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Students and teachers urge Nome board to hire drama teacher and prioritize classroom staffing amid budget frustrations

Nome Public Schools Board of Education · March 10, 2026

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Summary

Student leaders urged the board to hire a drama teacher; NEA President raised concerns that teacher employment has been used as a bargaining chip, and board members acknowledged recurring budget tensions and changes in city management affecting school timelines.

Student council members and teachers used the public comment period at the Nome Public Schools Board meeting on March 10 to press the board on staffing and curriculum.

Student Council Vice President Renee Brown and Student Council Public Relations Officer Angela Omedelina asked the board to hire Rachel Finney as Drama Club teacher, saying the position supports extracurricular arts opportunities. NEA President Rachel Ventress told the board that association members are concerned about repeatedly using teacher employment "as bargaining chips" during financial negotiations and urged the district to stop prioritizing other spending above teachers. NBMHS teacher and parent Erika Rhodes thanked the board and recommended offering reproductive education beginning in third or fourth grade and combining Nome-Beltz Middle School with ACSA so students could interact daily.

Superintendent Jamie Burgess and board members later discussed budget pressures during the superintendent and CFO reports and in board comments. Member Darlene Trigg acknowledged that budget issues have been a recurring frustration during her tenure; Burgess said changes in city management and the city council have affected the schools' budget and timeline. The superintendent also thanked board members who advocated with the city and announced a March 24 special meeting/work session.

The minutes record these public comments and the board discussion but do not show immediate personnel changes or a commitment to hire the drama teacher at the March 10 meeting.