Juneau School District and support staff union set trial date for next year

The Juneau School District office on Aug. 18, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

By Jasz Garrett

Juneau Independent

The Juneau Education Support Staff union is scheduled to go to trial against the Juneau School District in February.  

The union representing support staff filed a lawsuit in Alaska Superior Court last year, claiming the Juneau School District illegally privatized a preschool and after-school program known as RALLY. In July 2025, the district decided to close the childcare and activity program due to a staff shortage. The lawsuit alleges the district violated steps in the union contract when JSD made the decision, according to the complaint.

Support staff include paraeducators and custodians — and employees at the closed childcare program were also members. 

Picking a trial date was delayed in March to allow arbitration beforehand; however, during a conference Wednesday morning, both parties confirmed that process hasn’t taken place. Arbitration is part of a grievance process laid out in the union contract and separate from the lawsuit.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11, and the two-day trial is scheduled for Feb. 11 and 12 at Juneau’s Dimond Courthouse.

• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.