commenters also raised student‑safety concerns after reports of small plastic baggies found in the community; several asked the district to clarify campus safety plans. Schueller and the superintendent said the district would take public concerns into account and provide additional detail as the board prepares for second reading.

The board did not make final appropriations at the April 23 meeting; the first reading advances the draft while the district seeks final direction from the borough and waits for the legislature's action on the BSA.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ketchikan Gateway Borough - School Board - Apr 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board approved the proposed FY2025–26 budget on first reading by a 5–1 vote on April 23 amid public criticism about missing figures and questions over restricted funds and state funding assumptions.","taxTitle","Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska","taxId",27492,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576401,"Ketchikan school board appoints Stephen Thomas and Paul Robbins Jr. after public interviews",5943,834000,6777000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113380-afd8fd41366583b1f8419ae62788b605&start=834&end=6777","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113380-afd8fd41366583b1f8419ae62788b605/thumbnail_834000.jpg","/articles/6576401/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Ketchikan-school-board-appoints-Stephen-Thomas-and-Paul-Robbins-Jr-after-public-interviews","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576401-3ec9f7e6a27389a5732585172f72220e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776072947&Signature=bROzWsG3iHe9jY41Zowx8ob6KVZC4U3e9eM0isWgvt3mEhrJk6HPFH3F1ykLFZI~h4OCMiA2EN6us6P30OFwhZ-KiOQArhVmSzuDRJqx8kE~OkyzaNh7ghTXh~-QhAO5FrJFU8v7fFvu5KBXsZh5TmTh-sw6HC8Q-OQGxzhcYgSbKuy~WtW5ylagyvEWtwUAHRQQyuP8UGlZVx3nQrrcz4onP24CgzjJnw~JZh1gOpSHDqYAGIUITCwclpCq~2x3GG2uwEDwDaT05dLFHkP9iYNZ6r3~GGqrkkLppZcmBR-Xw2Ts2Fq-ziQPQK4b1Ge48WReP87AW1qKMHttRuKpJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board on April 23 appointed Stephen Thomas and Paul Robbins Jr. to fill two open seats on the board following a public interview process and subsequent votes.

Board President Catherine Tatsuta opened the candidate portion of the meeting by describing the procedure: candidates would be interviewed in turn, each given 15 minutes, and the board would use ranked ballots to narrow the field. \"We have 7 candidates ... each candidate has 15 minutes and the board has a list of 9 questions,\" Tatsuta told applicants before interviews began.

The board conducted public interviews of seven applicants. After an executive session to compare and contrast candidates, the board returned to open session, used a ranked-choice step to reduce the field to three finalists (Stephen Thomas, Paul Robbins Jr., Lindsey Johnson), and then held a second vote to select two appointees. The clerk tallied ballots and the board announced that Stephen Thomas would be appointed first; a subsequent vote selected Paul Robbins Jr. as the second appointee. Both appointees were administered the oath of office at the meeting by Superintendent Michael Robbins and took their seats on the board.

Board members described the process publicly as transparent and structured: the clerk distributed ranked ballots for the first round (top three ranked choices scored 3–2–1) and then a second round to pick the two final appointees. The board first met in executive session to compare candidates under the authority cited in the motion (the board referenced the Alaska Supreme Court decision City of Kenai v. Kenai Peninsula Newspaper and Board Policy 9321 when moving into executive session), then reconvened to announce and ratify the appointments in open session.

The newly seated members were sworn in at the meeting. President Tatsuta asked each to repeat the oath of office, and the board then recessed briefly before continuing the regular agenda. Board members asked appointees to submit committee preferences by the following Monday to allow the president to assign members to standing committees for the remainder of the term.

The board said the appointments fill seats for the remainder of the current term; no additional changes to term lengths were announced at the meeting.

The board's selection completes a multi-step appointment process the board adopted for filling unexpected vacancies: public application, timed interviews, executive session review and ranked-ballot voting. The board invited all unsuccessful applicants to run in the fall election.","After interviewing seven candidates in public sessions and holding an executive session, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board appointed Stephen Thomas and Paul Robbins Jr. to fill two open seats. The board used ranked ballots to narrow seven applicants to three finalists, then selected the two appointees; both were sworn in at the meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576391,"Ketchikan school board approves five‑year lease for student and staff computers totaling up to $275,000",735,13082000,13817000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113380-afd8fd41366583b1f8419ae62788b605&start=13082&end=13817","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113380-afd8fd41366583b1f8419ae62788b605/thumbnail_13082000.jpg","/articles/6576391/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Ketchikan-school-board-approves-fiveyear-lease-for-student-and-staff-computers-totaling-up-to-275000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576391-75c3c2ef4c364f03c1338a06930bb43d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776072947&Signature=GrYoW0gUU5p76hr1c7FO6HJh42AZHhmkok6Z5oAz~1M0iekqmazXoWZx5JQMz~nOmNLdmwl1URvK3oS3Ohte6FqnC-Xy4wrXMj2gupWFcRRPVnJg83iXB22bW~EwVqUOJI~qq~SJIu7qkksD02uD9Hx1zjXBfe2rhjsdZWQIlhLhA8VbUmeBP4UmBwayLBhr~FwlS1vDheMwEfqMgKY9M5aRiA4fzkwWnhPVgonK3cGYsAJRIbSde3sYsPWsOHhbukQKmWCCh05oGrY5wkZXu1ulghha3cHykzMk8ZNdkdWLeomx4YZcEValMJV5fV1fMpWvpsgxMYbCYiZBph4s~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board approved a five‑year lease agreement with American Capital Finance on April 23 to provide student and staff devices for the district's 1:1 technology program. The motion passed unanimously at the meeting.

Under the approved motion the district will enter a five‑year lease with an annual payment not to exceed $55,000 for FY2025–26 and a total five‑year payment ceiling of $275,000. The leased equipment list in the packet identified roughly 445 devices: a majority of Chromebooks for students, with a smaller number of higher‑performance laptops for staff and instructional use. The initial payment is scheduled for July 15, 2025, and the district said the first year cost is built into the FY2025–26 budget.

Business manager Daniel Schueller said the leasing arrangement is similar to past technology leases the district has used and that the district took the current lease to the borough first for approval under a new ordinance. \"This is the same company that we worked with previously ... the only difference is that the last time we did a 4 year lease, this time we're doing a 5 year lease,\" Schueller told the board.

Several public commenters had urged more detail in the contract before approval, citing unclear language about end‑of‑term disposition, insurance responsibility, shipping and repair liability and the lack of an explicit buyout option. District staff said those issues are typical considerations for equipment leases and noted that parents can purchase low‑cost insurance options to cover accidental damage in many school districts.

During the meeting the board discussed that the lease was reviewed by the borough before being presented to the board, per borough requirements for equipment leases. The board voted 6–0 to approve the five‑year lease agreement, and staff said they will return with implementation details, including policies on repair/replacement and any optional insurance available for families.

The board approved the contract with the understanding that additional clarification on parent responsibilities and any insurance options would be communicated to families before devices are distributed.","The board voted unanimously to approve a five‑year lease with American Capital Finance for roughly 445 devices to support the district's 1:1 device program. The contract commits up to $55,000 for FY2025–26 and up to $275,000 over five years; the board and staff said final disposition of devices after five years has not yet been determined.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ketchikan school board approves FY2025–26 budget on first reading amid public criticism and state‑funding uncertainty

Ketchikan school board appoints Stephen Thomas and Paul Robbins Jr. after public interviews

Ketchikan school board approves five‑year lease for student and staff computers totaling up to $275,000