Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,

As the Superintendent of KGBSD, I apologize for those unaware or not formally notified about the 2019-2020 early release Wednesdays.  It is my desire to continue to work together to provide information to all parents and community members in a timely manner. As you know, the district has gone through many changes in a short period of time and continues to change and grow with new leadership. As a district  our commitment is to continuous improvement in all areas, and we recognize that one of those important areas is in  strengthening communication, both at the individual school level and throughout the district as a whole.  

Background Information: In the early spring of 2019, teachers, staff and administration expressed concerns with the need for time to plan and work together on a regular basis by grade level and by subject areas. At that time, early release days were proposed to replace the three to four days set aside per school year, randomly placed in the school calendar, that were valuable for staff development but often lacked time for continued collaboration, learning, and training that supports practical application and continuous improvement in the classroom. Each school administrator worked with colleagues and staff to develop ideas for early release time with our district strategic goals of Rigorous & Relevant Instruction, Safety & Well-being, and Trust & Communication in mind. As a result, an early release plan was developed with input from staff and school leadership for improving staff development based on instructional and school-level needs.

THE PLAN: Each Wednesday students will be released from school approximately one hour early.  Through the scheduling of early release days, teachers will be provided the opportunity for common work time with colleagues to collaborate, plan individualized lessons that meet the needs of all students, and analyze test results in order to improve the way we present curriculum to students. The early release times will also focus on professional development opportunities that will focus on instruction, safety and social/emotional learning.  Additionally, teachers, specialists, and staff will be given opportunities to share ideas and resources across grade levels and buildings to improve learning across the entire district. 

This investment in ongoing professional development and training for our staff is an investment in the success of the students.  KGBSD Teachers and Staff are committed to the education of all students, to the continual development of our educational programs, and to the relentless improvement of educational outcomes. We have all heard that Alaska’s schools trail behind the educational outcomes of students across the nation, and we are determined that this will not be the case in Ketchikan. The early release provides educators the opportunity for common times in their schedules to meet on a regular basis to plan, learn, and improve in all the areas of educating students in today’s world.  

                                                                                    Thank you,

                                                                                    Beth Lougee, Superintendent KGBSD