JDHS teachers and students share insight on possible JSD funding changes

Lower cap on property taxes may have biggest impact, with funding for extracurricular activities, buses and meals among specific concerns

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Elias Schane prepares to vote at the Spring 2025 Model United Nations of Alaska Conference at the University of Alaska Anchorage. (Karina Reyes / For the Juneau Independent)

By Aurora Madsen

For the Juneau Independent

The outcome of the recent municipal election, passing tax cuts, will have a substantial effect on education and activities within the Juneau School District.

The election results, officially released on Oct. 21, were solely in favor of increasing affordability for Juneau residents and decreasing city revenue, consequently decreasing funding for education and city services. 

Voters passed Proposition 1, which lowers property taxes for Juneau residents and commercial landowners, as well as Proposition 2, which removes essential food and residential utilities from the sales tax. Proposition 3, implementing a seasonal sales tax, which was put on the ballot to offset the possible revenue loss from Propositions 1 and 2, did not pass. 

Proposition 1, lowering the property tax cap to nine mills instead of 12, may have the most significant effect on funding in the Juneau School District, according to local officials. Over half of the property taxes collected go towards education. 

"This decrease will make the city look closer at its priorities," said Karina Reyes, the librarian at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, who has been a school district employee for 28 years.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Model United Nations members walk across the stage at the Spring 2025 Model United Nations of Alaska Conference at the University of Alaska Anchorage. (Karina Reyes / For the Juneau Independent)

Reyes said she is concerned about how the city will continue to contribute to extracurricular activities and other "non-educational" expenses — funding outside of a state-defined "cap" on educational funds CBJ provides to supplement state funds. 

James Sheufelt, a history teacher at JDHS, who has taught in the district for 19 years, said he has similar concerns for the non-classroom funding CBJ provides.

"Things such as buses and funding for student activities," he said. 

Jeannette Sleppy is the president of the Juneau Education Association (JEA), the teachers' union in the district. Sleppy has taught in the JSD for more than 30 years.

"With the lack of meaningful increases to the state's contribution to school district funding, every penny in reduction has a meaningful, negative impact on the overall supports and services provided to students," she said.

Sleppy said the issue of properly funding education and city services, while keeping living in Juneau affordable, is "complex."  

These "non-instructional" programs, funded outside of the operating budget, mainly refer to extracurricular sports and activities, after-school programs, student nutrition, student transportation, and pre-K and early education programs. 

Bella Reyes-Boyer, a senior and the student body president at JDHS, has been involved in five sports and numerous clubs throughout her high school career. When asked about these activities, she said they have taught her "how to collaborate better with others," as well as "stay more involved in my community."

She stressed the importance of extracurricular opportunities in high school so students can achieve a more well-rounded education as they prepare to enter the workforce or higher education. She hopes sports and activities stay well-funded so future students can have the positive experiences she has had. 

Furthermore, many of these programs are especially impactful to low-income families. A total of 23% of JSD's student population receives free or reduced lunches, a program that supports students whose families may struggle to provide consistent meals at home.

Funding for other services, like transportation and sports fees, can help ease the financial burden for coaches, students, and their families. Without this funding, some families may not be able to cover the added costs. 

These possible funding changes will not affect the current FY 2026 budget, with a city contribution of an estimated $35.2 million. This budget reflected an increase of $572,674, or 1.65%, as compared to the FY 2025 Approved Revised Budget, because of "an increase in the 2024 full and true value of taxable property in the city and borough," according to Superintendent Frank Hauser's FY 2026 JSD Budget Submission to CBJ. 

The FY 2027 budget will be the first to be affected. The Juneau Board of Education is scheduled to begin discussing that Jan. 13, 2026. The board will meet multiple times each month until it is finalized and submitted to the Assembly for approval in April 2026.

• Aurora Madsen is a junior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé and editor of The Crimson Chronicle, the school’s student newspaper.