Beyond school closures, Superintendent Frank Hauser said savings would have to come from staff cuts.
Juneau Education Association President Chris Heidemann speaks at a school board meeting on Feb. 13, 2024. District leaders are considering closing schools to balance the budget, which would allow them to lay off duplicate staff, like principals, nurses and librarians. But those cuts alone would not be enough to balance the budget.
Filling the budget gap after combining just the middle schools would require laying off 60 to 100 people, depending on their positions. But combining middle schools, combining high schools and closing an elementary school could cut the number of layoffs needed in half.“I believe we can hit those marks with natural attrition by the end of the year, or close to it,” he said.
“I don’t think we have two comprehensive high schools right now. I think we have two high schools that are grossly understaffed,” Sorensen said. “We are relying on a whole range of online courses to provide electives to students who should be able to get those electives in an in person class.” Students at Yadaa.at Kalé Juneau-Douglas High School learn about welding and other construction skills in this classroom.
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