Board, AASB set structure for finalist interviews and stakeholder focus groups
January 17, 2026 | Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska
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Board members and AASB facilitators spent the bulk of the Jan. 17 work session detailing how on‑site finalist visits will be structured, which stakeholders will meet candidates and how the district will collect feedback for board deliberations.
AASB advised that each interview be about 75 minutes (roughly 60 minutes of board questions and 10 minutes for candidate questions) with 15‑minute breaks between sessions. The association presented a draft two‑day plan: day 1 focused on community engagement (facility tours, focus groups, staff forum and community forum) and day 2 devoted to board interviews and post‑interview executive‑session deliberations. AASB identified Feb. 10–11, 2026 as the likely on‑site dates.
Board members discussed practical constraints — winter weather and travel time between island schools, room availability (the auditorium is not available for some events), substitute coverage for staff participants and whether to hold some meetings after school or split the staff forum. Members proposed alternatives such as starting the morning earlier, using a district activities van for group tours, or scheduling some school visits on the second day after interviews.
On stakeholder participation, the board favored including tribal governments explicitly and ensuring bargaining‑unit leadership (KEA) and Ketchikan Leadership Organization (KLO) can meet finalists. The group settled on focus groups that include community leaders, tribal representatives and negotiated‑agreement leadership, with other constituencies (PTA/PTO, students, staff) invited to participate via focus groups or the community forum. ASB recommended 8–12 people per focus group where space allows and offered to administer surveys and collate results for the board to review in executive session.
Logistics and candidate hospitality were clarified: AASB said airfare is typically provided and lodging is shared when feasible; districts usually do not pay per diem for a finalist’s companion. The board asked district staff to finalize venue availability, substitute coverage and invitations so materials and schedules can be distributed in advance of on‑site visits.
The board will receive compiled stakeholder feedback before deliberations; ASB will prepare a workbook of interview questions and a draft press release to be customized once finalists accept invitations.
AASB advised that each interview be about 75 minutes (roughly 60 minutes of board questions and 10 minutes for candidate questions) with 15‑minute breaks between sessions. The association presented a draft two‑day plan: day 1 focused on community engagement (facility tours, focus groups, staff forum and community forum) and day 2 devoted to board interviews and post‑interview executive‑session deliberations. AASB identified Feb. 10–11, 2026 as the likely on‑site dates.
Board members discussed practical constraints — winter weather and travel time between island schools, room availability (the auditorium is not available for some events), substitute coverage for staff participants and whether to hold some meetings after school or split the staff forum. Members proposed alternatives such as starting the morning earlier, using a district activities van for group tours, or scheduling some school visits on the second day after interviews.
On stakeholder participation, the board favored including tribal governments explicitly and ensuring bargaining‑unit leadership (KEA) and Ketchikan Leadership Organization (KLO) can meet finalists. The group settled on focus groups that include community leaders, tribal representatives and negotiated‑agreement leadership, with other constituencies (PTA/PTO, students, staff) invited to participate via focus groups or the community forum. ASB recommended 8–12 people per focus group where space allows and offered to administer surveys and collate results for the board to review in executive session.
Logistics and candidate hospitality were clarified: AASB said airfare is typically provided and lodging is shared when feasible; districts usually do not pay per diem for a finalist’s companion. The board asked district staff to finalize venue availability, substitute coverage and invitations so materials and schedules can be distributed in advance of on‑site visits.
The board will receive compiled stakeholder feedback before deliberations; ASB will prepare a workbook of interview questions and a draft press release to be customized once finalists accept invitations.
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