[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6461718,"mediaKeyId","5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a","parentId",5823103,"title","Board hears ELL materials recovery, Title 3 screening deadline and native education committee goals","audioSeconds",288,"startMs",3978000,"endMs",4266000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a&start=3978&end=4266","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a/thumbnail_3978000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6461718/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Board-hears-ELL-materials-recovery-Title-3-screening-deadline-and-native-education-committee-goals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461718-1665499d00c40e578db61480ed905a28/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524215&Signature=JtOTupt2OcxDdebpYGrmjmvqETVXuZiZ9DVkWTJfVyG2zRlqldVraDkGOflovM3nT4WQvlMT7RatCtyGxusvxU1tLYu10QWCMl8JhSbcp2ptzBcp1s1U2ax7YsYOzlDD0LKambojah3N2rWpDRQhHsb2SPx5QX3flV0jvSl0zx6h3ybClGBc4UCqEsyxXaTHo8KXQmOEvOgIH61sR8o8KZd1FAgptpmuXdOCORKM8rWOkknhXJ0twV-TRg3oTtRCm~u9qlNV9seZb43YhRXjmrLVndrP9niC7wobISnyyESDcX2HYBTWNWyZeUPApnmEYRtEpubyx6KpxP9BL7okGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ketchikan Gateway Borough","date","2025-09-24T00:00:00Z","article","Trustees received committee updates on English‑language learner (ELL) services and Native education that raised operational concerns and set follow‑up actions.

Member Ginter, chair of the ELL committee, said the department’s home base moved from Howling to the high school and that many ELL materials had been discarded. Ginter reported the committee salvaged much of the work and moved it to a central ELL room at the high school. She also provided counts: “Total, there’s 58 students that have been identified, 21 that are unmonitored for a combined total of 79 students that should be being served,” Ginter said, and reminded the board that Title 3 screening for new students is required within 30 days (a deadline she said ends around Oct. 14).

On the Native education committee, trustees said they are pursuing a land‑acknowledgment “kit” to guide meaningful acknowledgments with Tlingit language content, partnering with local tribes and the KIC education committee, and asking the district shop and language classes to help make placards. The committee reviewed recent graduation data: “The 4‑year graduation rate for native students is 67.8 percent,” the chair said, and “the 5‑year graduation rate is … 81.4 percent,” prompting the group to investigate what supports the improved 5‑year outcome.

Why it matters: ELL screening deadlines affect eligibility for Title 3 services; discarded instructional materials and delays in centralizing resources risk service gaps. Native education committee work addresses graduation disparities and cultural recognition in schools.

Next steps: the ELL committee will finalize counts and distribution of salvaged materials, and the native education committee plans monthly meetings, outreach to the Ketchikan Indian Community and Saxman tribe, and follow‑up on data to identify interventions to improve 4‑year graduation rates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ketchikan Gateway Borough - School Board","oneSentenceSummary","Board committees updated trustees on ELL services and Native education: ELL staff salvaged discarded materials and reported 79 total students needing services; native education committee reviewed a 4‑year graduation rate of 67.8% and plans outreach and placards with Tlingit language.","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},6461733,"First Student outlines driver shortages, route changes after start‑of‑year delays; parent says 6‑year‑old left at wrong stop",2760,2208000,4968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a&start=2208&end=4968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a/thumbnail_2208000.jpg","/articles/6461733/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/First-Student-outlines-driver-shortages-route-changes-after-startofyear-delays-parent-says-6yearold-left-at-wrong-stop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461733-729387b0f5343ed545dee9e1fb501ae4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524215&Signature=J911dSMb2OK9qAZ-gEKHHGtkGbIGlk~GkRnNEw5FAomWLpiKdBZb48ngi59AlPet4aPnGZGWXRGjezR-MNCc2dUWHmLcONOmtzZWo3hwkgvzgeahFs4QfvOZ6-TqE4ry95XamF0skOJV2OHkma45Jmc7kgs1Zo7Fah61ycN1dS2WZ9nOR4f5sxc2FpJEN4X0XDOxyydNI4rjDvyFb1D3OB~k1M87S4kFy0RqhA8WXFZcEgDY96Ex6Ae5a5C9qYLikOhB-Q-R0DwWWW8qkwUiFFkhZ~gVqKxYwULSJ0c5bDEj1lNt7RvhF8giYyHpzKGbcrqfvKZwro2vLVFl1PdunA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District trustees heard an extended briefing from Michael Johnson, First Student’s local manager, on start‑of‑year transportation problems and fixes, and heard a public comment from a parent who said his 6‑year‑old was left at the wrong stop on Sept. 2 and walked alone.

“Transportation is always a challenging hot topic,” Michael Johnson said, describing labor shortages, changes to bell times and a shift to “all‑island” route coverage the district and company implemented in August. He told the board the company has made recruiting gains — including a candidate travelling to Juneau to take the Commercial Driver’s License exam — but that driver absences, route reconfigurations and new bell times produced late buses and some overloaded routes at the start of school.

Johnson described specific operational steps First Student has taken: consolidating routes to reduce the overall number of daily runs, reassigning students so younger riders sit forward, adding adult monitors where loads are heavy, and adjusting stop combinations where needed. He said the company provides a dispatch phone ((907) 225‑3806) and an online form (firstfeedback.com) for reports and that drivers are trained to follow school‑issued transportation notices.

At public comment, Charles Dodd, a parent, described an incident on Sept. 2 in which his son was put off at the “average daycare” stop instead of Alphabet Kids daycare. “He was forced to walk 1.6 miles up Carlana Lake Road by himself,” Dodd told the board, and said First Student told the child’s mother to “wait and not to notify anybody like the police” while the company made calls. Dodd asked why 911 was not contacted immediately and asked the district to adopt a clear standard operating procedure for a missing or misplaced child.

Board members asked follow‑up questions about bullying on buses, assigned seating, and how the company and district communicate changes to families. Johnson said afternoons are typically the more challenging period because students are awake and active; he described strategies such as assigned seating, roving monitors, and pairing vulnerable riders earlier in the loading process to reduce incidents.

Superintendent Ford Slack acknowledged the significance of the parent’s concerns and the operational challenges but did not make new commitments beyond offering the district’s complaint form and promising follow‑up. The board clerk offered to provide the parent the district’s formal complaint paperwork so the district could complete a finding of fact and follow the formal complaint process.

Why it matters: student transportation is a direct safety issue for families and the district. The board recommended the district and contractor work together on clearer parent communication, standardized incident procedures and faster escalation steps for missing children; a parent asked that calling 911 be the first action when a young child cannot be located.

Board response and next steps: trustees thanked Johnson for the detailed report, asked staff to send reminders to families about reporting procedures, and asked the district to provide any route and schedule updates to schools and parents. The parent left contact information and the clerk agreed to follow up with formal complaint paperwork so the district could document the incident and perform a formal review.","Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District trustees heard an extended briefing from Michael Johnson, First Student’s local manager, on start‑of‑year transportation problems and fixes, and heard a public comment from a parent who said his 6‑year‑old was left at the wrong stop on Sept. 2 and walked alone.",{"_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},6461723,"Schonbar Middle earns AMLE distinction; Fawn Mountain principal outlines K–3 focus and new programs",408,1036000,1444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a&start=1036&end=1444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a/thumbnail_1036000.jpg","/articles/6461723/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Schonbar-Middle-earns-AMLE-distinction-Fawn-Mountain-principal-outlines-K3-focus-and-new-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461723-71171d8e256ae80293ccd2708e513132/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524215&Signature=FlqIwzx5uGsEl-JknbMTFX3niv6E8E8RQqiHaThf9dFztwvX-Ihwkco8gpHvEvLdV6rgd9XdxlpWR6YUznFJ5kVC646HZmnOxvVu6rW0zFbZu-ic~KsO-z92P80YaQ1Nu-z169-b99iRysTxyxi1avW1pq5lVeMRorKCnrKInBL3it10SXJ8k03JZGhapJUgTZzR7nZGQOMqvoLhCe2FMFd6WfLFyhI3cYp1wpRtIxr5266re-K9F0rVcaBqd74rbzQ0DaMK7NsYZ9h7k0F5skNaN3QTuYAN8QLf6xJAl-e3pCESByIPLAdr980-8Rw5WQj1ozOn9i~3Kki5fXPcYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District board recognized Schonbar Middle School as a 2025 AMLE School of Distinction and received a report from Adi Roth, principal of Fawn Mountain Elementary School, on that school’s transition to a K–3 model and new instructional and social‑emotional programs.

Board members presented a certificate to Schoenbar staff; Principal Sherry Bollert told the board the school will send a team to the national AMLE conference in November to present the school’s interdisciplinary camping and survival program. The board noted Schönbar is one of 24 middle schools nationally to earn the honor and the only such school in Alaska on the West Coast this year.

Principal Adi Roth described Fawn Mountain’s staffing and programming: “We are at a total of 172 kids for the school year currently,” Roth said, and outlined the school’s preschool partnership (an IEA pre‑K), two teachers in several primary grades, two SPED teachers, sixteen paraprofessionals and specialty teachers for music, PE and library. Roth summarized assessment data and the school’s use of MAPs and mClass testing to drive small‑group instruction and IRIPs. She described a schoolwide morning meeting and a social‑emotional curriculum, and said the school will offer trust‑based relational interventions for paras and teachers, plus monthly check‑ins on SEL implementation.

Roth also described a donor‑funded project to install playground communication boards to help nonverbal students communicate without bringing iPads outside. “We are working on a donor to fund front all of the costs and the mounts ... and we are making them for every elementary school,” she said.

The student representative, Lily Padair, delivered a student report and said, “We’re 4 weeks into the school year, and so far, we’re off to a fantastic start,” highlighting student activities, clubs and improved lunch service.

Why it matters: the AMLE designation recognizes schoolwide instructional practices and community engagement at Schonbar; Fawn Mountain’s K–3 model, SEL programs and accessibility projects are intended to improve early literacy, inclusive practices and student engagement in the district’s youngest grades.

Next steps: the board congratulated school staff and said it expected continued updates on Fawn Mountain’s third‑grade assessment results and on fundraising and installation for the playground communication boards.","The board presented Schonbar Middle School with an AMLE School of Distinction award and heard a detailed principal report from Fawn Mountain Elementary about class sizes, curriculum, social‑emotional programs and plans for communication boards to help nonverbal students on playgrounds.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6461728,"Board approves three long‑term substitute contracts amid questions about hiring practices and contract execution",441,5779000,6220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a&start=5779&end=6220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a/thumbnail_5779000.jpg","/articles/6461728/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Board-approves-three-longterm-substitute-contracts-amid-questions-about-hiring-practices-and-contract-execution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461728-65bf157a85688bedc185051af92d0da5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524215&Signature=MoZxqhNUjKkapj7TMZrC4BWfzxFnRUIRxeEXp4m8tKKgD89mr2KI~TCITOLgBsHJC1VY68P15m62lPgFUtEm8TDLtTsDJ4X3ssAZgaIXWBKv~qXzellGHSAeXuCh8NiulKl~pCsCLjAbHdczHWqLNzwJIbChNSGRNwDm-xCgsNQdJk1BtAexIb5gm1xwF1qKsRDVZM2MwzFneW~~DIrv5fEUmfy-iTIngorSLVO4nX9bFsJTGVPed4iGbMczoHkt6mcSyAHsjlNtnURXEaz6U5xen45IJWu-9vCuzugWJo9PmCFlE3QTUuicG4MECrmF4a7sQYnkGq3kflwBcqVe6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District board voted to approve offering three long‑term substitute contracts for the 2025–26 school year after discussion about recruitment and district hiring practices.

The motion to offer the three long‑term substitute contracts carried on a roll call vote, 7–1. Member Ginter recorded the sole opposing vote; other members voted yes. Board members debated whether the positions had been posted as permanent openings and discussed the operational need to fill classrooms and counseling roles before permanent hires can be found.

Superintendent Ford Slack said vacancies and tight candidate markets drove the decision to hire long‑term substitutes: “Counselors are very hard to find, but the position is posted. We have not found anyone, so we reached out to someone who had the certification to be the long term sub until such time as we have someone to apply for the permanent position.”

Several trustees pressed staff on a related governance concern: whether the district or administrators have permitted contracts to be signed before the board approved them. Board member Ginter said she was concerned that contracts may have been executed prior to formal board action and asked the administration to clarify policy. Superintendent Ford Slack replied, “This is certainly not a practice that I have ever seen with boards in Alaska ... I have never seen contracts signed before a board approval,” and told the board that the standard practice is to use a letter of intent while awaiting a board meeting.

The board also heard that HR director Escalante has submitted a letter of resignation; the district will advertise to fill that role. Trustees emphasized that hiring processes should be transparent and equitable and suggested the policy committee and staff review HR posting and contract procedures.

Why it matters: decisions about filling vacancies affect classroom continuity, student support services and staff morale. The board’s discussion tied hiring choices to governance responsibilities: trustees said they want assurance that the board’s approval is the triggering step before contracts are finalized.

Next steps: trustees asked staff to bring relevant policies or recommended language for handling contract execution and recruitment to the policy committee for review, and to ensure the public packet contains enough information for trustees to review personnel actions in advance when appropriate.","The board voted to offer three long‑term substitute contracts for 2025–26 after debate about posting practices and transparency. Members raised concerns that contracts should not be executed before board approval and called for clearer HR policy; the district’s HR director has resigned.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6461713,"Votes at a glance — Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District board, Sept. 24, 2025",4797,863000,5660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a&start=863&end=5660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823103-dc1bd7fe39e4bd134487ff5fd106499a/thumbnail_863000.jpg","/articles/6461713/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Votes-at-a-glance-Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough-School-District-board-Sept-24-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461713-e36f1ecf0650c79749ff93a5a53bf8c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524215&Signature=JssEu3Q21JedIvW3C0SrDR3cf-wRfJcon5dEZ7aQMgjaPGdqTj78hklBwRdMTKmJdjL6l6xlq31AKaom6cfXvEj-3m15Mfb5XcBtQHNyeyyglaZm-vRlFI0jAlP-nXtqbJulsS91SQjWym0oEuosuTe5WFg-CFMfcpr-LHNvvtXKVFyd9lbaxiEMHfKBzD3sEbbTclCx7v0q1XRMV5KPMBiwHexMfkNFUfwwqaWGqm0o2fEDLAow3BJMRCt~4xAjlat2PxaeVDYlPU28EzDvc~pI4IpSX5U7eGHC1ekz33vg0EWrqS2~dIftiP5NNq2~GD65cL9jA8KWkq4-0Ga6jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","This roundup lists formal motions and recorded roll‑call outcomes from the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District board meeting of Sept. 24, 2025. It is a summary of actions taken on the public record.

1) Approve agenda for Sept. 24, 2025 — APPROVED (8–0)
Motion: Approve the agenda for the regular meeting of Sept. 24, 2025.
Outcome: Approved by roll call; recorded votes were all in favor and the chair announced “Motion passes 8 to 0.”

2) Approve reports for information (Sept. 24 packet) — APPROVED
Motion: Accept the reports for information included in the Sept. 24 packet.
Outcome: Passed on roll call vote (clerk recorded individual yes votes as noted in minutes); chair announced the motion passed.

3) Approve revised consent calendar (amended to remove certain contracts) — APPROVED (8–0)
Motion: Approve the revised consent calendar for the regular meeting of Sept. 24, 2025.
Outcome: Roll call vote recorded; motion passed 8–0.

4) Withdraw MOA with NMSUSA for Pioneer Home pre‑K lunch services — APPROVED (8–0)
Motion: Withdraw the pending motion to approve the MOA with NMSUSA to provide lunch services at the Pioneer Home pre‑K for FY2025–26.
Outcome: Roll call vote; chair announced “Motion passes 8 to 0.” Staff said a new contract will be brought forward later when all needed information is available.

5) Approve offering three long‑term substitute contracts for 2025–26 — APPROVED (7–1)
Motion: Offer three long‑term substitute contracts to cover specific vacancies for the 2025–26 school year.
Outcome: Roll call vote; result recorded as 7 yes, 1 no (Member Ginter voted no). Motion recorded as approved. Trustees discussed posting, equity of access to positions, and the superintendent described recruitment challenges and the use of letters of intent while awaiting board action.

6) BP 4133 (travel expenses) — First reading approved (8–0)
Motion: Approve the policy revision date update for BP 4133, Travel Expenses (first reading).
Outcome: Roll call vote; motion passed 8–0. Trustees discussed aligning per diem to federal rates and giving the superintendent authority to approve hotel costs above the per diem when necessary for conference attendance.

Why it matters: These votes set short‑term operations (consent calendar, personnel coverage) and direction for policy review and future contracting. Several items noted for follow up: staff said they will return with an updated MOA for Pioneer Home lunches and policy committee work on contract/hiring practices.

Provenance: All motions and roll‑call statements appear on the public record in the Sept. 24 meeting minutes and in the meeting transcript.","Summary of formal motions and roll‑call outcomes recorded at the board’s Sept. 24 regular meeting. Actions include approval of the meeting agenda, consent calendar, withdrawal of a Pioneer Home lunch MOA, approval of three long‑term substitute contracts and first reading of a travel‑expense policy update.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board hears ELL materials recovery, Title 3 screening deadline and native education committee goals

First Student outlines driver shortages, route changes after start‑of‑year delays; parent says 6‑year‑old left at wrong stop

Schonbar Middle earns AMLE distinction; Fawn Mountain principal outlines K–3 focus and new programs

Board approves three long‑term substitute contracts amid questions about hiring practices and contract execution

Votes at a glance — Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District board, Sept. 24, 2025