KCAW

Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide Crisis Line for 24-hour support. Or contact the Alaska Careline at 1(877) 266-4357.

At a state Board of Education meeting on Dec. 3, alumni and former staff from Mt. Edgecumbe High School raised concerns about safety and student support at the state-run boarding school in Sitka. 

Dozens of students have withdrawn since the start of the school year, and the administration is still working to fill a number of vacant positions.

KCAW’s Hope McKenney sat down on Wednesday with Superintendent David Langford — who joined the administration in July — to discuss the claims. And a warning to listeners, this story mentions suicide.

TRANSCRIPT:

LANGFORD: We take all concerns very seriously and especially accusations about student health. I will tell you that the report that was made to the State Board of Education and signed by a number of individuals, none of them contacted me to actually find out the real data and the real story. So where they got their information, I have no idea, because it didn’t come from myself or any administrators here.

KCAW: Yeah, and so you talked about that people hadn’t consulted with you over what you called the “real data” and the “real story.” Several speakers at that meeting said over 40 students have withdrawn enrollment so far this year. Is that number accurate? Is this unusual? Can you speak to that?

LANGFORD: No, that number is not accurate. It’s actually 43 students, and that’s just to date. But compared to total number of students last year is 72, 2023 is 57, 2022 is 69, 2021 was 91 and 2020 was 94 and those were COVID years so [we] expected a lot more. Traditionally, we have approximately 20 students that don’t return after Christmas. I don’t know of any yet that have said they’re not returning, but that usually happens every single year. So I expect that 43 number to go up, but it’s definitely not double, and it is in line with all the previous data, actually.

KCAW: A nurse practitioner at the school also said that eight students were hospitalized for suicidal ideation between mid and late November. Is that number unusual?

LANGFORD: That number is not unusual. We don’t track that specific item, so all I can go on is I interviewed dorm staff that had been there for as long as 17 years, and they said that’s not an unusual number, that they’ve often had eight students within a week identify. I don’t know where she is getting that number or how she got the authorization to release that number, but we do have students with suicide ideation. I was just in a meeting with superintendents across the state this week, and all of them identified the same problem. So it’s not a Mt. Edgecumbe problem, it’s a state problem. Mt. Edgecumbe gets a cross section of students throughout the whole state, so it’s not unusual that we would get students that have suicide ideation. Every one of those is taken extremely seriously, and every student is evaluated by a psychologist. We have to get a clean report from the psychologist to readmit them back into the dormitory, and then we meet as administrators to decide, are they safe to be in our dormitory? Just because the psychologist says they can come back doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re safe to be in a dormitory where we have one to 80 aids to students. So sometimes we decide, no, we really can’t support them, and in that case, we work to move them on to higher treatment facilities. And, yeah.

KCAW: Okay, so just to clarify, it sounds like the number of students who’ve withdrawn enrollment this year, the number of students who’ve been hospitalized with suicidal ideation, those numbers aren’t out of the ordinary.

LANGFORD: No, and I’m sure there’s people that would disagree with me on that, but you know, recently, maybe we had an increased number of suicide ideation in a single period of time, and that just means we jump into gear and everybody helps. In a strange way I actually look at that as a positive thing, because it means more students have confidence in our wellness staff and counselors that they’re reporting that they have those thoughts and need help. And I would look at that as very positive, that we can get them the help that they need right away.

KCAW: Thank you so much. Is there anything else that I should have asked you, or you’d like to share?

LANGFORD: You know, everybody has fears. I have fears every day, of students that need help, and are we getting the right help, and are we identifying students, etc? And I would say everybody on the staff, both in the dormitory and academic building, is totally focused on just that. And we’ve had multiple meetings on prevention techniques and basically preventing our students from getting access to, you know, any kind of over the counter drugs or anything else that could encourage suicide, that kind of thing. And we have really good relationships with entities around the state [for] students [who] need to be placed in a higher level of care. We work directly with them and transport them. And so we do everything possible to support kids that have that suicide ideation.

As a well-known prop designer for community theater productions in Sitka, Jack Petersen is no stranger to construction. He holds up one of his proudest works, a wooden nutcracker adorned in a blue marching band uniform. 

“As an artist, I do get very particular about…not just like the visual aesthetics, but also how things feel, how they sound and stuff, and I love how this one feels when it cracks a nut,” Petersen said. “For being the first Nutcracker that I kept myself, I am very proud of the construction.” 

Reaching into a basket of walnuts, Petersen plucks one out and places it into the nutcracker’s mouth, preparing for a satisfying crack.

This nutcracker is the first of three that Petersen has made. They are part of his large nutcracker collection, which features over 130 nutcrackers. Since the beginning of the month, the majority of the nutcrackers in Petersen’s collection have been displayed at Wildflour Cafe and Bakery, where he serves as a year-round line cook. The nutcrackers are spread out across the restaurant in an array of sizes and materials, some made from various kinds of wood, and others from relatively unconventional materials like iron and brass. Their uniforms are adorned in details marking their country of origin, from Germany to Russia. Wreaths of fake pine boughs and Christmas lights wrap around the room, a playful reminder to patrons that the holiday season is upon us.

While many of them are displayed out in the open by Wildflour’s entrance, some of the nutcrackers have more cheeky hiding spots.

“I do like hiding the nutcrackers really high up on shelves, especially for kids who like to look around and stuff,” said Petersen. “I have nutcrackers hiding in the rafters in the bathroom by the salt shakers there. It is a wonderful little game of ‘I Spy’ for people who want to come in and look around.” 

Petersen’s fascination with nutcrackers began when he was around three years old, when he saw a local production of the iconic ballet, you guessed it, The Nutcracker.

“It was just like something magical,” Petersen said. “I like the ideas of toys and dolls and things coming to life when we don’t see them and stuff.”

While many young audience members who attend the yearly production often walk away inspired to become ballerinas, the show took Petersen’s imagination in a different direction.

“This may seem silly, but I remember being a kid and wishing that I could crack a nut with a nutcracker and having daydreams of some whimsical Drosselmeyer figure of my own to [say] ‘Hello, young boy. Would you like to crack a nut?,'” said Petersen.

As his admiration for nutcrackers persisted over time, Petersen began the work of collecting them to fulfill his childhood dream. 

“Eventually, when I became an adult with adult money, but none of the adult responsibility, I started looking online, reaching out, and started researching nutcrackers that could actually crack nuts, and one thing led to another, and we are now here,” he said.

When it comes to determining what nutcrackers to add to his collection, Petersen is drawn to those that have unique designs that resonate with his inner child.

“I really love finding the ones that are homemade, like they’re ones that individual people made, or smaller crafters, or some older oddities,” said Petersen. “I look for ones that look like they could have leapt off of the children’s books I used to read as a kid because I don’t know, there’s just something really magical about that.”

And it is that very magic that Petersen wishes to share with the community through displaying his collection at Wildflour.

“I love sharing my collection with people, and I specifically love being able to share nutcrackers that actually crack nuts, because it’s a very mundane thing, but it’s also not something that the average person gets to do in a lifetime,” he said. “And it’s a bit of holiday magic to be silly.”

Petersen’s nutcrackers will continue to be displayed up until Christmas, before being packed away once more as Wildflour begins renovations in January. In the meantime, Petersen hopes his collection can spread some Christmas cheer, and that he can maybe even help some folks crack a nut for the very first time, just like the nut-cracking mentor he dreamed of having as a child.

The final Sitka Tells Tales event of the year is next Tuesday (12-16-25), and it is partnering with Pathways Coalition to present Sitkan’s stories relating to unpacking masculinity in their lives and undoing toxic messaging related to it. Ellen Frankenstein, Amanda Capitummino, and Bobby Pendleton join KCAW for the Morning Interview to share what attendees can expect from the event.

Callie Simmons from the Sitka Food Coalition joined KCAW on the Morning Interview to discuss the coalition’s upcoming community dinner on Dec. 12, from 6-8 p.m. at the Sitka Lutheran Church. The dinner features rockfish, rice, salad, and a dessert potluck, and is a collaborative effort, with donations from local businesses and community members. It is open to all, and aims to provide a warm gathering during the winter months. The coalition is also looking for more volunteers and is exploring policy and advocacy work to support food security and sovereignty in Sitka. Listen to the conversation here:

The Sitka Homeless Coalition is celebrating the grand opening of Hítx’i Sáani “Little Houses” – Sitka’s new tiny house community. On December 13, the local nonprofit will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the 12 units for people experiencing homelessness. Executive Director Michelle Snowden and Program Director Denise Shaffer joined KCAW for the Morning Interview to discuss the event. Listen here:

This Friday (12-12-25) is the final deadline for designers to register their participation in the upcoming Wearable Arts Show in February. Bobbi Jordan and Bette Gray join KCAW for the Morning Interview to discuss the brand new support offered to beginner designers, as well as how to get involved as a volunteer for the Southeast tradition.

Given Sitka’s coastal location, its mild winters don’t always bring snow. Yet inside one of the practice rooms at Sitka Studio of Dance, a dozen ballerinas conjure up a snowstorm through their energetic leaps and spins, scattering white confetti with gusto as their toes glide across the floor. This number is the act one finale in Sitka Nutcracker, The Land of the Sweets.

Since 1998, Sitkans of all ages have banded together to put on the biennial production, from choreographing and performing in numbers to designing set pieces and keeping watch over the young dancers backstage. As the founder and volunteer director of the Sitka Nutcracker since its inception, the labor and organization required to bring the production to life is something Melinda McAdams, and her community, knows all too well.   

“Everybody wants to know if this is a nutcracker year, because they can’t keep track,” said McAdams. “So every time they see me, they’re like, ‘How are you doing? Is this a nutcracker year?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes, it’s a nutcracker year.’ And they’re [like] ‘Oh, you must be tired.’ Yeah, it’s good.”

For the past few years, the Sitka Nutcracker alternates its theme, with every other year highlighting the flora, fauna and fishermen of Alaska . With the Land of the Sweets, audiences can expect the adorable hijinks of the young gumdrop dancers, and enthusiastic chefs serving up marzipan and coffee. This production also marks the return of the Cavalier and Sugarplum Fairy characters to the Sitka Performing Arts Center stage, the latter of whom is the only character to perform in pointe shoes. Both characters are played by McAdams’ adult children, Kinkaid Parsons and Delaney McAdams respectively. Parsons is also reprising the role of the titular Nutcracker. While McAdams loves that Sitkans can see elements of their environment and lives reflected on the stage in the Alaska themed shows, she hopes that audiences will embrace the chance to immerse themselves in the pure fantasy the Land of the Sweets has to offer. 

“When you do the Alaska theme, the whole point is you came to Sitka, right? And you did the things that happened in Sitka, which is really fun to see things that look familiar to you through dance. And that’s great. And I love that,” said McAdams. “But I think it is sometimes just fun to let go and be like ‘She went to the land of the sweets, and who knows what’s gonna happen next!’ It’s it’s all up for grabs.”

It’s the first time the company has put on the candy-themed show since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. McAdams said that while their social distancing requirements have since gone into retirement (with the remaining physical remnants being tape marks on the floor from their social distancing boxes and hand sanitizer readily available at all times), the pandemic spurred a shift in dance culture toward prioritizing dancers’ physical and mental wellbeing, rather than encouraging them to push through sickness and pain. 

“I have a couple kids with injuries right now, some adults with injuries, and so we’re working on, what are we going to do to make this work for you? We want you to be involved, but we don’t want to hurt you. So can we change things?,” said McAdams. “And I think that’s empowering in a lot of ways, that we don’t have to do it the way we used to do it. We can take people where they are, make adjustments to what they need to do and make it work, and it will be just fine.”

It is this very lesson of compassion McAdams had to apply to herself as she navigated a health problem earlier in the year. As a result, Parsons has stepped up to act as McAdams’ right-hand-man, as well as choreographing a number involving human-sized candy canes. Parsons feels his upbringing within the Nutcracker has prepared him for this greater responsibility.

“I am fortunate that throughout all of my years of performing in the Nutcracker, I kind of was also behind the scenes, not helping, but definitely observing and watching what happens behind the scenes, since Melinda is my mother. So I do have the knowledge of what needs to happen,” said Parsons. “I’ve never done it before, so that’s a bit of a more responsibility aspect to this year, but it’s a lot of fun to see it all come together.”

And he’s not the only one who has stepped up to support McAdams. After confiding with her three other choreographers, they stepped up to take on additional pieces.

“And I couldn’t be more grateful to them, those women and men are just amazing to me, the energy that they bring  and the creativity that they bring to their dances,” said McAdams.

As opening night for The Nutcracker draws closer, the performers are excited to bring the beloved show back to Sitka. For dancer Anna Brecheisen, who is performing in her second Nutcracker as an adult, it is an honor to join a production that has been a part of her life since childhood. 

“I love the tradition of The Nutcracker,” said Brecheisen. “It’s something that I’ve been either going to watch or been dancing in my whole life, whether it was here or back home. And going to see the Nutcracker when I was, like, three years old, was the thing that originally made me start wanting to do ballet when I was a kid, so it will always hold a very special place in my heart.”

From less experienced dancers’ fast improvement to the incredible work of the prop designers, McAdams is incredibly proud of how the community came together to bring this upcoming production to life.

“We call it the Sitka Nutcracker, not just the Nutcracker, because we want everybody to know this is ours,” said McAdams. “We did this together with the help of the town, all the people that come together to support the dancers and the stage crew and all the parents.”

As the Land of the Snow’s score reaches its conclusion, the snowflakes send Marie and the Nutcracker away in a sled, waving them off warmly as they make their way to the Land of the Sweets. The snowflakes pose proudly in the song’s final crescendos, ready to welcome Sitkans with them to a land of pure fantasy.

“The Sitka Nutcracker: The Land of the Sweets” will be playing at the Sitka Performing Arts Center from December 5th through 7th.

 Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide Crisis Line for 24-hour support. Or contact the Alaska Careline at 1(877) 266-4357.

Alumni and former staff members at Mt. Edgecumbe High School are raising serious concerns about safety and student support at the state-run boarding school in Sitka that serves Alaska Native students from villages across the state.

When the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development met on December 3, several Mt. Edgecumbe High School alumni, as well as current and former staff said that budget and staffing cuts over the past year were putting students at risk. Several said that over 40 students have withdrawn their enrollment so far this year. 

Tanya Kitka is a member of the school’s alumni advisory board. She said conditions at the school, like limited recreation opportunities and “excessively restrictive” dorm culture are negatively impacting students, and parents are worried. 

“Parents, in general, feel left out or not included in the changes that have been made, and have a general mistrust of those in charge to where they don’t know who to who else to go to when their very real concerns don’t seem like they’re being addressed sufficiently,” Kitka said. “They’re worried for their children, and so far, the only recourse seems to be to pull their kids out of school.”

“We already started seeing issues with the budget, and we knew that there was going to be some cuts,” said fellow advisory board member Dorothy Chase of Bethel. “I didn’t think that it was going to be as bad as it is, and it’s really impacting students.”

Kristen Homer is a nurse practitioner who manages the school’s health center. But she said she was speaking as an individual. She said budget cuts this year [link] resulted in staff resignations and turnover, including the loss of a mental health services position.

“Three days prior to the arrival of students in August, the superintendent chose to move the behavioral and mental health services coordinator position over to an academic counselor position. This left a huge gap in in the dorms,” Homer said. “There was no licensed mental health provider in the dorms, no female mental health provider in the dorms. This position was responsible for providing counseling, case management, suicide prevention and substance use programming.”

Homer said that from November 12 to the 26th, eight students were hospitalized for suicidal ideation. 

That information was a bright red flag to Chase.

“It’s really concerning to me to hear that there are more issues and occurrences regarding suicidal ideation,” said Chase. “[Just] one number, one person, that number is should be alarming to begin with. Alaska Natives have the highest rate of suicide. All of this should be taken seriously.”

Mt. Edgecumbe High School has two principals- an academic principal and a residential principal who oversees the dorms. Andrew Friske worked in the latter role, and as the schools activities director, for just over 20 years. He said his retirement last summer was spurred by major concerns about understaffing and student safety- he said just four of his 14 person staff from last year remain at the school. He echoed alumni testimony, and urged the board to take action by forming an ad hoc committee to investigate. 

“Give the group the authority to ask hard questions and bring real transparency forward with this committee, and get the full picture, because I do feel that folks that make decisions are not getting the full picture of what’s happened at Mt. Edgecumbe,” Friske said. “I care deeply for the school, I raised my kids there…I worked there for over 20 years, and I’m asking you, as the only governing body at Mt. Edgecumbe…to step up…before another crisis occurs.”

At the end of the meeting, the board’s Chair, Sally Stockhausen, responded to the comments. She said the state’s commissioner of education, Deena Bishop, should get involved.

“I would like to ask Commissioner Bishop and related members of the department, to gather some more information regarding the concerns that we heard today, as well as more information regarding the ad hoc committee, and to come back to us in Jan at our January meeting, so that we can see what needs to be done,” she said.

KCAW reached out to Mt. Edgecumbe Superintendent David Langford, who is new this year, for comment.

This Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sitka Trail Works will host a winter gear exchange at Harbor Mountain Brewing Company. Ben Huey and Zach Anderson joined KCAW for the Morning Interview to discuss the event, a fundraiser for Sitka Trail Works which aims to provide affordable outdoor gear for the community. Listen here:

As winter break is dawning on Sitka, Parks and Recreation has a wide variety of activities from swimming lessons to gymnastics to keep young ones entertained. Kevin Knox and Elle Campbell join KCAW for the Morning Interview to discuss more about winter break activities, upcoming community choir performances and registration, and applications opening for the commercial land use plan.