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Kuspuk School District is pleased that Gusty Michael School was able to reopen for the 2026–2027 school year. Reopening the school has been an important priority for the Stony River community, the Kuspuk School District Board of Education, and district administration.
This effort was made possible by the commitment of local families who enrolled their children, the strong support of Tribal and community leaders, and the work of district staff to prepare the school for students. We recognize how important it is for children to attend school in their home community, and we appreciate everyone who helped make the reopening possible.
Unfortunately, the district has experienced several facilities-related setbacks during the first weeks of operation. A new waterline must be installed between the well and the school building, and underground electrical wiring between the generator shed and the main building must also be replaced. Although crews have been working to address these problems, high river levels have made installation of the new waterline especially difficult.
Gusty Michael School has been on vacation this week in accordance with the subsistence calendar adopted by the Kuspuk School District Board of Education. Classes were scheduled to resume after Labor Day on Tuesday, September 8. However, the facilities crew needs additional time to complete the necessary work on the water and electrical systems.
Therefore, there will be no school at Gusty Michael School during the week of September 8–11. We currently anticipate reopening the school on Monday, September 14, provided the repairs have been completed and the building can safely support students and staff.
We recognize that this temporary closure is disappointing and disruptive, particularly after the community worked so hard to reopen its school. Please be assured that the district remains fully committed to operating Gusty Michael School and completing these repairs as quickly as possible. This is a temporary facilities closure and does not change our commitment to keeping the school open for the 2026–2027 school year.
The district will continue to keep families and community members informed about the progress of the repairs and any changes to the anticipated reopening date. We will notify the community as soon as electricity and water have been restored and the school is ready to reopen safely.
We sincerely appreciate the patience, cooperation, and continued support of Stony River’s families, Tribal leaders, and community members. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority.
Questions may be directed to the Kuspuk School District office at 907-675-4250 or to Chief School Administrator Erich Kuball at 907-676-0696.
