Kodiak residents defend auditorium position as school budget vote nears

Roughly a dozen Kodiak residents told the borough assembly Thursday night that cutting the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium technical director would cripple a facility the community depends on. The position sits on the school district's potential cut list if the borough does not fully fund the district's budget request.

The auditorium is a borough-owned building that seats over 700 people. It hosts school performances, community theater, civic meetings, and professional touring acts.

Molly Miller, executive director of the Kodiak Arts Council, said the auditorium is down to one staffing position covering two separate jobs: community school scheduling and auditorium technical direction. She warned that letting the facility fall below basic operating capacity before ongoing management conversations produce a sustainable plan would be costly to restore later.

Several assemblymembers expressed interest in exploring whether the borough could assume the auditorium position directly, separating it from the school district budget. Assemblymember Erin Roberts said she emailed Borough Manager Amy Williams during public testimony to ask if the borough could assume the position.

Williams said the assembly could direct her to open conversations with the school district about the auditorium position. Assemblymember Steve Ames said such discussions would need to address maintenance costs and other details, but there was not enough time to work out those arrangements before the fiscal year 2027 budget vote.

The assembly will vote on the school district funding resolution at its May 21 regular meeting. The district is requesting the maximum allowable local contribution under state law, an increase of approximately $1.6 million over the previous year.