While summer break for Cordova’s kids started over a month ago, the end of June marks the official end of the academic year.
Cordova Schools Superintendent Alex Russin is retiring from the Cordova School District at the end of the month after 11 years at the helm. Throughout his time in Cordova he’s had to steer the district through Alaska Reads Act compliance, the COVID-19 pandemic, and increasing fiscal uncertainties affecting the district’s annual budget.
Russin officially bid the Board of Education goodbye at their June 10 regular meeting, mentioning that one of his goals throughout his tenure was to find additional revenue streams.
“I feel good about having worked on that goal for the last 11 years,” he said. “That’s something that I’m proud to say that our team worked really hard at doing.”
This year the district once again had to work to overcome a budget deficit, which it did through various reductions and finding additional revenue.
Reductions included leaving one teacher position unfilled, capping students at one school-sanctioned away trip per activity, cutting down on departmental spending, and more. The district found additional revenue to balance the budget by drawing on reserves, asking the city to increase its annual contribution, and entering into a contract with Unalaska schools to provide food service work.
The board earlier this month thanked Russin for more than a decade of work at Cordova schools, emphasizing how much of an impact he had on the district.
“(A) superintendent of a small district is just charged with so many different things,” Board Member Pete Hoepfner said during the meeting. “We just really appreciate you.”
The community also threw him a retirement party at The Powder House last week to roast him, as well as express their appreciation for his work.
Russin moved to town from the Lower Yukon 11 years ago, after a boater friend of his told him to go to Cordova if he ever got the chance.
“He’s a guy that I’m thankful for for encouraging me to seek out opportunities in Cordova,” he said. “It was a great transition from bush living to big city living.”
“Cordova has been great to me and my family during the last 11 years and I’ll be eternally grateful and thankful for all of the interactions that I’ve had,” Russin added.
His last official day at the district is June 30. Incoming Superintendent Kim Hanisch, former superintendent of the Unalaska City School District, starts July 1.
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