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Facing a gap of several hundred thousand dollars between available funds and its draft spending plan, the school board will hold a special meeting Wednesday, April 30, to adopt a final budget — which could include spending cuts. The latest draft budget presented to the board at its regular monthly meeting on April 14 showed about $6 million in spending versus just $4.7 million in projected revenue from state, municipal and federal sources for the 2025-2026 school year. The district expects to start the next school year with $990,000 left in its...
School Board President Dave Wilson on April 14 named 10 people to a special committee to assist the board in developing a long-term budget plan. The district has been drawing on its dwindling savings the past few years to cover spending, and it doesn’t look likely that any combination of state, municipal or federal money is going to rescue the district from spending cuts. “The budget situation is extremely dire,” Ryan Howe, a 16-year teacher in the district, said at the school board’s April 14 meeting. “There’s no calvary coming.” Wi...
DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 25, at the community center multi-purpose room. Tiaras, dessert and backdrop for pictures come with the $40 entry fee. Purchase tickets at the door via cash or Venmo. Hosted by Wrangell Burial Assistance. PADDLER’S POTLUCK 6 p.m. Friday, April 25, at Shoemaker Bay recreation shelter. For anyone who canoes or kayaks, has a raft or rowboat or paddleboard; likes to explore the waterways; or just wants to start up. Come out and meet folks who share your interests while enjoying stories of trips old and... Full story
More than likely, the Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy will strike a deal next month to increase state funding for K-12 education in Alaska. That’s the big checkbook fight as lawmakers face a May 21 constitutional deadline to finish their work. The increase in state aid will not be enough to solve all the money problems at school districts across Alaska, but it will be enough to prevent the worst of the crisis from hitting students, teachers and parents for the 2025-2026 school year. In Wrangell’s case, it probably will be enough money to...
Bill Burr has submitted his resignation as Wrangell schools superintendent, effective June 30. The school board was scheduled to accept his resignation at its monthly meeting Monday, April 14, and then move into executive session to discuss its options for the job. Burr started with the Wrangell schools in the summer of 2021, coming to work from the Delta/Greely School District in Alaska’s Interior, where he had been assistant superintendent since 2014. He had also served as director of technology and as a fill-in principal in the district. T...
LITTLE LEAGUE VOLUNTEERS needed for umpiring, scorekeeping, concessions, pitching machine runners, field upkeep and more. Volunteer applications can be picked up at the Stikine Inn or online at https://bit.ly/4iP0eGr. “PLASTIC PEOPLE” 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Nolan Center. Free community event about environmental justice and microplastics affecting human health. Reception at 5:30 p.m. Film (80 minutes long) at 6 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Light refreshments provided by Sweet Tides. Hosted by Alaska Com... Full story
A majority of Wrangell teachers approved sending a letter to the school board, expressing “no confidence” in the leadership of Board President Dave Wilson. “This action was not taken lightly,” the March 31 letter said. “It reflects widespread concern among educators about Mr. Wilson’s conduct, lack of preparedness, (and) unwillingness to collaborate with community stakeholders. …” Almost 50 people attended a March 24 work session between the school board and borough officials to hash out options amid a severe budget squeeze at the schools. Wi...
April 9, 1925 A government surveying party, headed by E. C. Guerin, cadastral engineer, arrived in Wrangell on the Yukon on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Guerin headed a party which spent six months last year surveying land suitable for agricultural purposes in the Stikine River district between Farm Island and the Canadian border. The work will be of incalculable benefit to future settlers along the Stikine. When the work is completed, the homesteader will not have to wait for a survey or a report on his holdings by a government representative. In...
LITTLE LEAGUE VOLUNTEERS needed for umpiring, scorekeeping, concessions, pitching machine runners, field upkeep and more. Volunteer applications can be picked up at the Stikine Inn or online at https://bit.ly/4iP0eGr. BRAVE MEETING 2 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Irene Ingle Public Library. Everyone is welcome; learn about plans for the coming year with BRAVE (Building Respect and Valuing Everyone). Contact Kay Larson for more information or for a Zoom link to attend online, 907-209-9117. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY will meet at 3 p.m. Friday,... Full story
LITTLE LEAGUE VOLUNTEERS needed for umpiring, scorekeeping, concessions, pitching machine runners, field upkeep and more. Volunteer applications can be picked up at the Stikine Inn or online at https://bit.ly/4iP0eGr. NOLAN CENTER THEATER presents the musical production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at 6 p.m. Friday, April 4, and at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, April 5. Doors open 30 minutes before the show. Tickets are $25 and available online at paybee.io/@nolancenter@5 or in person at the Nolan Center. FRIENDS OF THE LIB... Full story
Prompted at a work session with the borough assembly last week to gather more public input into its long-term budget plans, the Wrangell school board is seeking volunteers to serve on a special committee. The school board announced March 28 that it is seeking letters of interest from people willing to serve on an ad hoc committee “to research long-term budgetary considerations,” such as a four-day school week, consolidation of the district’s three schools or other measures to cut expenses. “This is your opportunity to be a part of what could l...
March 26, 1925 The Civic Club held an interesting special meeting last Saturday. An informal discussion on proposed legislative measures of interest to the women of the territory was followed by a survey of possible candidates for the coming city election. Considerable interest is manifested by the thinking women of the community in the result of the election, owing to the fact that the school question is involved and because of the fact that women have been urged to take a more active part in civic affairs. While several suggestions were made...
FISHING VESSEL SAFETY DRILL CONDUCTOR CLASS 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 30, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at the high school. The class is free for commercial fishermen and $300 for non-commercial fishermen. The class meets the U.S. Coast Guard training requirements for drill conductors on commercial fishing vessels. Register online at www.amsea.org or call 907-747-3287. HOMESCHOOL HANGOUT 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 1, at the Irene Ingle Public Library. Bring school work, play games and be with friends. Snacks provided.... Full story
“There’s nothing off the list,” Superintendent Bill Burr said about potential cuts to the school district’s 2025-2026 budget. From exploring what life would be like as a satellite site of the Petersburg school district to eliminating teacher positions, Burr said the district is exploring everything and anything. The draft budget presented to the school board last month showed a $1 million shortfall between projected revenue ($5.05 million) and proposed expenses ($6.1 million). Covering that gap — without a significant boost in state funding ...
PORTABLE SOUTHEAST, a traveling art exhibit from the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, is on display at the Nolan Center through March 28. “Portable Southeast provides a new and exciting mode for artists to showcase their works beyond local reach,” the arts council says. BAHAI NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION, Naw-Ruz, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at the multi-purpose room near the old gym. Campfire-themed dinner provided; everyone is welcome for a joyful celebration of renewal and community. Call 907-209-9117. FISHING VESSEL SAFETY DRILL CONDU... Full story
The federal and state stars are not lining up well for Wrangell’s budget future, at least not for the next few years. And that will mean some hard choices for the community, particularly when it comes to deciding the future of its schools and how to pay for that future. The borough has been using money from a federal program that dates back to 2000 to cover much of its annual contribution to the school district operating budget. But Congress failed to appropriate the money last year — the Republican-controlled U.S. House declined to take up...
“There’s nothing off the list,” Superintendent Bill Burr said about potential cuts to the school district’s 2025-2026 budget. From exploring what life would be like as a satellite site of the Petersburg school district to eliminating teacher positions, Burr said the district is exploring everything and anything. The draft budget presented to the school board last month showed a $1 million shortfall between projected revenue ($5.05 million) and proposed expenses ($6.1 million). Covering that gap — without a significant boost in state funding ... Full story
PORTABLE SOUTHEAST, a traveling art exhibit from the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, is on display at the Nolan Center through March 28. A reception will be held 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 14, at the center to showcase the exhibit, which includes works from Alaskans in several cities. “Portable Southeast provides a new and exciting mode for artists to showcase their works beyond local reach,” the arts council says. BRAVE MONTHLY MEETING (Building Respect and Valuing Everyone), 2 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Irene Ingle Public Lib... Full story
The most recent draft of the school district’s 2025-2026 budget shows a deficit of $271,000. With City Hall hamstrung by cuts to federal funding, the school board could need to make sweeping cuts to balance the books. The district is not legally permitted to operate in a deficit and its operating reserve is nearing empty The draft budget assumes that the borough will fund the schools at the maximum amount allowed by state law, around $1.8 million. However, both City Hall and the school district anticipate that number will likely be closer to $...
A particular place in history awaits this year’s Fourth of July royalty, as the fundraising competition marks its 75th anniversary. It began in 1950, when Pat Lewis won with her bake sale earnings, estimated at $405. Over the years, food booths and raffle ticket sales have become the primary fundraisers for those vying for queen or king. It is an intense monthlong June marathon that reaps big rewards for the contestants and the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July activities budget. The chamber is looking for royalty candidates to sign...
Feb. 26, 1925 Life in Wrangell this winter is very different from what it has been in former years. During the past two decades there has not been enough traffic by dog teams in this region to attract any attention. But this winter Wrangell resembles Nome or Iditarod with its streets congested with dog teams that are leaving here daily for the Cassiar mining district in British Columbia. There are three outfits now on the Stikine en route from Wrangell to Telegraph Creek, B.C., and a dozen more men will leave this week for the Cassiar. Feb. 24,...
ASH WEDNESDAY 7 to 8 a.m., noon to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the pavilion downtown. Pastor Sue Bahleda of Island of Faith Lutheran Church will be available to impose ashes for those wanting to mark the day. CLIMATE SOLUTIONS EXHIBIT from the University Corporation for Science Education (a nonprofit of more than 130 North American colleges and universities) will be at the Nolan Center lobby through Friday, Feb. 28. No admission fee to see the exhibit. The center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. HOMESCHOOL HANGOUT 10... Full story
The school district and borough share a money problem. And it’s a community problem that needs an answer this spring. The schools need more money to continue even the basic programs for Wrangell’s 260 students. The state funding formula over the past eight years has been flat, which is to say far short of keeping up with inflation, which is to say wholly inadequate. The borough assembly has tried pitching in, but its check-writing ability is limited by two factors: A state law that puts a cap on local contributions to school district budgets, a...
The school district has a separate savings account of nearly $1.2 million, which would more than cover its expected revenue shortfall of $767,016 for the upcoming school year. The fund is reserved for capital improvement projects, but it is within the school board’s purview to reallocate the funds if needed. The district has been building the fund since 1998, with only small withdrawals in recent years. Without major new revenues or spending cuts, the district’s operating budget reserve fund — a separate account from the building impro...