Lawmakers released 25 graphic photos this week showing deteriorating and “deplorable” conditions inside Mt. Edgecumbe High School, raising concerns about student safety, infrastructure decay, and maintenance failures at the state-run boarding school.
The images were presented Thursday during an Alaska State Senate Finance Committee hearing, where legislators scrutinized hallways crammed with boxes, ceiling stains, exposed electrical wiring, and even a rat hole nicknamed “Tip Toes” by students.
Lawmakers described crowded stairways, brown stains dripping from ceilings, and other signs of neglected infrastructure that they say contribute to an environment unfit for students. Some lawmakers highlighted reports that students complained the water at the school tasted “funny,” prompting some to bring bottled water.
More than 100 students withdrew from the Sitka boarding school this academic year, prompting the legislative review. Mt. Edgecumbe typically enrolls about 400 students. During the hearings, lawmakers questioned the dual role of Superintendent David Langford, who also oversees the Chatham School District, citing potential issues in leadership focus.
Budget shortfalls have also been cited as a contributing factor. School officials told legislators that the loss of federal COVID relief funds left the school roughly $1.6 million short in fiscal 2025, leading to land sales and cuts to student services to balance the budget.
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The release of the photos and legislative scrutiny has intensified calls for increased state funding and better oversight to ensure safe, healthy living and learning conditions for students at the boarding school
