Delta Junction, Alaska ~ Business & Relocation: Government: Schools

Interested in fishing while you are in Alaska? Take a look at the selection of fishing books on our partner site OutdoorsDirectory.com Click on the image for more information.

Purchase the Milepost here. Click the image for more information.

The Delta/Greely School District, Rural Education Attendance Area boundaries encompass what is generally considered to be the entire “Delta area”. Since we are located in an unorganized area, the State of Alaska provides state funding for a free, public education for all students in the area. Directly in the center of the City of Delta Junction, the Delta School houses a Pre-school through 12th grade educational program. Also offering educational opportunities to our students, locally and statewide, is the Delta Charter Cyber School, physically located in a facility directly behind the Delta School.

The School District has been through several phases of construction, growth and, unfortunately, closures. Although there is a school facility located on FT Greely, five miles to the south of Delta, the District was forced to close this school in May 2000 because of declining enrollment. At this time, the Delta School is filled to capacity with the remaining student population in the area.

Sign at the entrance to Delta School Providing educational facilities in Delta Junction has incorporated some interesting options, to include having overflow classes held at the Presbyterian Fellowship Hall and the Civil Defense Hall (now known as the City Fire Hall). Since initial construction in 1960 (five classrooms for 150 students in grades 1-4), the facility has been through many physical changes to accommodate the fluctuating population in our community, including the addition of modular (portable) classrooms – some of which are still in use. During the mid-60’s, a gymnasium, additional classrooms and a library were added. By 1967, a full K-12 educational program was being provided in the facility and more classrooms were in the planning stage. During this time, FT Greely School was also in use as a high school, then a junior high school and elementary.

In 1976, the vocational education facility was constructed to accommodate woodworking, welding and auto-mechanics. 1977 produced a new Home Economics classroom area and remodeling/expansion of the library, science lab and music room. In 1980, five high school classrooms were added, and in 1981 a new art room. Also, in 1981, a facility was constructed by the University of Alaska, also used by the district for vocational business education classes. This facility is now owned by the district and is currently housing the “Cyber School.” During the summer of 1985, the District completed construction of extensive renovations and additions at Fort Greely School, which were used to the maximum until its closure in May 2000. 1986 saw the addition of five new elementary classrooms and the removal of two of the “temporary” modulars that had been put in place in the 70’s. The University of Alaska no longer provides classes in the Community – a real loss for those individuals pursuing post-secondary education without traveling to Fairbanks. The district still provides a community schools program that allows use of the school facilities by local organizations.

In the Spring of 2002, enrollment at the Delta facility was 507 students. There are over 100 students enrolled in our local correspondence program and 27 students in the Alternative High School. The Delta Cyber School serves approximately 400 part-time students, statewide. (In 1985, the District boasted a student population of 1157 students.) There are approximately 80 full and part-time employees currently employed, including administrator, classroom teacher, secretary, teacher aide, food service and custodial personnel.

The school district’s governing body is the Delta/Greely School Board – 7 individuals who are elected at-large by the population of the REAA. These elected officials are charged with employment of the Superintendent of Schools and setting the policies by which the district operates.

The school district also partners with the Delta Mine Training Center, an innovative new program to train people for careers in mining.

Past Ft. Greely school students have a page on this website. Contact Susie (Kelly) Kemp for the URL (web address).

Updated April 2002 by T. Pursey.


			Schools