UNALASKA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Alaska House of Representatives voted to boost education spending last week, bringing a balanced budget one step closer to reality for the Unalaska City School District. But school officials are keeping the district’s belt tight until a permanent increase in the base student allocation, or BSA, becomes law.

At least a dozen teachers, staff and school board members showed up for a town hall hosted by the Unalaska City School District on March 6 to discuss an impending $1.2 million budget shortfall for the next fiscal year.

It’s not unheard of for Alaska schools to build their budgets without knowing for sure how much the state will provide. In recent years, that contribution hasn’t been much, especially when compared to the growing rates of inflation. But many school districts across the state are facing deficits this year, forcing them to make hard decisions. The Unalaska City School District is no exception.

In this episode of "Island Interviews," Superintendent Kim Hanisch talks about a new union group in the district, staffing updates – including a new high school principal – as well as a potential increase in student meal prices.

Family and friends crowded the stands of the Unalaska High School gym last Wednesday to cheer on players on both sides of the court – the visiting St. Paul Sea Parrots versus the home team, Unalaska Raiders. The junior high teams played five games in a three-day event that hasn't happened in over a decade.

The Unalaska City School District is looking for a new middle school and high school principal. Newcomer Principal Carly Morris notified the district in January that she would be resigning at the end of this school year, according to Unalaska Superintendent Kim Hanisch.

Unalaska sixth grader Alexa Mendigorin won the school district’s annual spelling bee on Friday, correctly spelling “ambulatory” in the school auditorium before an audience of students and parents.

Unalaska High School junior Cache Henning came within one point of winning the Alaska state wrestling title for the 130-pound weight class last weekend. Henning faced Mt. Edgecumbe wrestler Elden Andrew in the championship match at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. Despite the narrow loss, Unalaska Head Coach Rainier Marquez said Henning’s second-place finish is a major accomplishment.

Four Unalaska Raiders will compete in the Alaska State Division II wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday in Anchorage. Head Coach Rainier Marquez said the team is coming off some big wins from the region tournament, and they’re carrying those victories with them as they prepare for state.

A new state championship banner will be hung in the Unalaska High School gym, and it will be the first time a girls sports team is featured on the gym wall as a state champion. The Unalaska Raiders girls volleyball team defeated the Susitna Valley Rams three matches to zero on Saturday, claiming their victory as the 2A Alaska State champions. They returned to Unalaska Monday, parading across the island in a procession of fire trucks, an ambulance and a local police squad car, showing off their trophy.