Wrangell’s school buildings are in new but familiar hands as Michael Shilts steps into his new role as maintenance director for the school district.

A 1997 high school graduate born and raised in Wrangell, Shilts followed a winding professional path before returning home. After high school, he earned multiple mechanic certifications and spent years cycling through various technical roles.

His career eventually brought him back to the island to work as a millwright at the sawmill, followed by a stint in Juneau as maintenance director at the state Capitol.

“I was there when they had all their renovations,” he said. “I worked in multiple buildings and did plumbing, heating and cooling and other things like that.”

Following an eight-year tenure in the Capitol, he returned to Wrangell as a maintenance mechanic for Aramark, which contracts with SEARHC.

He officially joined the school district on April 13 and immediately began addressing system needs.

He replaced Kevin McAllister, who had been director since 2024.

“I started by working on the air system (in Evergreen Elementary),” he said. “I repaired the actuation controls and replaced some parts that weren’t working correctly.”

After optimizing the elementary school’s heating system, Shilts began cataloging a long-term punch list. While the school buildings are slated for extensive repairs starting this summer, he is not intimidated by the workload.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I love the fact that I’m working here.”

He said his enthusiasm for the position is rooted in the legacy of a former well-known director, Fred Angerman Jr., who led the maintenance department 2002-2018. Angerman died in 2025.

“(Fred) just really cared about the school and about everyone in it,” Shilts said. “I feel the same way. My job is to ensure that everyone is safe and that everything functions properly.”

For the immediate future, he intends to prioritize safety-related projects, specifically the high school’s fire suppression system.

“The sprinkler system has been causing some issues and has been breaking in the winter months. I’m going to fix that,” he said. “I’m just really happy to be here and I appreciate the opportunity to help the school district be as beautiful and wonderful as it can be. There are a lot of great people here.”