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            As the first day of school approaches later this month, the Kodiak Island Borough School District is busy hiring teachers to fill needs in different schools. But in some cases, especially at some of the village schools, teaching positions are being eliminated due to dropping enrollment. KMXT’s Casey Kelly reports.

            As it stands right now, Port Lions School will lose one teaching position for the upcoming school year. That gives the school a total of four full-time teachers and a principal, who might teach a class or two but is also responsible for overseeing Karluk School. The loss of a teacher will mainly affect the middle and high school grade levels. Lisa Robustellini, secretary of the Port Lions Advisory School Board, says the board is concerned about the quality of instruction that might result.

            (Robustellini 1                                    :18s                 “…and work that in together.”)

She doesn’t like the idea of high schoolers taking more of their courses online and through correspondence.

(Robustellini 2                                    :18s                 “…that much doing it that way.”)

Robustellini says the ASB doesn’t expect the school’s enrollment to drop that much from last year. Port Lions graduated four seniors in June, and she says they’re expecting three incoming kindergarteners. But Kodiak schools Superintendent Stewart McDonald says the district’s unofficial head count at this time is 26 students--ten less than last year. However, McDonald says that could change.

(McDonald 1                                      :12s                 “…up until school starts.”)

The district’s official enrollment tally won’t be done until October, and McDonald says if it does change, school officials will take that into account.

(McDonald 2                                      :04s                 “…there will be a teacher.”)

Robustellini says she understands the district’s position, but says it’s frustrating.

(Robustellini 3                                    :15s                 “…the best education they can.”)

McDonald will be meeting with the Port Lions ASB and Principal Kendra Bartz in the coming weeks to address some of their concerns about staffing.

I’m Casey Kelly.

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