Education

UAS

House passes bill to protect higher education funding

A month left in session.

UAS
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney stopped by the Empire offices in Juneau on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to talk about the system's future. Mostly recovered from budget cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitney said the university is ready to start building Alaska's workforce. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Pitney: UA ready to train Alaska’s workforce

‘Getting people through the pipeline.’

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney stopped by the Empire offices in Juneau on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to talk about the system's future. Mostly recovered from budget cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitney said the university is ready to start building Alaska's workforce. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
In this June 6, 2021 file photo, a youth receives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the central Israeli city of Rishon LeZion. The pharmaceuticals Pfizer and BioNTech say they have requested that their coronavirus vaccine be licensed for children aged 5 to 11 across the European Union. If authorized, it would be the first opportunity for younger children in Europe to be get immunized against COVID-19. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

City: COVID vaccine for kids may be available soon

Sign up may be ready Nov. 2.

In this June 6, 2021 file photo, a youth receives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the central Israeli city of Rishon LeZion. The pharmaceuticals Pfizer and BioNTech say they have requested that their coronavirus vaccine be licensed for children aged 5 to 11 across the European Union. If authorized, it would be the first opportunity for younger children in Europe to be get immunized against COVID-19. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Students board a school bus on New York’s Upper West Side. Even as most students return to learning in the classroom this school year, disruptions to in-person learning, from missing one day because of a late school bus to an entire two weeks at home due to quarantine, remain inevitable as families and educators navigate the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo / Richard Drew)

Disruptions to schooling fall hardest on vulnerable students

Many families don’t know where to turn for information, or sometimes can’t be reached.

Students board a school bus on New York’s Upper West Side. Even as most students return to learning in the classroom this school year, disruptions to in-person learning, from missing one day because of a late school bus to an entire two weeks at home due to quarantine, remain inevitable as families and educators navigate the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo / Richard Drew)
School district

Superintendent: School staff highly vaccinated

Lots of testing.

School district
A sign points the way to the weigh station at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during last year's Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 16, 2020. This year is the derby's 75th year and organizers have added additional prizes in celebration of the event. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Salmon derby celebrates 75 years with new ways to win

Derby days are here again.

A sign points the way to the weigh station at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during last year's Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 16, 2020. This year is the derby's 75th year and organizers have added additional prizes in celebration of the event. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
University officials are hoping that increased collaboration between the University of Alaska’s three schools of education will result in more Alaskans becoming teachers. The Univerity of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, offers teacher training and retention programs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Help wanted: Alaskans to teach Alaska’s students

New consortium and marketing campaign aims to retain and recruit teachers

University officials are hoping that increased collaboration between the University of Alaska’s three schools of education will result in more Alaskans becoming teachers. The Univerity of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, offers teacher training and retention programs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
The Juneau School District, it’s headquarters seen here in this Juneau Empire file photo, will receive a portion of Alaska’s more than $358 million in federal relief money for schools. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Alaska to receive over $358 million to reopen schools

Reopen “quickly and safely.”

The Juneau School District, it’s headquarters seen here in this Juneau Empire file photo, will receive a portion of Alaska’s more than $358 million in federal relief money for schools. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released by the state last year sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. A shortened session last year meant the bill, announced by Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, didn't make it through the last Legislature. But there's a new bill, nearly the same as the old bill, working its way through the Senate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Reworked reading bill gets second act in Legislature

Still a ways to go.

A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released by the state last year sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. A shortened session last year meant the bill, announced by Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, didn't make it through the last Legislature. But there's a new bill, nearly the same as the old bill, working its way through the Senate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Mike Barnhill, deputy commisioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue, speaks following the drawing of names during the second annual PFD Education Raffle. During the event, state officials and lawmakers wore masks with an education raffle logo. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Video

Roll out the barrel: Second annual PFD education raffle held

Four Alaskans win thousands.

Mike Barnhill, deputy commisioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue, speaks following the drawing of names during the second annual PFD Education Raffle. During the event, state officials and lawmakers wore masks with an education raffle logo. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Video
Students re-entered Floyd Dryden Middle School on Monday with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Back in class: Re-entry goes smoothly, says superintendent

More than a thousand students returned to schools this week. There are more to come.

Students re-entered Floyd Dryden Middle School on Monday with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Emily Chao, standing, watches as her sister Anabelle, works on a writing exercise after they finished remote learning for the day, as their mom Erica sits, back left, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, at their home in North Miami Beach, Fla. Rather than wait to see how the Miami-Dade school system would handle instruction this fall, Erica Chao enrolled her two daughters in a private school that seemed better positioned to provide remote learning than their public elementary school was when the coronavirus first reached Florida. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)

Nationwide enrollment drops worry public schools as pandemic persists

By FREIDA FRISARO Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Rather than wait to see how her children’s Florida public school would teach students this fall,… Continue reading

Emily Chao, standing, watches as her sister Anabelle, works on a writing exercise after they finished remote learning for the day, as their mom Erica sits, back left, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, at their home in North Miami Beach, Fla. Rather than wait to see how the Miami-Dade school system would handle instruction this fall, Erica Chao enrolled her two daughters in a private school that seemed better positioned to provide remote learning than their public elementary school was when the coronavirus first reached Florida. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)
City subsidy rallies child care enrollment

City subsidy rallies child care enrollment

Increasing in-person programs.

City subsidy rallies child care enrollment
Additional funding for a child care program was removed from a funding request from the Juneau School District by the City and Borough of Juneau Finance Committee Wednesday night. Committee members said they felt the child care issue was best merged with the Assembly’s pre-existing work on the matter. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

RALLY funding gets a rain check

Already a lot of work on child care.

Additional funding for a child care program was removed from a funding request from the Juneau School District by the City and Borough of Juneau Finance Committee Wednesday night. Committee members said they felt the child care issue was best merged with the Assembly’s pre-existing work on the matter. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
School repairs get priority in bond package

School repairs get priority in bond package

Reading, writing, ‘rithmetic, roof repairs.

School repairs get priority in bond package
Students at the Juneau Montessori School in Douglas on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. Montessori is a private pre-school and kindergarten which has received a large number of parents looking for child care following the Juneau School District’s announcement the 2020 school year would begin mostly online, according to executive director Laura Talpey. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

With schools online, city looks for child care alternatives

Officials say there are few easy answers to looming problem.

Students at the Juneau Montessori School in Douglas on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. Montessori is a private pre-school and kindergarten which has received a large number of parents looking for child care following the Juneau School District’s announcement the 2020 school year would begin mostly online, according to executive director Laura Talpey. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
UA board changes course on possible merger

UA board changes course on possible merger

Structural changes still an option.

UA board changes course on possible merger
Coronavirus costs rise for school district

Coronavirus costs rise for school district

Covid adds to regular costs.

Coronavirus costs rise for school district
Discovery Southeast education coordinator Kelly Sorensen talks to a student from Harborview Elementary School about what feeds on the trees during a nature hike near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Feb. 20, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Discovery Southeast turns 30 with a flourish

Auctions, banquets, and competitions: Discovery Southeast celebrates in style.

Discovery Southeast education coordinator Kelly Sorensen talks to a student from Harborview Elementary School about what feeds on the trees during a nature hike near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Feb. 20, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Local Mathletes compete in 2020 regional math contest

Six Mathletes are headed to state in March.