KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The Kodiak Island Borough Board of Education last night approved contracts for tenured certificated teacher for the 2020 through 2021 school year.
KMXT’s Maggie Wall has more.
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And with that the Kodiak Island Borough School District’s certificated, tenured teachers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they will have jobs next fall.
Alaska’s school districts tend to get caught in an annual ritual of sending out pink slips and then rehiring teachers once the Alaska Legislature finalizes the state’s budget. Sometimes that doesn’t happen until well past the time schools are required by law to approve their budgets for the next school year.
School Superintendent Larry LeDoux says the school board and administration have made it a goal to provide stability for teachers amid state budget cuts and financial insecurity in Juneau.
LeDoux has stated a number of times that the pink slip drama is very stressful for all, and that local teachers deserve better.
In all the tenured certificated teacher salaries total a little over $8 million.
The school board met for a business only meeting last night which included approving several bids for school improvements.
The board also approved funds for the new networking system for the schools and Voice Over Internet phones. These nearly million dollar technical upgrades are intended to provide better communications, especially during a crisis situation.
Also, in the interest of better school security and safety, a number of local schools will be getting new fencing. Projects includes the Chiniak Playground and Peterson Elementary, as well as the Pre-K Playground, East Elementary, North Star, and the Middle School.
The combined contracts cost are less than $100,000.
