District accelerates budget timeline, readies RIF proposals and PTR guidance as DEED withholds payment risk looms
February 28, 2026 | Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska
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Faced with a state rejection of its FY26 budget and a March 6 deadline to avoid withheld foundation payments, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District moved to an accelerated budget timeline and told administrators to produce concrete reduction-in-force (RIF) proposals.
Superintendent-led staff said the district will aim to present a working draft budget for review at a March 7 work session, introduce a RIF plan at the March 11 board meeting and complete readings and required steps in April. "We're looking at having a special meeting on April 1 to have our first reading of the budget and have the second reading at our April 8 meeting," the board president summarized.
Staff reported 419 responses to the district's community survey and separate KEA membership feedback. Counseling and mental-health services, smaller class sizes and preservation of CTE and fine-arts programs ranked highly. KEA president Lindsay Tucker summarized possible cost-saving measures the union had seen from members, including larger class sizes, eliminating the 1:1 device program, administrative reductions, and school reconfiguration as a way to preserve core instructional programs.
Principals and teachers gave detailed accounts of current pupil-teacher ratios and building capacity. Administration said district-wide PTR (including specialists but excluding SPED) is about 13.6; the district's administrative regulation AR 5116 lists class-size ranges for planning (kindergarten 1720; grades 13, 1922; grades 46, 2226). Principals cautioned that moving teachers or consolidating schools could reduce program access, increase logistics burdens for families and risk losing staff to homeschool or out-of-area employment.
On magnitude, the business manager presented preliminary budget math showing an estimated $3.0M projected revenue loss plus other pressures, with one scenario putting the district's shortfall at roughly $5.5M under a 3-year repayment structure (no negotiation impacts). Staff and board speakers discussed that number as translating into substantial FTE reductions; one staff speaker said estimates ranged up toward 405 FTEs depending on negotiated costs and other actions.
The board directed administrators to work with building teams, KEA and staff to prepare a detailed RIF package and operational plans and to communicate findings to the public. The board scheduled a public listening session for March 11 (46 p.m.) in conjunction with the regular meeting so the community can review draft materials and comment before any final action.
Superintendent-led staff said the district will aim to present a working draft budget for review at a March 7 work session, introduce a RIF plan at the March 11 board meeting and complete readings and required steps in April. "We're looking at having a special meeting on April 1 to have our first reading of the budget and have the second reading at our April 8 meeting," the board president summarized.
Staff reported 419 responses to the district's community survey and separate KEA membership feedback. Counseling and mental-health services, smaller class sizes and preservation of CTE and fine-arts programs ranked highly. KEA president Lindsay Tucker summarized possible cost-saving measures the union had seen from members, including larger class sizes, eliminating the 1:1 device program, administrative reductions, and school reconfiguration as a way to preserve core instructional programs.
Principals and teachers gave detailed accounts of current pupil-teacher ratios and building capacity. Administration said district-wide PTR (including specialists but excluding SPED) is about 13.6; the district's administrative regulation AR 5116 lists class-size ranges for planning (kindergarten 1720; grades 13, 1922; grades 46, 2226). Principals cautioned that moving teachers or consolidating schools could reduce program access, increase logistics burdens for families and risk losing staff to homeschool or out-of-area employment.
On magnitude, the business manager presented preliminary budget math showing an estimated $3.0M projected revenue loss plus other pressures, with one scenario putting the district's shortfall at roughly $5.5M under a 3-year repayment structure (no negotiation impacts). Staff and board speakers discussed that number as translating into substantial FTE reductions; one staff speaker said estimates ranged up toward 405 FTEs depending on negotiated costs and other actions.
The board directed administrators to work with building teams, KEA and staff to prepare a detailed RIF package and operational plans and to communicate findings to the public. The board scheduled a public listening session for March 11 (46 p.m.) in conjunction with the regular meeting so the community can review draft materials and comment before any final action.
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