“You know that feeling when you almost fall back in your chair? That’s what it’s constantly like.”

This is how Roy Getchell, superintendent for Haines Borough Schools, described the past month in the Alaska State Legislature. Getchell addressed the school board meeting at its May 2 meeting.

Getchell said things are going pretty well, and there is momentum for an increase in school funding. But for now, everything is up in the air.

He noted that year after year, school districts have called for an increase in the Base Student Allocation.

“It’s not predictable; it’s not reliable, and it’s not something we can count on,” he said.

As things stand now, the House is calling for $680, outside the BSA, while Senate Bill 52 calls for more than $1,000, inside the BSA. But Getchell didn’t know if the full Senate would go along with that figure. There’s also what the governor will have to say about it, which is another unknown.

“I think we need to keep really putting the pressure on the state to meet their constitutional obligation to adequately fund their schools, which as we mentioned, have not had an increase to the BSA since the first day of school in 2016,” Getchell said.

On another topic, Getchell also said the school has allocated $500,000 for roof repairs. He still hopes the state will pay for that, but the borough has stepped in. He felt the state should pay, but it is backing away from its commitments, he said.

Getchell also thanked the school board for authorizing his trip to a conference in San Diego, where he represented Alaska and the borough of Haines, and also learned a lot while he was there.

School programs

Also at the meeting, Jordan Baumgartner outlined the various programs the school offered.

Last year, there was a T-ball program over six weeks in the summer, with students going into kindergarten, first grade and second grade, along with soccer, with programs for K-2, third through fifth grade, and another program for sixth through eighth grade. More than 50 children participated.

The middle school program had a little something extra, Baumgartner said.

“We played late, and after we played, their parents would come, and then we’d continue to play another hour or so with their families,” he said.

The school also held golf last year, and it’s possible that it might return this year, possibly through Aldus Hale at the school, Baumgartner said.

There was also an eight-week elementary basketball program over the summer, with the extra two weeks because Hoonah and Juneau, expressed interest in holding a tournament.

There were four teams and four sponsors — Lutak Lumber, SEARHC, the Chilkoot Indian Association and Miles Furniture — and the coaches were the high school students.

“So in their season they got six basketball games. They got to play against each other in the gym in front of their parents. And at the end of the season, Juneau’s club teams came in, which was really cool. And then Hoonah’s club team came, as well,” Baumgartner said.

There was a biking and running club. On poor days, the kids ran; on better days, the kids would bike to a certain location and play games, then bike back.

“It’s pretty cute to see the community members. They’ll see the kids, they’ll honk their horn, they’ll wave at the kids. The kids feel proud,” he said. “Some of these kids, they learned to ride their bikes, just for this program.”

Baumgartner added that we won’t be here next year, but he hopes these programs continue