The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Board of Education met Oct. 8 and moved to reopen its search for a superintendent, asking staff and the Association of Alaska School Boards to post the position and recruit candidates under a leadership profile the board approved earlier this year.

Board members heard a presentation from Katie Oliver, associate executive director of the Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB), and her colleague Joanne, who reviewed the search steps, recruitment channels and community-engagement plan. Oliver told the board that “the single most important data point in order to reopen the search is, the salary range.” The board confirmed the previously agreed salary range of $145,000 to $175,000 and directed AASB to proceed with recruitment materials reflecting that range.

The board and AASB agreed a target launch and timeline: the vacancy will be posted beginning Nov. 1; the application period will close Jan. 2; the board will meet Jan. 17 to select finalists; and finalist interviews and community engagement activities are planned for February (dates to be finalized). AASB said it will post the vacancy on its Revelus platform, the Alaska Educator Retention and Recruitment Center, the National Indian Education Association job board and its partner networks, and will re-run a community survey to gather current priorities to shape interview questions and forums.

Board members assigned a point of contact to finalize the brochure and enrollment figures: Member Ginter volunteered as the board contact and clerk Chloe will serve as staff contact. The board also asked AASB to run staff and community forums during finalist visits; members agreed to increase staff and community forum lengths to about 90 minutes each and to include student engagement opportunities.

AASB and the board discussed contract parameters that will be negotiable with a selected candidate. Oliver noted benefits, moving allowances and vehicle stipends are typically part of a recruitment package and that sick leave is governed by Alaska statute. Background checks will begin as candidates apply; AASB said it typically does some checks as applications arrive, with more extensive checks once candidates are selected as finalists.

The board approved the work-session motion to discuss the superintendent search and entered the work session at 6:05 p.m.; the motion to enter the work session passed 6–0. Board members asked AASB to return with the reposted brochure, the updated community survey results, and scheduling options for the finalist visit days. AASB will provide access credentials to the Revelus application materials for all board members once the application period closes.

Why it matters: The board’s decisions set the public hiring parameters and schedule that will determine candidate flow and the timing of finalist visits. The agreed salary and publicity plan aim to reach applicants both inside Alaska and in national candidate pools.

What remains open: The exact February dates for finalist visits and community forums, finalization of the recruitment brochure language requested by Member Ginter to better reflect local Indigenous partnerships, and whether the board will add any paid job-board options (those carry additional fees) prior to posting.