Education

In this episode of "Island Interviews," Russel Laforteza, a clerk and aide at the high school, discusses how UCSD's Multicultural Celebration Day is a time to celebrate and raise cultural awareness within the community. He says it also gives students a sense of purpose.

The Unalaska City School District will send fifth graders down to the elementary building starting next school year. Administrators recently announced they will put the fifth grade class in the Eagle’s View Elementary Achigaalux̂ building for the first time since it was constructed.

Dillingham Independent, Bryce Edgmon, represents Unalaska as part of the 37th District in the Alaska House of Representatives. He’s co-chair of the House Finance Committee. He spoke with KUCB’s Andy Lusk on Feb. 9 about a range of local issues.

Two candidates are going into a runoff after no one won outright on Oct. 3.

“We are hoping to do this again and again in the coming years, and hopefully the community will be more involved,” said first grade teacher Judith Withers. “Because that is what makes us strong people, right? We come together."

Crowds of Unalaskans gathered Sunday to celebrate the grand opening of the newly expanded Unalaska Public Library. “It’s an investment by the community in itself, really,” said City Librarian Karen Kresh. “And a statement of confidence in the future of this community — that we’re still going to be here for the next 25 years."

The Unalaska Public Library will reopen this weekend, more than a year after it closed for a long-awaited renovation and expansion. The library will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration Sunday, April 30, from 1 to 3 p.m.

The Unalaska City School District will have a new superintendent starting this summer. Kim Hanisch sat down with KUCB's Sofia Stuart-Rasi last week to talk about her experience in education — and why she chose Unalaska.

The Unalaska City School District has asked the city to increase its contribution to local public schools in fiscal year 2024, including dedicating $140,000 in new funding for student activities. Superintendent Jim Wilson made the nearly $5.5 million request to the City Council this month. Meanwhile, councilors are also weighing funding for the Community Support program, which awards grants to local nonprofits. Eight organizations have requested a total of $1.5 million.

On Wednesday, the school board approved a ninth and final new teacher contract, marking the end of a challenging effort to recruit amid a nationwide teacher shortage. To help with other hiring efforts, the board also approved a new salary schedule for administrative coordinator roles.