School district seeks more local funding to reduce cuts

The Juneau School Board is asking the Juneau Assembly to increase funding next year to reduce staffing cuts.

If the Assembly agrees, only a handful of school district jobs will be cut.

The Assembly is budgeting just over $24 million for schools in fiscal year 2015, which is less than the local cap imposed by by state law. Thanks to an increase in state funds, 16 full-time jobs are being restored, including 13 teaching positions. Without the additional money, 30 positions would have been cut.

The state legislature added $150 per student to the allocation that districts get for enrolled students.

Students from the Juneau Charter School participate in a rally on the Capitol steps organized by the Great Alaska Schools coalition, April 4, 2014. (Photo by Skip Gray/Gavel Alaska)
Students from the Juneau Charter School participate in a rally on the Capitol steps organized by the Great Alaska Schools coalition, April 4, 2014. (Photo by Skip Gray/Gavel Alaska)

“That just brings in  another $1,300,000 from the state of Alaska,” says David Means, administrative services director for the Juneau School District.

Means has been meeting with the school board this week to help members decide how best to spend the additional funds.

The legislature also split $43 million among school districts throughout the state. The one-time grant can be spent on anything districts want.

“My estimate of our share is $1,500,000,” Means says.

Among other things, the extra state funds also will allow the district to restore a custodian position, purchase a music curriculum, retain some high school activities and reduce class sizes.

The FY 15 budget totals $143 million.

In the last four years, the district has cut nearly 100 employees.

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