The Ketchikan School Board is scheduled to take a second vote on the FY 2016 budget Wednesday during its regular meeting. The Board approved a first reading of the draft budget two weeks ago without much discussion. Trevor Shaw was the only dissenting vote. Many on the Board felt changes to the budget should wait until after action from the Legislature.
The Legislature is currently working past its normal 90 days, which ended Sunday. The Board must submit an approved budget to the Borough Assembly by May 1st.
During public comment at the last meeting, multiple people spoke to support district counselors. The proposed budget would cut one high school and three elementary school counselors.
Lead On, a student leadership group, spoke about a need for adding a counselor at Kayhi to handle primarily non-academic issues. The group sponsored by the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault surveyed the student body on the issue. The group will return to the Board this week to present its findings.
Also Wednesday the Board will vote on a contract extension for Superintendent Robert Boyle.
Wednesday ‘s meeting starts at 6 p.m. in Borough Assembly chambers at the White Cliff Building. Public comment will be heard at the start and end of the meeting.
