UNALASKA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

With our island’s stark coastline, whipping wind and ever varying weather, Unalaska undeniably attracts a variety of groups of people. People who, in many cases, dare to leave everything they know in pursuit of the unknown; who dare to see the beauty in intensity, and the freedom in isolation.  The island itself shapes our staff into the dream team of nomads, artists, and explorers.  So how does one get here, to an isolated and unknown island in Alaska?

Unalaska's teachers have negotiated a new contract for the next three years.

Superintendent John Conwell said the teachers union and school district negotiated the contract in only a day and a half.

"Teams representing the Unalaska Education Association and the Unalaska City School District met on Aug. 28 and 29 to negotiate the terms and conditions of the teachers collective bargaining agreement," said Conwell at the Sept. 12 school board meeting. "The UEA met and ratified the new negotiated agreement on Sept. 5, 2019."

With one week until classes start, Unalaska's teachers are back at school Monday, training and preparing their classrooms.

Superintendent John Conwell said the Unalaska City School District has filled all eight of its teacher vacancies. That includes the high school science position, which David Gibson resigned over the summer to accept a job with Unalaska's Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

State ferries resumed sailing Sunday after an 11-day strike that affected thousands of travelers and freight shipments across Alaska.

That includes all passengers booked on last week's M/V Tustumena run between Homer and Unalaska, which was canceled due to the strike.

"Unfortunately, we did have two teachers and their families planning to take the ferry," said Superintendent John Conwell of the Unalaska City School District.