May 06, 2002
Monday - 3:00 pm

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Among the items on the Ketchikan School Board's agenda to be considered during the Board's upcoming May 8th regular meeting are motions to approve the relocation of the Ketchikan Charter School to Valley Park Elementary School and to approve the relocation of Central Office to Ketchikan High School.

In a memo to the Ketchikan School Board dated April 24, 2002, and included in the Board's May 8th meeting packet, Superintendent Harry Martin wrote:

"As you are aware, leasing the current space at the Masonic Building for the Central Office next year is not included in next year's budget. This necessitates moving into one of our current facilities by the end of June. This is a move that makes sense as we have buildings that are not currently at their capacity level and would provide room for the Central Office to be housed. This was an item also pointed out to us to save money last year by the Borough Budget review committee.

As mentioned to you last month there are three places that would lend themselves to such a move: Point Higgins, Valley Park, and Kayhi (if the Charter School was moved to another facility). Currently the charter school is spread between two buildings - Houghtaling and Kayhi - and one of the questions that was asked during the application approval process by the State was had a place been decided upon for a facility as housing in two separate facilities was not an optimal situation for the Charter School. I believe that the needs of the students in a K-6 charter school would be better served within the confines of an elementary school with the same age students. Over the course of the past year and a half we have had several people at the podium decrying the problems inherent in having elementary students commingled with secondary students. The Charter School reached one of their primary goals this year by having a single classroom for each grade level. This is a goal that I think should be continued. In order for this to happen, the Charter School needs to be located somewhere other than Kayhi. If left at Kayhi another two classrooms would be needed to continue this space requirement. I do not think this is feasible given the program at Kayhi.

Moving the Charter School out of Kayhi; however does free up enough space to move the Central Office into Kayhi and also to give Kayhi back at least one and possibly two classrooms for them to again be able to use in the coming year. Houghtaling is not big enough to house the whole charter school; with kindergarten registration recently completed Houghtaling will continue to have three sections of kindergarten this coming year. That means three sections of grades K, 1, 2, and 3 for next year which will continue to add an additional classroom for each of the next three years and move them close to capacity. This leaves Point Higgins and Valley part as viable choices for the Charter School. Moving the Charter School to Point Higgins would mean a problem with transportation as most of the students reside here in town and the State does not pay for Charter School transportation as a separate entity.

Valley Park presently has a student capacity of 386 students which will easily increase to over 400 students if we convert the existing pool area into usable space for instruction. The number of students enrolled at Valley Park as of April 19, 2002 is 182 which means Valley Park is at less than half (45.5%) of their capacity. The addition of the 115 Charter School Students would increase this capacity to just under three-fourths (74.3%). Transportation would also be much easier at this location. I am certain we can accommodate both groups at Valley Park and recommend moving the Charter School into this facility and the Central Office into the area vacated at Kayhi."

In the agenda summary statement recommending the relocation of the Charter School to Valley Park, Superintendent Martin wrote that the relocation of the Charter School can be accomplished by erecting a wall that is basically an extension of the outside wall of the kindergarten through to the other side of the school. The Charter School area will then be divided into seven areas using partitions, bookcases, etc., and a space for the secretary in an area by the back door. Martin said Valley Park will have the rest of the area to continue its program.

In the agenda summary statement the pros and cons identified by Martin in relocating the Charter School include:

• One facility for the Charter School
• Charter School library books will become part of the Valley Park library to share
• Elementary students will no longer be with high school students
• Playground will be available for all students
• Fuller utilization of existing facilities

Pros and cons identified by Martin in relocating Central Office to Ketchikan High School include:

• Kayhi and Valley Park are centrally located
• Kayhi would require the least amount of construction work to meet the needs of Central Office
• Kayhi would be able to reclaim at least one additional classroom for their program for next year
• The current Charter School would move to another facility.

The cost required to relocate the Central Office to Ketchikan High School is stated to be $3,500. The required expenditure for relocating the Charter School to Valley Park is noted to be $7,500.

Resignations On Board's Agenda

Other items on the Board's agenda include motions to accepts resignations. Those resigning include:

Mary Ellis - Ellis was hired by the District in August of 1993 and taught fourth grade at Point Higgins Elementary in her first year. In 1994 she transferred to Houghtaling where she taught both third and fourth grades. According to the agenda statement, Ellis is currently a sixth-grade teacher at Houghtaling. Ellis will be relocating out of state.

Linda Martin - Martin was hired by the District in August of 1990. She came to the District with 14 years of service in Eminence and Franklin, Indiana. Martin's first assignment was as a third-grade teacher at White Cliff Elementary. In 1994, she transferred to Houghtaling Elementary to teach third grade. In 1997, she moved to the Ketchikan Charter School where she taught a third/fourth grade combination. She remained with the Charter School until 1999, at which time she transferred to Correspondence. Mrs. Martin plans to continue teaching in Indiana.

Catherine Ferguson - Ferguson was hired by the District in October of 1997, to teach special education at Ketchikan High School. Prior to her arrival in Ketchikan, she taught grades 9 through 11 in Hayfork, California, followed by teaching grades 5 through 8 for six years in Dunsmuir, California. Before being hired as a full-time teacher, Ferguson substitute taught for the District, beginning in September of 1995. She taught at the high school from 1997 to 2001 and transferred to the itinerant special education position at Revilla for the 2001-2002 school year. Ms. Ferguson will be relocating to Oregon.

Donald Robertson - Robertson was hired as a math teacher at Ketchikan High School in August of 2000. He came to the District with 20 years of experience as a math teacher at Uddingston Grammar School in Uddingston, Scotland. Mr. Robertson has accepted a position with a community college in Washington state.

Jeanne Sande - The District hired Jeanne Sande in 1964 as a social studies teacher at Ketchikan High School. She had a break in service in 1970 and 1975, held a short-term contract in 1977 and returned to remain at Ketchikan High School in 1980. In addition to social studies, Sande has taught U.S. History, Civics, American Government and English. In 2001, the assignment of speech and drama was also added to the list. Ms. Sande was instrumental in starting the debate program and with the exception of one year has remained the debate advisor since 1985. She also served as the social studies department chair from 1992 through 1996. Ms. Sande is retiring.

Dr. Michael Dickens - Dr. Dickens was hired as principal of White Cliff Elementary School for the 2001-2002 school year. His last assignment before coming to Ketchikan was as a teacher of Early Childhood Education and kindergarten in Unalakleet, Alaska. He taught in Unalakleet for 11 years, teaching grades 3 through 6 in addition to his most current position there. He also held the position of principal of Brevig Mission during the 1967-97 school year. Dr. Dickens wrote in his letter of resignation, "I have decided to seek a position in the central office of a school district so that I could have a greater impact proactively in helping students. My licensure presently includes certificate endorsements for Superintendent in both the state of Alaska and Arizona."

This regular meeting of the Ketchikan School Board is scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, May 8th, in the City Council Chambers.

Related Information:

May 8, 2002 - Ketchikan School Board Agenda

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