Kodiak could be less than a week from losing one of its four elementary schools. The island’s school district held a town hall meeting on Monday to hear from the public before making its decision next week. Emotions are high as officials try to balance the budget.

North Star and Peterson Elementary schools are recommended for potential closure as KIBSD faces an $8 million budget deficit. The community has three weeks allotted for public comment before the board is expected to make a decision on Jan. 20.

Main and North Star Elementary schools are both on the chopping block. The district’s superintendent is expected to present which one she will recommend to close as officials address an $8 million budget deficit.

McCown joins Kodiak College from UAA's Kenai Peninsula College. She'll be leading the $4 million federally-funded program to provide support services for migrant students, like seafood workers or their kids.

“We’re going to do what we can, but we need to stabilize our budget,” said Cyndy Mika, the district's superintendent. Main and North Star Elementary schools are both on the chopping block — the Board of Education will make a decision on Jan. 20.

The school in Chiniak, near the eastern end of Kodiak’s road system, hasn’t had running water for about a month. It’s currently relying on water shipped in on trucks to stay open. It’s costing the school district thousands while they wait for a permanent fix.

The highly contagious bacteria, known to spread via coughing and sneezing, can last for around 10 weeks and is particularly harmful for infants and pregnant women. The district is encouraging any kids with a cough to see a doctor as soon as possible and tell them they may have been exposed.

Kodiak’s population is shrinking, following a trend among rural places across the country. It’s one of the biggest factors as the archipelago’s school district considers closing one of its elementary schools.

Students at Kodiak High School heard from a U.S. Supreme Court justice on Friday, Nov. 15. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told the students how the skills she picked up from theater and debate aided her career.

Police are still monitoring the situation and don’t have any suspects yet. Classes, meanwhile, are moving on as planned. The school said in its email that it will have “additional personnel on campus today to ensure a calm and safe environment.”