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Kodiak board honors departing superintendent Cyndy Mika and assistant Kim Saunders; incoming leaders to take reins July 1
Summary
Board members offered extended tributes to Superintendent Cyndy Mika and Assistant Superintendent Kim Saunders at their final meeting; incoming superintendent Dr. Dan Brigman said he will begin officially on July 1 and the board scheduled a short special meeting to retitle capital funds for rural housing repairs.
The Kodiak Island Borough School District Board of Education devoted substantial time to tributes for outgoing Superintendent Dr. Cyndy Mika and Assistant Superintendent Kim Saunders during their final board meeting.
Dr. Mika read prepared remarks reflecting on four years in Kodiak and the district’s progress in instruction, professional learning and systems for monitoring student learning. “Serving as superintendent of the Kodiak Island Borough School District has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” she said, summarizing accomplishments and expressing gratitude to staff and community.
Assistant Superintendent Kim Saunders spoke in recognition of Mika’s leadership, calling her a servant leader who “embodies the very best of that style of leadership.” Trustees, staff and the student advisory representative Grace Acker added personal thanks and recollections of collaborative work and community engagement.
Incoming leadership also addressed the board. Dr. Dan Brigman said he and Damon Hargraves are "ready to hit the ground running" and that he looks forward to officially starting on July 1. Board members said the transition has been active and commended Mika and Saunders for continuing their work through the end of the transition period.
The board also discussed a short special meeting planned for noon on Monday to retitle a previously appropriated capital-improvement fund (currently labeled for SES renovations) to "rural housing," enabling already-allocated funds to be used to address urgent repairs to district-owned housing in rural communities.
Why it matters: leadership transitions shape district culture and operations; the retirees were credited with negotiating agreements, expanding instructional support and stewarding difficult decisions during enrollment and budget pressures. The planned special meeting reflects an immediate operational need to allow cross‑fiscal-year spending on rural housing repairs.
Next steps: the board will hold the short special meeting to consider the fund retitling; incoming superintendent Dr. Brigman is scheduled to begin July 1.
