Board hears ELL committee findings, committee urges search for certified ELL teacher
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Summary
The board received the ELL committee report noting the committee unanimously adopted a revised charter and recommended initiating a search for a certified teacher with an ELL endorsement; members noted Commissioner Bishop 'concurred with all identified violations' in a prior ELL complaint and federal Title review is scheduled for March 2026.
At its Dec. 17 meeting the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Board of Education received an ELL committee report that the committee adopted a charter with minor revisions and recommended the district begin an active search for a certified teacher holding an English-language-learner (ELL) endorsement for the 2627 school year.
Member Ginter, reporting for the ELL committee, said the group clarified term language, resignation procedures and committee size, and confirmed leadership with two co-chairs, one school-board liaison and one additional member. The committee’s action included endorsing an active search for a teacher with an ELL endorsement; the motion as described by the committee is intended to begin the search process and does not require immediate hiring.
Ginter also reported committee plans for access-testing and staff training: the district is moving from a full-day in-person Access training to WIDA online modules supplemented by PLC time; the ELL staff plan to attend the TESOL conference in March with district support and will share takeaways. The committee recommended dedicating upcoming PLC time to Access-focused work and providing a clear report to the board outlining findings from a prior ELL complaint investigation.
In committee materials noted to the board, the transcript records that 'Commissioner Bishop concurred with all identified violations' in the ELL complaint investigation; the committee said implementation of the investigator’s recommendations will be reviewed during the district’s federal Title audit scheduled for March 2026. The committee asked staff to provide a detailed report prior to the next meeting that lists each finding in the complaint and the specific remedial actions being taken.
Board members asked for that detailed follow-up; several members emphasized that, although the district does not receive dedicated Title III funds for ELL services, federal law requires appropriate and effective services to be provided to ELL students regardless of funding levels.
