Lower Kuskokwim School District

Dear parents, students, and the entire LKSD learning community,

 

We are a few weeks into the new semester, and there is a lot happening across the district. You can stay up to date on district news and events via the LKSD website, Facebook and Instagram pages. You can also visit your local school’s website and Facebook page to keep abreast of events and news specific to your child’s school. I encourage you to stay involved, share your insights, and actively participate in activities and events.

 

The second regular session of the 33rd Alaska State Legislature is underway. Districts across Alaska continue to feel the effects of rising costs and flat funding as budgets become increasingly more challenging to balance. Advocacy for increased school funding continues to be a top priority of the LKSD Board of Education. The graphic to the right shows the impact of inflation on spending power since the last increase in the base student allocation (BSA), inside the foundation formula, in FY17. As noted in the graphic, the current BSA in FY24 has an FY12 value when adjusted for inflation.

 

The 2024 LKSD legislative priorities were recently adopted by the Board of Education and are as follows:

• Adequate forward funding and an increase of $1413 to the BSA

• Educator recruitment and retention – fixing the retirement system, teacher housing, and educator salaries

• Reliable and full funding for major maintenance and school construction

• Adequate funding for the Alaska Reads Act

 

All stakeholders can play a role in advocacy by contacting our legislators, Senator Lyman Hoffman, and Representative CJ McCormick.

 

As announced last fall, I plan to retire at the conclusion of this school year. Serving students and families of the YK Delta as a teacher, principal, and district administrator has been incredibly rewarding. It’s been an honor to serve the district as superintendent and I am grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been afforded during my 21 years with LKSD.

 

The LKSD Board of Education has been engaged in a new superintendent hiring process for several months, which will conclude with superintendent finalist interviews happening next Monday and Tuesday, February 12-13. On Monday there are opportunities for all stakeholders to participate and provide the board with candidate feedback. Please see the LKSD website for a detailed schedule of events and Zoom links.

 

Thank you for your continued support of LKSD,

 

Kimberly Hankins

Superintendent