|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2022
State Board of Education Approves Commissioner Recruitment Process, Regulation Amendments, and Student Advisor Selection
SITKA – Today during its regular quarterly business meeting in Sitka the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development adopted amendments to regulations for assessment cut scores and re-adopted regulations for teacher certification, assessment participation guidelines, and native languages. The Board also approved the department engaging in discussions with the U.S. Coast Guard regarding a sale of Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS) property, approved the recruitment process of a Commissioner for the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), and appointed a new student advisor to the Board.
The amendments for assessment cut scores set the achievement levels for English Language Arts, Math, and Science, accountability sub scores, and updates the definition of “alternative schools.” The re-adoption of regulations for teacher certification, assessment participation guidelines, and native languages. The teacher certification regulations included a technical fix for a fee waiver in the previously approved regulations.
The Board’s approval of the MEHS land sale authorizes department staff working with the U.S. Coast Guard on their request to purchase approximately 1.56 acres over three parcels owned by DEED on Seward Avenue in Sitka. The U.S. Coast Guard would like to construct a floating dock and support building for a new Fast Response Cutter (FRC) and replace the existing pier for the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kukui. The MEHS Advisory Board will also review this land sale at a future board meeting.
With the Board’s approval of the Commissioner recruitment process, DEED will initiate the procurement process for solicitation of a Request for Quotes related to the recruitment of a Commissioner and establish a Recruitment Committee for providing direction to the contractor. The approximate timeline is one month for completing procurement and selecting a contractor beginning immediately, followed by three to four months for the contractor to complete the recruitment and make recommendations to the Board. The Board anticipates completion of interviews by late February 2023. After final interviews, the Board Chair will notify the Governor of the Board’s decision and the Governor will provide final approval.
Maggie Cothron, a freshman at Polaris K-12 School in Anchorage School District was selected as the Board’s student advisor.
The Board also approved the minutes of the July 13, 2022 meeting. The Board’s next scheduled regularly quarterly meeting is in-person in Anchorage on December 7-8, 2022.
###
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development provides information, resources, and leadership to support over 130,000 students in 505 public schools across the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to ensure an “Excellent Education for Every Student Every Day.”
Media Contact: Grant Robinson, Public Information Officer, (907) 500-4983
|
