Schools need more students and funding

Wrangell schools are not short of dedicated staff, engaged students or supportive parents. But what the district is short of — and getting shorter — are students and funding.

That is a bad combination, putting stress on the schools as management puts together a budget for the 2022-2023 school year, and creating a serious long-term problem that needs the full attention of the school board, borough assembly and, most importantly, the community.

The Wrangell School District has been losing students for the past 25 years, dropping from more than 500 kids enrolled in grades K-12 for the 1991-1992 s...