The Wrangell School Board met Monday, June 15, to accept a collaboration agreement with the Sealaska Heritage Institute. They also approved of some budget revisions.
According to the collaboration agreement, in the meeting's agenda packet, Sealaska has received an Alaska Native Education Program grant, from the Department of Education. The purpose of this grant is to support a three-year project to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in several Southeast Alaskan communities. Wrangell is included in the project, titled "STEAM-Making: A Culturally Responsive Approach to STEM Education in Southeast Alaska's Middle Schools".
"The Wrangell Public School District and SHI have a common vision for the STEAM-Making project: Alaska Native middle school students receiving instruction from educators who support each other - and who are supported by their schools, communities, and their region - are more likely to succeed academically in school; further, Alaska Native students who engage in place based STEAM classes and project-based 'maker' activities will increase their science and mathematics skills, enhance their understanding of indigenous arts, and expand their awareness of STEAM-related careers - better preparing these Alaska Native students to matriculate to high school," the agreement reads.
There was some question of which students would benefit from this program.
Board Member David Wilson wanted to clarify if this program was only going to be available for Alaska Native students in Stikine
Middle School. Superintendent Debbe Lancaster said that was not the case, despite wording in the agreement. There was enough flexibility with Sealaska that they could open the program to all middle school students, she said.
"There's no restriction," she said. "In fact, when Leeann spoke with a representative about the guidelines and parameters, we've got some very liberal strokes in how to use that funding."
The school board also approved of some budget revisions during this meeting. The first revision was to the FY 2020 budget. This revision put in place actual expenditures for the year, according to Board President Aaron Angerman. The FY 2020 budget has revenues of a little less than $5.13 million, and expenses of a little less than $4.46 million. Total expenses, originally budgeted, were around $6.1 million.
The FY 2021 budget was revised with updated numbers. This budget has revenues set at about $5.68 million, and expenses at about $5.72 million. The Wrangell Sentinel reported on the adoption of the FY 2021 budget back in March, but it was understood back then that the budget was not yet in its final shape. That initial budget had expenses around $6.08 million.
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