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Board approves amended FY25–26 budget, votes on contracts amid borough liaison, debt and staffing concerns
Summary
The school board voted to approve an FY25–26 operating fund revision, approved several teacher contracts and a contested long‑term substitute contract, and discussed the borough liaison meeting and a possible borough debt repayment plan that could affect next year’s budget.
KETCHIKAN — On Jan. 28 the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board approved an amended FY25–26 operating fund budget revision, advanced several personnel contracts, and debated a long‑term substitute contract as the board and administration continue negotiations and liaison talks with the borough.
Member Montgomery had pressed the board for line‑item budget detail before approving a new long‑term certified substitute contract, citing a classified sub/temp budget line she said was $195,750 and warning that previously approved long‑term substitute contracts plus this item could push the account over budget. Superintendent Bollard and district financial staff said certified and classified substitute lines differ and committed to follow up with Birchwood Business Services for verification; despite the concerns, the board approved the long‑term certified substitute contract by a 5–2 vote.
The board approved offering a certified teacher contract (a 0.5 to 0.8 increment at a charter school) and a dean‑of‑students certified teaching contract for Shoenbar Middle School (the latter passed 4–3). Board members seeking more detailed budget context were told business staff and new financial support (Lisa Pierce of Birchwood Business Services) would assist in clarifying line items and that the finance committee will review assumptions and a draft timeline.
Member Montgomery moved and the board unanimously approved the FY25–26 operating fund budget revision (revenues decreased by $191,000; expenditures net decreased by $335,235). Superintendent Bollard reiterated that state funding assumptions for FY26–27 currently reflect expected flat funding and warned the board that difficult choices lie ahead; she asked members to identify the board’s top two priorities among academic achievement, communication, social‑emotional learning, and career and technical education to guide budget development.
Board members reported on a recent borough assembly–school board liaison meeting aimed at clarifying a proposed borough payback plan related to prior debts; the board expects additional financial detail from borough staff and scheduled another liaison meeting for March 3. Finance committee members said they will meet to draft a budget timeline and recommended robust public engagement, including forums and targeted stakeholder outreach, before the formal budget presentation and public hearings in the spring.
Votes and formal actions taken at the meeting included approval of the consent calendar (7–0), passage of the long‑term substitute contract (5–2), approval of certified teacher contracts (7–0), approval of the Dean of Students contract (4–3), and adoption of the amended FY25–26 budget revision (7–0).
