Î÷Ê©Ö±²¥APP

Welcome to the Î÷Ê©Ö±²¥APP School District’s Negotiations Information Page. As we enter contract discussions with the Î÷Ê©Ö±²¥APP Education Association, we are committed to a collaborative, respectful, and transparent process. Our goal is to establish a three-year successor agreement that acknowledges the essential contributions of our educators while continuing to deliver high-quality education for all students.

Our District’s objectives for these negotiations are to:

• Provide Fair Wage and Benefit Increases – We aim to offer a competitive compensation package that recognizes the dedication of our educators and supports their financial well-being.

• Strengthen Recruitment and Retention – By improving our ability to attract and keep talented educators, we hope to reduce vacancies and ensure stable, consistent support for students across all schools.

• Increase Operational Efficiency – Enhanced efficiency will enable the District to maximize the level of support and services we provide to our employees.

• Maintain Organizational Flexibility – Flexibility is essential to effectively address board goals and guardrails as we work to achieve our District’s broader objectives.

We are dedicated to a productive negotiation process that aligns with the District’s mission and demonstrates respect and value for our educators. We invite our community to stay informed as we work toward an agreement that supports our students, staff, and schools.

• Martin Lang, Chief Human Resources Officer
• Andy Ratliff, Chief Financial Officer
• Mike Fleckenstein, Chief Information Officer
• Sven Gustafson, Chief Academic Officer
• Tarlesha Wayne, Senior Director of Special Education
• Andrew Sundboom, Senior Director of Employee and Labor Relations
• Ryan Stuart, District Spokesperson

  • Mr. Stuart is an attorney and shareholder at Jermain Dunnagan & Owens in Î÷Ê©Ö±²¥APP. His practice focuses primarily on labor and employment law and benefits, with a background in municipal law and civil litigation. He represents labor unions and employers in collective bargaining efforts, among other matters.

    Prior to joining the firm in 2020, Mr. Stuart handled an array of civil matters as an assistant municipal attorney with the Municipality of Î÷Ê©Ö±²¥APP. Prior to his time with the Municipality, Mr. Stuart spent 11 years in private practice focused primarily on litigation of professional negligence, premises liability, products liability, personal injury, and other tort claims. After graduating from law school, Mr. Stuart served as a law clerk for the Alaska State District Court in Î÷Ê©Ö±²¥APP before serving as a deputy magistrate for the Second Judicial District and judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ben J. Esch of the Alaska Superior Court in Nome.

    Mr. Stuart is a lifelong Alaskan and enjoys biking, fishing, gardening, camping, and exploring the state with his wife and their daughter, who is enrolled in the Î÷Ê©Ö±²¥APP School District.