Ketchikan school board rejects motion to revoke specialization; vote fails 4-1

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Board of Education on Saturday rejected a motion to rescind the district's elementary-school specialization plan and replace it with a multi‑age instruction cost‑saving model for the 2025–26 school year. Board member Ally Ginter moved the motion; the vote was 1 in favor and 4 against (Guenter yes; Hewitt no; Tabb no; Guthrie no; Tatsuta no). The motion failed.

The item came after nearly three hours of public comment, where dozens of parents, teachers, staff and students urged different outcomes. Speakers focused on competing priorities: preserving neighborhood schools and minimizing student transitions (arguments in favor of multi‑age), versus protecting elective courses, CTE (career and technical education) offerings and administrative capacity (arguments in favor of maintaining specialization). Camille McRoberts, a parent and former culinary instructor, said, "We're cutting away futures," warning that cuts to CTE and electives remove opportunities that keep students engaged.

Why it mattered: the board has been seeking ways to close a budget gap without closing a school. Proponents of multi‑age instruction argued it would save money while keeping neighborhood schools…