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Votes at a glance: Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District board actions on May 28, 2025
Summary
The board approved certified contracts, accepted a resignation, appointed an ASB representative, elected a clerk/treasurer and directed the president to begin negotiations for an interim superintendent after executive session.
At its May 28 meeting the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Board of Education recorded multiple formal actions. Below are the items, vote results and key details as reflected in the public minutes and meeting discussion.
1) Offering of certified contracts for the 2025–26 school year — Passed (5–0) Motion: Approve offering certified contracts for the 2025–26 school year. Vote: Guthrie — yes; Robbins Jr. — yes; Thomas — yes; Ginter — yes; Tatsuta — yes. Notes: A board member had requested additional transparency regarding hiring guidelines, emergency certificates and committee representation; the board approved the contracts after discussion.
2) Acceptance of resignation of Tom Hewitt and declaration of seat vacant — Passed (5–0) Motion: Accept resignation of Tom Hewitt from the board of education effective immediately and declare the seat vacant. Vote: Unanimous. No further action on replacement was taken at that moment; the board later scheduled a special meeting for appointment.
3) Reestablishing the ELL department — Procedural actions - The board amended an initial motion so it would instruct the superintendent to reestablish the ELL department (amendment passed on the floor). - The board subsequently voted to postpone directing the superintendent until July 9, 2025 — Passed (3–2). Yes votes: Robbins Jr., Guthrie, Tatsuta. No votes: Thomas, Ginter. Notes: Committee recommendations were attached to the agenda; members cited federal Title funding and the need for tribal consultation and administrative capacity.
4) Approval to submit application to fill vacant ASB board seat (Ketchikan representation) — Passed (5–0) Motion: Board member requested board approval to submit an application to fill the vacant seat on the ASB board of directors representing Ketchikan. Vote: Unanimous. Board members noted the external ASB selection timeline; applicants will be chosen by June 20 by the ASB process.
5) Election of clerk/treasurer — Elected (unopposed) Nomination: Member Ginter was nominated for clerk/treasurer and, with nominations closed and no opposition, her election was confirmed by the board.
6) Executive session and interim superintendent negotiations - Motion to enter executive session to discuss the superintendent search under board policy 9321 — Passed (5–0). - No action was taken during the executive session. After the closed session, the board reported that it gave the board president permission to begin negotiations with an interim candidate for superintendent.
Ending: The board scheduled a special meeting for June 25, 2025 to fill the vacant board seat and set July 9, 2025 as the next meeting to revisit the ELL item with the incoming superintendent expected to participate.
