The school in Chiniak, near the eastern end of Kodiak’s road system, hasn’t had running water for about a month. It’s currently relying on water shipped in on trucks to stay open. It’s costing the school district thousands while they wait for a permanent fix.

The highly contagious bacteria, known to spread via coughing and sneezing, can last for around 10 weeks and is particularly harmful for infants and pregnant women. The district is encouraging any kids with a cough to see a doctor as soon as possible and tell them they may have been exposed.

Kodiak’s population is shrinking, following a trend among rural places across the country. It’s one of the biggest factors as the archipelago’s school district considers closing one of its elementary schools.

Students at Kodiak High School heard from a U.S. Supreme Court justice on Friday, Nov. 15. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told the students how the skills she picked up from theater and debate aided her career.

Police are still monitoring the situation and don’t have any suspects yet. Classes, meanwhile, are moving on as planned. The school said in its email that it will have “additional personnel on campus today to ensure a calm and safe environment.”

Teresa Hedges taught at KIBSD for about 20 years before she retired. Now she's back and working with kids in Chiniak, on the eastern end of Kodiak's road system.

“It’s really our celebration of the start of the school year,” said KIBSD Superintendent Cyndy Mika. “It’s our way to realize that we are a collective group of people with one purpose and one goal – and that’s educating our students.”

The award recognizes Castro's efforts to help students pay for tuition, connect with the community. A Kodiak College press release called Castro "a champion for educational access."

"Almost every school system in nearly every community is at the point where everybody has some basic needs that are being challenged," said Association of Alaska School Boards Executive Director Lon Garrison on education funding in the state.

Kodiak College, which is affiliated with the University of Alaska Anchorage, led the effort for it, UAA, and Kenai Peninsula College to receive nearly $4 million each in federal funds to better serve migrant students.