Juneau could lose 18 teachers under latest state budget proposal

The Juneau School District offices. (Photo by Heather Bryant/KTOO)
The Juneau School District offices. (Photo by Heather Bryant/KTOO)

Deeper education cuts in the Senate’s version of the operating budget could mean making an additional $2.2 million in reductions to Juneau’s schools. It would likely hit teachers the most.

“The Senate funding is very alarming to us and if that should come to pass, that will be a very dramatic hit to our budget for next year. It will hurt us very much. It will hurt the high schools quite a bit,” says David Means, the Juneau School District’s finance head.

The school board approved last month an $86 million budget for next school year. It maintains current class sizes, cuts three instructional teaching coaches and decreases funding for activities.

Means says the district was reluctant to make cuts to the classroom.

“But if we have a 4.1 percent decrease to our state funding for next year, on top of the other decreases in state funding, we’ll have to look at our classroom and that means we could potentially be reducing about 18 teacher positions,” Means says.

Class sizes in grades six to 12 could increase by three more students. Kindergarten to fifth grade class sizes would increase by one.

The approved budget already has cuts to high school activities. Means says the Senate’s version of the budget may end funding to elementary and middle school activities.

The district will talk about budget issues tonight with the Juneau Assembly.

Means says the district will present the budget as approved by the school board, which means asking for a local contribution of almost $25 million, and another almost $800,000 for activities and other expenses. Means say he’ll also bring up the potential legislative reductions.

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