District overview
Chatham School District
How a four-community regional school district with no local tax base is funded, governed, and spending through a state funding crunch.
Where does the district's money come from?
Chatham is a Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA): an Alaska school district that serves communities outside any organized borough or city government, so there is no local government here that can levy a property tax for schools. Nearly all of its roughly $4.86 million FY2026 general fund comes from the state's per-student Foundation Formula, federal Impact Aid, and federal "forest receipts" payments tied to National Forest logging revenue near its Southeast Alaska communities. Because the state's share is calculated per enrolled student, a small swing in enrollment across the district's four communities -- Angoon, Gustavus, Klukwan, and Tenakee Springs -- has an outsized effect on the budget.
No local tax base
As an REAA, Chatham cannot levy a local property tax. Nearly all of its general fund is state and federal money, unlike most Alaska city and borough school districts.
Funding follows enrollment, and enrollment fell short
Actual FY2025 enrollment came in at 125 students, well below the 152-student figure the budget was built on -- a major reason the state's Foundation Formula payment came in about $353,000 below what the district had budgeted.
One elected board governs four communities
A single five-member Regional School Board, elected from two multi-town sections, sets policy and budget for schools in Angoon, Gustavus, and Klukwan, and the district's distance-learning program in Tenakee Springs.
The state can add money back mid-year
In May 2026 the state education commissioner approved restoring $200,000 in revenue to the district for the current fiscal year, showing the formula amount isn't fixed once the year starts.
None of this means the district's finances are being mismanaged. The FY2025 shortfall was driven mainly by enrollment coming in under projection and a lost federal forestry payment -- both largely outside local control -- and the board responded with public budget hearings and a formally adopted, publicly voted revision rather than acting behind closed doors.
Where the district stands
The FY2025 budget had assumed 152 students.
Essentially flat versus the original $4,856,370 approved budget.
Down from $3,990,682 originally budgeted -- about an 8% cut, partly offset by higher federal forest-receipts revenue.
Calculated: the $4,857,851 FY2026 general fund divided by the district's most recently reported enrollment of 125 students (FY2025). The district has not yet reported FY2026 enrollment, so this is an approximation.
For comparison only -- a different year than the district's own FY2025 count of 125 students above.
Major projects
Superintendent transition: Ralph Watkins to David Langford
completedRalph Watkins resigned effective June 30, 2025. The board searched, interviewed multiple finalists, and hired David Langford on a three-year contract. Langford has served as superintendent since the 2025-26 school year.
- Board accepts Watkins's resignation and opens the search
- Board reaches a contract agreement with finalist David Langford
- Langford's contract begins
Funding
General fund (personnel)
Tenakee Springs Independent Learning Center director position
at_riskFY2026 budget cuts proposed eliminating the ILC director position, the district's only staff position based in Tenakee Springs. The city passed a resolution opposing the cut and asking to keep the rest of the ILC's staff; the collected board minutes run through May 2025 without a recorded final decision.
- City of Tenakee Springs resolution asks the board to keep the ILC open
- Extended public comment opposes cutting the director position and selling district teacher housing in Tenakee Springs
Funding
General fund
No dollar figure for the position's cost appears in the collected minutes.
Revised graduation requirements policy (BP 6146.1)
adoptedThe board adopted an updated graduation-requirements policy setting 22 total required credits, including a half-credit Alaska history requirement, after first and second readings in May and June 2026.
- First reading
- Second reading and adoption
Funding
N/A -- policy change with no direct budget impact documented
Response to chronic absenteeism at Gustavus School
identifiedThe board received data showing 60% of Gustavus School students were chronically absent in 2025-26. The collected records show the data being presented but do not yet document a formal district response plan.
- Chronic absenteeism data presented to the board
Funding
Not yet documented
FY2027 budget development
in_progressThe board reviewed a draft FY2027 budget in May 2026 and took up the FY2027 budget alongside a FY2026 revision at a June 11, 2026 special meeting.
- FY2027 budget reviewed at work session; state restores $200,000 for FY2026
- Board takes up FY2026 revision and FY2027 budget
Funding
General fund (state Foundation Formula, federal forest receipts and Impact Aid, local revenue)
2026 Regional School Board election
scheduledOne seat (Section I, Seat A, representing Angoon and Klukwan, currently held by Jack Strong) is on the October 6, 2026 ballot, administered by the Alaska Division of Elections rather than a local clerk.
- Candidate filing deadline
- Voter registration deadline
- Election day
Funding
N/A -- state-administered election
Board meeting minutes, agendas, and packets were collected from the district's Thrillshare-hosted document library (chathamsd.org), covering August 2024 through June 2026. Local election information came from the Alaska Division of Elections. Figures are drawn directly from board minutes and the district's own budget packets unless marked as context or a calculation.
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