Ketchikan school board votes to restructure three elementary schools amid projected $5.9M shortfall

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Board of Education on Feb. 12 approved a restructuring plan that moves grade configurations at Houghton Elementary, Point Higgins Elementary and Fawn Mountain Elementary for the 2025–26 school year, a measure the board said is necessary to address a projected budget shortfall if state funding does not increase.

The 7-member board voted 5–1 with one abstention to approve the restructuring motion after lengthy public comment and staff presentation of so-called “red line” budget options. Board President O’Brien presided over the meeting. The vote followed earlier debate and a failed motion to create a formal closure plan for Point Higgins, which the board rejected 7–0 (no votes) on a separate motion earlier in the meeting.

District staff presented two main scenarios to close a roughly $5.9 million gap assuming a BSA of $5,960 and no additional state funding. One option would close Point Higgins and make other district-wide cuts; the district estimated Point Higgins closure would save about $2,630,000 and other building cuts about $3,380,000. The alternative—district-wide cuts without closing any school—was estimated to achieve roughly $5.982 million in savings through position eliminations, program reductions and other measures.

Superintendent Robbins told…