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Votes at a glance: Ketchikan board approves reduction-in-force plan, hires AASB for superintendent search, and advances policy updates
Summary
At its March 26 meeting the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District board approved a district reduction-in-force plan, accepted a board resignation, contracted the Association of Alaska School Boards for a superintendent search, authorized a three-year lease for virtualization software, and advanced multiple policy revisions in first reading.
KETCHIKAN, Alaska ' The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Board of Education took a series of formal actions at its March 26 meeting as it works to close a multi-million-dollar budget shortfall. Key votes and outcomes are listed below.
Votes at a glance
- Reduction in Force plan: The board approved a district reduction-in-force (RIF) plan intended to provide an actionable procedure if further budget cuts are required. Motion to approve the RIF plan passed 5'0to'0. Roll call recorded: Jordan Tabb, Tom Hewitt, Ally Ginter, (last name recorded as) Guthrie, and Catherine Tatsuta voting yes. The motion was presented as an insurance policy to respond to possible future funding changes.
- Acceptance of resignation: The board voted to accept the resignation of Board President Michelle O'Brien, declaring that seat vacant. The motion passed 5'0to'0.
- Superintendent search contract: The board approved a contract with the Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) to conduct a nationwide superintendent search at a base fee of $14,790 plus reimbursable expenses (travel, lodging, meals). The vote passed 5'0to'0. AASB explained its four-step process for board input, candidate recruitment (including the RABELAS national database), background checks and community interview phases.
- Technology leasing authorization: The board authorized an additional three-year lease agreement with American Capital Finance for virtual infrastructure (VMware) software and services, for an amount not to exceed $55,000 for FY 2024''25 and $165,000 over the three-year lease term (figures stated in the motion). Vote passed 5'0to'0.
- Policies advanced in first reading: The board approved first readings of several revised district policies related to volunteers, withholding transcripts/grades, bus conduct, theft/graffiti, at-risk youth, and lost or damaged instructional materials. Each revision passed in first reading by recorded votes that were unanimous (5'0to'0).
How board members voted (roll-call excerpts recorded in the meeting minutes): Jordan Tabb (yes), Tom Hewitt (yes), Ally Ginter (yes), (member listed) Guthrie (yes), and Catherine Tatsuta (yes). The meeting transcript shows no recorded "no" votes on the formal items listed above.
Context and next steps: District staff said the RIF document is a contingency instrument to be used only if funding from the state or borough falls short of projections; final programmatic decisions remain subject to board direction during the budget process. Board members asked staff to prepare comparative, line-item budget scenarios for the board and public before a final FY26 adoption deadline.
Documentation and provenance: The formal motions and roll calls appear in the March 26 transcript and in the board packet; AASB staff participated by video conference to outline the search timeline and community-survey steps. The board noted that some figures remain dependent on health-care cost projections and possible borough funding adjustments.
If the board is asked to take immediate action on further cuts, members said they expect to return to the RIF and budget documents already approved as the legal and procedural framework for any personnel reductions.
