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Community urges board to preserve librarians, counselors, arts and CTE amid budget cuts
Summary
At a March 11 listening session the public urged the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Board of Education to protect library staff, school counselors, arts programs and career and technical education while the district addresses insurance and debt pressures.
Community members told the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Board of Education on March 11 that planned staffing reductions and school consolidations risked eroding services they say are essential to student success.
Caitlin Jacobson, a Ketchikan High librarian, asked the board to retain two library positions so a full‑time librarian can serve the Howling elementary site and a district librarian can maintain a 70,000‑item collection she estimated is worth more than $1,000,000. "It is a huge disservice to our community to not have a full time certified librarian at the Howling location," Jacobson said.
Dr. Kathy Rock, the school counselor at TSOS, told the board…
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