The Haines Borough School District will save money by rehiring to replace only two of four certified teachers leaving this year, superintendent Tony Habra said this week.
Music teacher Jason Muccino, veteran elementary teacher Patty Brown, kindergarten teacher Sarah Vosz and K-8 reading specialist Janice Byerlee won’t be returning next year.
Habra said this week he would hire only for Vosz’s and Brown’s positions. High school math teacher Matt Davis will fill Muccino’s spot and existing staff will cover high school math, Habra said.
The district recently advertised for a “secondary math and science teacher,” which Habra said this week is to replace Brown.
“If Patty Brown had not retired, we would not be hiring a secondary math/science teacher. That’s the bottom line. It’s a replacement for that position but it will not look the same as exactly what Patty Brown did this year,” Habra said. “But since we have this opening, we are hiring someone with maximum flexibility so that we can fill as needed.”
Habra also said the middle school levels, which he defined as grades 7 and 8 “plus some sixth grade,” may be restructured. “We’re even considering what to do with middle school next year. Is it going to include sixth, seventh and eighth (grades)? Is it going to be similar to what it is now? We don’t know yet.”