Emil Mackey News Today

The petitioners are worried about the impacts of closing and rearranging schools for students, as the board addresses a $7.9 million deficit.

Deedie Sorensen says it’s time to retire as board members give themselves tough grades, lofty goals.

Whenever a crisis befalls a public institution, the first thing that gets fixed is the blame. And so, following discovery of multiple accounting errors that led to a nearly $10 million budget shortfall in the Juneau School District, a petition has been launched to recall Deedie Sorensen and Emil Mackey, president and vice-president of the JSD.

The ink was hardly dry on the Juneau School District (JSD) FY 2025 budget passed last month before a local group filed petitions to recall the school board president, Deedie Sorensen, and vice president, Emil Mackey.

Deedie Sorensen, Emil Mackey failed to act on previous concerns about fiscal woes, petitioners say.

I’m reaching out to the citizens of Juneau to ask that we stop, take a breath and realize that we are all in this situation together regardless of which option for school consolidation we feel is best. Any option that is chosen is going to impact our students, it is unavoidable.

Board member Amber Frommherz said the board should take the time to consider putting 7th through 12th grade at two campuses.

District leaders not counting on funds approved by Legislature, due to veto threat by governor.

Bill passes by 38-2 vote, Senate expected to concur with changes after days of negotiations.

Bill now returns to Senate, which must pass it unchanged before it can head to the governor’s desk.