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Petersburg schools weigh added special ed staff as intensive-needs count tops projection
The Petersburg School District counted 28 students with intensive special education needs this fall, five more than the 23 it projected, and is considering adding a special education teacher and a dedicated classroom next school year.
Superintendent Taylor reported the figures in a report in the meeting packet for the school board's regular meeting at 6 pm Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the middle school and high school library.
Those students need significant individual support, with student-to-staff ratios from 1:1 to 3:1 depending on each student's needs, the report says. Most attend Stedman Elementary School, which adds demands on special education and support staff while the district works to fill vacant positions.
Special Education Director Cyndy Fry and Principal Heather Conn are reviewing current staffing and how services are delivered. For next year, the district is considering another special education teacher and a dedicated classroom or resource room for students with intensive needs, while keeping services for all students with disabilities.
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North Stephens Passage King Crab Pot Removal Deadline
North Stephens Passage king crab fishing closes Monday, eight days into a rare season
Southeast's rare king crab season is already closing in North Stephens Passage, eight days in. The state expects boats to hit the area's target Monday.
Wind Advisory for Ketchikan Gateway Borough and Annette Island
Wind advisory warns of gusts to 45 mph on Prince of Wales Island Saturday night
Wind advisory warns of gusts to 45 mph on Prince of Wales Island Saturday night, extended to Ketchikan with gusts to 55 mph. A stronger storm with seas up to 25 feet follows close behind.
Written Comments Due on Lutak Dock Rebuild Solicitation
Haines drops cheaper Lutak Dock option, leaving bidders only the full rebuild
Haines dropped a cheaper fix for its crumbling Lutak Dock, saying it wouldn't fit the $20 million federal grant. Bidders would price only a full rebuild.
Assembly Ordinance Introduction - View Drive Buyout
Juneau weighs a $27 million View Drive flood buyout with the homeowner share still unpriced
Sixteen of 18 View Drive homeowners are moving toward a federal flood buyout, but Juneau hasn't decided who carries the risk of collecting their share.
Juneau Assembly - North Douglas Launch Ramp Transfer Ordinance Introduction
Juneau harbor board weighs a bigger North Douglas ramp and a higher charter fee
Juneau's harbor board on Thursday weighs a design contract for a bigger North Douglas ramp that could serve charter boats, and a charter fee hike.
Latest
Today
Troopers arrest two Ketchikan 18-year-olds in Ward Cove Market burglary
Troopers arrested two 18-year-old Ketchikan men in the Nov. 11 break-in at Ward Cove Market, where someone smashed a window and stole alcohol. A third suspect, a juvenile, is still being sought.
by Walter AlaskaNews2h ago2 min read
Juneau Assembly to take up 10% tax on vehicle rentals that start near cruise docks
Juneau Assembly considers a 10% tax Monday on vehicle rentals that start near the downtown cruise docks. Combined with existing taxes, some rentals could end up taxed at 24%.
by Walter AlaskaNews7h ago2 min read
Capital Transit launching audit of Juneau paratransit contractor, minutes say
Capital Transit will launch a compliance audit of Ground Transportation Solutions, which runs Juneau's Capital AKcess paratransit service, minutes show.
by Walter AlaskaNews10h ago2 min read
FAA ground stop delays Juneau flights leaving Alaska as in-state flights keep departing
FAA ground stop Friday delayed flights leaving Juneau, though in-state flights kept flying. The nationwide halt caused over 200 cancellations across Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.
by Alaska News11h ago2 min read
SEARHC seeks Sitka approval of tideland survey for lease around its barge ramp
Sitka Planning Commission holds a Nov. 18 hearing on a tideland survey setting SEARHC's barge ramp lease boundary. Staff say it won't affect the planned seaplane base water lane.
by Walter AlaskaNews11h ago2 min read
Yesterday
Juneau harbor board to weigh urging full funding, higher cap for state harbor grants
Juneau's harbor board votes Thursday on urging the state to fully fund harbor grants at $20.6 million and raise the yearly cap from $5 million to $7.5 million.
by Walter AlaskaNews12h ago2 min read
Juneau's draft capital priorities list asks $5 million for Highlands drainage study
Juneau's draft capital priorities list now seeks $5 million to study fixing the aging Highlands drainage system.
by Walter AlaskaNews16h ago2 min read
Juneau seeks applicants for seven hospital board and planning commission seats by Dec. 7
Juneau is accepting applications through Dec. 7 for seven seats on the Bartlett Regional Hospital Board and Planning Commission. The city had 33 board vacancies citywide as of September.
by Walter AlaskaNews17h ago2 min read
More from Southeast
Draft Juneau priority list seeks $14.6 million for a city trash transfer station
Juneau's draft capital list seeks $14.6 million for a trash transfer station, a first step toward controlling its own waste. The city's landfill could close within 10 years.
by Walter AlaskaNews17h ago2 min read
State seeks part-time mental health clinician for Mt. Edgecumbe dorms in Sitka
Alaska is hiring a part-time mental health clinician for Mt. Edgecumbe High School's dorms in Sitka, proposals due Nov. 30. Parents had flagged weak mental health support at the boarding school.
by Melinda Communities.News18h ago2 min read
Ketchikan port director says Berth 3 dolphin plan stands despite crab fishermen's letter
Ketchikan's port director says the Berth 3 mooring dolphin project stands despite crab fishermen's clearance concerns. The only bid came in double the estimate, so no contract was awarded.
by Bill AlaskaNews21h ago2 min read
Ketchikan gets a good bid to replace demolished harbor building, director says
Ketchikan got a strong bid to replace its harbor maintenance building, demolished after an Oct. 15 storm drain failure.
by Bill AlaskaNews21h ago2 min read
Treadwell Arena in Juneau will host free Turkey Bowling Nov. 20 and Santa Skate Nov. 27
Treadwell Arena in Juneau hosts free Turkey Bowling Nov 20 and Santa Skate Nov 27. • Admission and skate rentals are free, but rentals are limited and first come first served.
by Walter AlaskaNews23h ago1 min read
Alaska Airlines will add five nonstop routes from Seattle in 2027, including Guadalajara
Alaska Airlines adds 5 nonstop Seattle routes in 2027, including seasonal Guadalajara flights. • Des Moines, Jacksonville and Norfolk get first-ever nonstop Seattle links. • Part of Alaska's biggest Seattle summer launch yet, tickets on sale now.
by Melinda Communities.News23h ago1 min read
State closes Engineers Cutoff Road in Juneau for the winter, with reopening planned April 1
DOT closed Engineers Cutoff Road in Juneau near Dock Street for winter, with no detour listed. It's set to reopen April 1, 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews23h ago1 min read
Troopers search for woman and juvenile after vehicle goes into Thorne River
A woman and a juvenile remain missing after their vehicle drove into the Thorne River near Thorne Bay on Thursday. A second juvenile escaped. Troopers resume searching Friday.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago1 min read
Coming up
Alaska State Parks Southeast Region Citizen Advisory Board Meeting
Online only: Microsoft Teams (Meeting ID 252 102 001 646 565 7, passcode Xq3o7kf3) or phone +1 907-202-7104, conference ID 521 494 427#
Meeting
Energy in the North: Robert Venables on Southeast Conference Economic Development
Class
Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office Sealed Bid Deadline
Public notice
Southeast Alaska Geoduck Fishery Closure (Holiday Period 1)
Public notice
Directed Lingcod Fishery Season End
Public notice
About Southeast
Southeast Alaska is the panhandle region along the state's southern coast, an archipelago of islands and fjords that includes Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. Its towns, among them Petersburg, Wrangell, Haines, Skagway and Hoonah, are linked by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system.
Its economy rests on commercial fishing, cruise tourism and the Tongass National Forest. Fish and Game manages dive fisheries for sea cucumbers and geoducks, salmon seine and gillnet fisheries, and rockfish openings across its inside and outer waters. Cruise docks, the decisions of city and borough assemblies, land use rules and heavy coastal weather are recurring local questions.
Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian communities are part of the region's life, and institutions such as Tlingit & Haida and Huna Totem run programs and businesses across it. Huna Totem ventures have built or sought to run cruise docks in Juneau and Haines.
More from Southeast
Sitka voters will decide Feb. 2 on a summer sales tax increase for child care
Sitka votes Feb. 2 on adding half a cent to its summer sales tax for child care, an estimated $1.19 million a year. Register by Jan. 3 to weigh in.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago3 min read
Juneau Assembly members move to undo a tax on agents' commissions they helped pass
Juneau started taxing the cut agents keep for selling other people's goods on Oct. 1. Two Assembly members who backed it now want it gone by Jan. 1.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago2 min read
Ketchikan draft budget would raise summer sales tax to 6% and utility rates 8% a year
Ketchikan's draft 2027 budget raises summer sales tax from 5.5% to 6% and electric, water, sewer and harbor rates 8% a year. • Staff also say council should weigh a property tax hike for police and fire. • Council reviews it Nov. 17 and must adopt a final budget by Dec. 29.
by Walter AlaskaNews10h ago3 min readFrom 
Ketchikan's Homestead road service area overspent as a new plow contract begins
Ketchikan's borough will pay up to $25,000 to plow Homestead roads this winter. Last year, the road service area spent more than twice its budget.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago3 min read
Thursday, Nov 12
Elfin Cove's state power credit set at 51.67 cents per kilowatt-hour
Elfin Cove's state power credit is now 51.67 cents per kWh, figured on $6.70-a-gallon fuel. The utility's records show more power sold than made.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago1 min read
Ketchikan gets $3 million Justice Department grant to replace its radio system
DOJ gave Ketchikan $3 million, no local match, to replace its aging emergency radio system.
by Maggie AlaskaNews16h ago2 min readFrom 
State plans to replace worn-out docking structures at Auke Bay ferry terminal
The state wants to replace rotting, corroded docking structures at Juneau's Auke Bay ferry terminal. Red king crab habitat already moved its dump site.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago2 min read
State cuts next spring's Sitka Sound herring limit 17% as its forecast drops
Fish and Game cut the 2027 Sitka Sound herring harvest limit to 28,980 tons, 17% below 2026's. The agency admits its 2026 forecast overshot actual herring numbers by 14%.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago2 min read
Aging commission hears Ketchikan seniors Monday on next state senior plan
Alaska Commission on Aging hears from Ketchikan seniors Monday to help shape the state's next four year senior services plan.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago2 min read
Ketchikan's Loring Service Area Board weighs dock grants with $60,625 on hand
Engineers priced fixes for Loring's dock at $2.3 million to $63.5 million. The service area has about $60,600. Its board talks grants again Wednesday.
by Melinda Communities.News2d ago1 min read
Wednesday, Nov 11
Greens Creek operator Hecla will cash out its preferred stock and may sell new shares
Hecla, which runs the Greens Creek silver mine near Juneau, will cash out up to $7.6 million in preferred stock and may sell up to 50 million new shares.
by Melinda Communities.News2d ago1 min read
Liquor regulators weigh restarting underage stings after Prince of Wales check
Alaska hasn't run regular underage alcohol stings in about a decade. When investigators tried one on Prince of Wales Island, 3 of 4 businesses failed.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min read
Juneau charter boats would pay more than triple per passenger under harbor fee hike
Juneau's whale-watching and charter boats would pay more than triple per passenger by 2030. The Assembly can block it Monday; the city manager says don't.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min read
Remains of an unidentified WWII airman leave a Sitka grave for a lab that may name him
A Pentagon team recovered an unidentified WWII airman's remains from a Sitka grave, and Alaska Airlines flew them to an Omaha lab that may finally name him.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min read
State cuts Craig and Klawock herring harvest limit 28% as forecast drops
Fish and Game cut the Craig and Klawock herring harvest limit 28% this season, to 5,135 tons, after forecasting fewer spawning herring than last year.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min read
Sitka asks state not to renew Little Tokyo's liquor license at its old address
Little Tokyo moved in with its sister restaurant in 2020, the owner's accountant says. The liquor license didn't. Sitka wants the state to deny its renewal.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min readFrom 
Sitka High's random drug tests could expand beyond sports and add alcohol and nicotine
Sitka High's random drug tests could expand beyond sports and start checking for alcohol and nicotine. Families would pay for lab tests that confirm a positive.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min read
Gust hits 73 mph near Metlakatla as Monday storm crosses Southeast Alaska
A 73 mph gust hit near Metlakatla Monday as a storm crossed Southeast Alaska. Wind advisories and gale warnings run through Wednesday, with more rounds of strong wind expected.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read
Tuesday, Nov 10
Haines draft would require permits for taxis and tours in the Chilkoot Corridor
Haines already paused new tour permits in its Chilkoot bear-viewing corridor. Now a draft would make taxis, Ubers and multi-day tours get permits too.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min read
Tlingit scholar says Southeast climate adaptation should rest on Tlingit knowledge
A Tlingit scholar argued in Juneau that Southeast should face climate change mainly at a local and regional scale, grounded in Tlingit knowledge.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3d ago3 min read
Tlingit man at Juneau lecture says Sealaska, not clans, has the say over clan land
At a Sealaska Heritage lecture, a Tlingit man said Sealaska, not clans, now has the say over clan land, and called for clan intellectual property rights.
by Melinda Communities.News3d ago3 min read
Tlingit Elder to argue culture is why Baby Raven Reads gains last
A Tlingit Elder and scholar will argue Thursday that culture is why reading gains from SHI's Baby Raven Reads hold up when many programs' gains fade.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4d ago2 min read
Ketchikan boy dies after collapsing Monday; state medical examiner requests autopsy
A Ketchikan boy collapsed and stopped breathing Monday morning and died at a local hospital despite CPR, troopers said. An autopsy is planned.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago1 min read
Petersburg School Board to vote on contractor to install adaptive playground
Petersburg School Board votes Thursday on a contractor to install the adaptive playground at Rae C. Stedman Elementary.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago1 min read
