juneau economic plan

Juneau Economic Plan – Juneau High School Student Opinions page 1

12%

32% 31%

14% 12%

Highly Likely SomewhatLikely

Not Likely Definitely Not I Don't Know0

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120 How Likely are You to Live in Juneau

as an Adult?

Juneau Economic Plan Juneau High School Student

Thoughts & Concerns, April 2014

Introduction & Process McDowell Group and Sheinberg Associates are preparing a Juneau Economic Plan (JEP) for the City and Borough of Juneau. The Project team met with students at Juneau’s three high schools during April 2014. At each assembly-style meeting, the JEP Team spent about 15 minutes talking about the project, including what economic development means, ways to strengthen Juneau’s economy (support existing businesses and sectors, bring in new money, prevent local money from escaping and strengthen its re-circulation), and presented some baseline economic data. Interspersed in the presentation were live polls, conducted via cell phone, of with the students. Poll results were displayed in real time on a large screen. Students without cell phones participated by writing their answers down and the JEP Team collected their answers and entered them (after the meeting) into the respective polls so that all students could participate. The meetings occurred with Juneau Douglas High School juniors on April 8 and seniors on April 15, the full Yaakoosge student body on April 18, and with Thunder Mountain juniors and seniors on April 22. In total, just over 300 students were polled about their opinions, though not all students answered every question.

Opinions Students split on whether they intend to live in Juneau as adults

Students were evenly split on how likely they are to live in Juneau as adults with 133 (44%) saying they are highly or somewhat likely, and 135 (45%) saying not likely or definitely not.


On a 1 to 10 scale, “6.9” is the Average Score for Household Economic Well-being (for Both Students and Adults)

Students were asked, “Overall, how would you rate your family or household’s economic well-being, using a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 means “struggling” and 10 means “thriving”?

In separate venues (via online and statistically-valid household telephone surveys), Juneau adults were also asked this question. Interestingly, results from student polling and from the statistically-valid Household Opinion Survey of adults were essentially identical, both with an average score of 6.9 – at the top of the “middle” range. Equally important to note is that 6% of students and 6% of randomly surveyed Juneau households indicate they are economically struggling.

Most Juneau Students are College-Bound

Students were asked to choose one of six answers that best reflects what they are likely to do after high school. Of the 301 responses1, 71% plan to attend college either full time, or attend part time and work part time. About 14% say they plan to work fulltime after school. Another 8% said “other”, and based on answers to subsequent questions, it is clear that some of these students intend to join the military. 1 While preparing this report the JEP Team was able to see whether an individual submitted multiple answers to a question. At times, there genuinely were multiple responses- particularly to open ended questions. Other times though an individual was clearly trying to ‘prank’ the system by repeating the same answer; the team was able to detect this and remove redundant answers from a single person to ensure an accurate count. A few times an individual submitted more than one answer to a multiple choice question; in these cases the JEP Team used the first answer submitted only.

6%

51%

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6%

51%

42%

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1-3 (Struggling) 4-7 (Middle) 8-10 (Thriving)

Rating of Household Economic Well-Being

High School Polling Random, Statistically-valid Adult Household Survey


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Health-careScience

I don't knowEducationComputerMechanicEngineer

Arts relatedMilitary

BusinessMining

Veterinarian, animalsSports

Writing-relatedConstructionInternational

Law enforcement What Type of Work or Career Interests You Most?

(categories of responses with at least 5 answers each shown)

number of answers

Highest interest in Health-care and Science-related Careers

Students could answer any way they wanted in response to an open-ended question that asked what type of work or career most interests them. After filtering out some obscene answers and ones like “be a Pokemon Master” (funny, but not serious) there were 229 responses to this question. To view patterns, answers are organized by the type of career; 17 categories had at

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Go to college full time

Go to college part time & work part time

Get a full time job (not trades, construction, ormining)

Trades, construction or mining job, training, orapprenticeship

I don't know

OtherAfter High School

Which Choice Best Describes What You

Think You Will Do?

number of answers


least five responses.

Verbatim answers from students can be viewed in Appendix 1. The answers are also displayed visually below in a word cloud that gives greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.

Single Biggest Economic Challenge Facing Juneau is High Cost of Living

There were 151 student answers to an open-ended question that asked what is the SINGLE biggest economic challenge facing Juneau. Verbatim answers, by category (after filtering out obscenities and jokes), are in Appendix 2. Eight categories of answers that each had at least five responses are shown on the graph on the next page.

Of all responses, 25 (17%) are about the high cost of living in Juneau.

What Type of Work or Career Interests You

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Cost of living

I don't know

No way out, to expensive to leave, need road

Money, Finances

Two high schools

Drugs

Cost of housing, affordable housing

Jobs

number of answers

What is One Thing You Wish was Different about Your School?

Finally, students at each school were asked, “What is one thing about their school that they wish was different.” When reviewing these answers, keep in mind that we ran out of time at Thunder Mountain, so while approximately 115 students were at the assembly, unfortunately only 36 answers were recorded. At JDHS, the assembly for seniors was on one of the first beautiful spring days right before the class senior picture, so many answers ended up being silly and filtered out while others express frustration with other students’ immaturity. Answers are presented as word clouds below and all answers (after filtering) are listed in Appendix 3 verbatim.

Single Biggest Economic Challenge

Facing Juneau

Yaakoosge High School

Juneau Douglas High School

Thunder Mountain High School


Appendix 1 - What Type of Work or Career Interest You Most CATEGORY CAREER OR WORK Accounting, business accounting Accounting, business accounting and business and management Acting Acting or Teaching Vet, animals Animals Vet, animals Vet Science / Pet Medical Field Vet, animals vet tech Vet, animals veterinarian Vet, animals Veterinarian Architect architect, engineering, business owner Arts arts Arts arts and communications Arts Fine arts Arts Performing Arts Arts photography, Arts something art Arts Tattoo artist Aviation air traffic controller $$$$$$$ Aviation aviation and professional piloting Aviation aviation pilot and mechanic Aviation working at the airport Bartender bartender Business Business Business business management Business business, economics, sciences Business business, sports broadcasting, engineering Business CEO Business CEO and brewmeister at Moondrop Industries Business I want to open a cafe. Then I can get as many tattoos as I want. Childcare child care Computer-related Computer science or economics. Computer-related Computer Software Engineer Computer-related game developer Computer-related Gaming Computer-related Information technology & software development Computer-related Programming/Animation Computer-related Robotistic Computer-related video game/media design Computer-related Video Games


CATEGORY CAREER OR WORK Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction scaffolding worker, da motherf-in boss Criminal justice Criminal justice Criminal justice Criminology Culinary culinary, baking Dental dental hygiene Dental Dental Hygienist Dental Dentist Design designer

Design I am looking at a career in design and illustration. Something, anything that is heavily involved with art and creativity.

Design interior design Design Interior design Education elementary education Education elementary education Education elementary education, elementary education Education elementary school teacher, Police woman Education Librarian Education musician and music teacher Education Professor Education teacher Education teaching Education teaching Engineer Engineer Engineer engineering Engineer Engineering Engineer Engineering Engineer Engineering Engineer Engineering Engineer Mechanical engineer Engineer mechanical engineering Events Event Planner Film Film or Journalism Film Film, archaeology, detective Film film, music production Film Other, Movie Producer Financial financial advisor


CATEGORY CAREER OR WORK Financial investment banking Financial Stocks/law enforcement Fire fighter fire fighter Hair, cosmetics Cosmetology Hair, cosmetics hairstyles Hands-on hands on kind of stuff, something that can keep me busy Help people something that allows me to be creative and help people I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know yet

I don't know I'm not really sure but I might want to work for the State or education/business career.

I don't know I'm not sure I don't know not sure I don't know something cool probably I don't know the ones that you get a lot of money I don't know Work International Foreign ministry International international business or work with nonprofits, Boss International international development International International relations/diplomat and foreign relations International spy Law law Law Law, military, keep working for state Law Lawyer Law enforcement Cop Law enforcement fish and game trooper Law enforcement Law enforcement/military Law enforcement police officer Law enforcement Wildlife state trooper Longshoreman Longshore, music production Mechanic auto mechanic Mechanic auto mechanic Mechanic automotive Mechanic construction/welding, diesel mechanics Mechanic I'm mostly interested in auto mechanic Mechanic mechanic


CATEGORY CAREER OR WORK Mechanic mechanic Mechanic underwater welding Health care chiropractor, Queen Health care definitely something in the medical field Health care Doctor Health care Doctor Health care Doctor Health care Doctor Health care Health Health care Health care Health care Health care Health care Health Care, fishing Health care Health Care/ Medical

Health care I'm most interested in becoming a registered nurse then after school go into the army.

Health care marriage counselor Health care massage therapy Health care medical Health care medical Health care Medical Health care medical Health care Medical Health care medical field Health care Medical field, Air Force Health care medical field, culinary arts or teacher Health care Medical imaging Health care medical sciences, criminology Health care medical sciences, veterinarian Health care medical, better food Health care medicine Health care neurologist, health care Health care nurse Health care nurse Health care Nurse Practitioner� Health care Nursing Health care Nursing Health care nursing Health care Nursing Health care nutritionist Health care optometrist, neuroscientist, teaching


CATEGORY CAREER OR WORK Health care Orthopedic Surgeon Health care P.A. for Air Force Health care physical therapist Health care Physical Therapy Health care physical therapy Health care physical therapy Health care physical therapy Health care physical therapy Health care physical therapy Health care Physician Assistant Health care Physician Assistant Health care Radiology technician Health care Radiology/Medicine Health care school counseling

Health care The Medical field interests me more than anything. I want to be able to help people in need and save people’s lives

Health care therapist Health care Therapist specializing in LGBT youth and families. Health care therapist, criminal justice Health care Trash man, doctor, physical therapist. I like helping people Health care ultrasound technician Military Army Military Army Military Coast Guard and Doctor Military Military Military Military Military Navy Military US Navy and marine biologist

Mining I would like to join the greens creek mine, and I also would like to be get an apprenticeship job with electricity or construction

Mining mining Mining mining Mining mining Mining mining Mining Underground Miner at Greens Creek Music Being in The Rap Underground Industry Music I want to be in the music career to change lives Music Music Office office Plumbing plumbing


CATEGORY CAREER OR WORK Science Aerospace Technologies/Astronomy Science Archaeology Science Biologist Science biology and environmental science, designing Science Chemistry/animal psychology Science fisheries and state work, construction Science fisheries biology/ commercial fishing Science forest ranger Science geology Science Geology and Anthropology Science Marine biology Science Marine biology Science Marine biology Science Marine biology Science Marine biology Science Marine biology Science Marine biology Science Marine biology and possibly health care Science Marine biology sciences, art, music Science Marine biology, outdoor biology Science Physics Science Science/mammal related Science sciences Science Scientist Science Theoretical Physics Sports full time hockey player Sports I want to be a basketball player in the NBA Sports play in the MLB Sports Sailing Sports something in the ski industry State the state Writing Author Writing Editor/Assistant Writing Linguistics, languages, and creative writing Writing Novelist Writing writing, Art, Sports


Appendix 2 – What is the Single Biggest Economic Challenge Facing Juneau?

Category Comment Age Age Available hours Available hours Being Isolated Being isolated Being Native Being Native Business challenges Hard to keep a store or business open Capital Move Capital move Capital Move the capital moving City budget Balancing City budget City budget Budget shortfalls and deficits City budget the city spending money on things it shouldn't Cost of shipping Transportation of goods (shipping) Cost of shipping Shipping is too high! Cost of housing, affordable housing Affordable housing for people just out of high school and in college. Cost of housing, affordable housing Affordable housing, education, training Cost of housing, affordable housing Affording housing Cost of housing, affordable housing Cost of Housing Cost of housing, affordable housing High housing costs Cost of housing, affordable housing Housing Cost of housing, affordable housing housing is very expensive, making people skeptical of moving here Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living expenses


Category Comment Cost of living expensive to live here Cost of living expensive, it forces us to order from out of town Cost of living extremely high cost of living Cost of living high cost of living, housing Cost of living How expensive it is to live here, unless you have a good job. Cost of living Increasing cost of living but not increased pay for jobs Cost of living it's too expensive Cost of living it's too expensive to live here Cost of living The amount of $ it costs to live here Cost of living Transportation of people and goods in and out of Juneau Cost of living living expenses Cost of living Living here, and the transportation to here, is really expensive. Cost of living People going outside to buy goods because of better prices. Disrespect People that are so disrespectful Drugs Drug Dealing Problem Drugs drugs Drugs Heroin Drugs illegality of marijuana Drugs marijuana Drugs growing pot Drugs Selling drugs to snitches, More languages Energy we need plasma gasification Finding a job Finding a job Fishing fishing Fishing Losing fishing Getting Them Green Getting Them Green Homelessness Homeless I don't know good question I don't know How would we know? I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't usually follow economy Instilling confidence into the Instilling confidence into the consumer market


Category Comment consumer market its bunk its bunk Jobs jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs less jobs Jobs Opening new jobs Jobs The ability to get a job and being able to support yourself. Lack of entertainment few entertainment options Lack of entertainment Juneau is dead Lack of entertainment Not enough opportunities for teenagers to enjoy themselves. Lack of entertainment not enough to do here

Lack of places to shop People don't shop locally because THERE IS NOWHERE TO SHOP LOCALLY

Lack of places to shop we need more shopping Lack of places to shop small community, not enough good shopping

Lack of places to shop more year-round employment as opposed to a majority of seasonal employment

Land locked land locked Laziness laziness Laziness lazy people, boats n hoes learning the abc’s learning the abc's Losing Mining Losing mining industry Low population Low population

Low wages I think wages is the most important economical challenge, $9.25/hr is not enough for a family, the minimum wage needs to go up.

Low wages Minimum wage pay Low wages Prices are rising, but salaries are not. Money, Finances finance, mint, money Money, Finances finances Money, Finances Money Money, Finances Money Money, Finances Money Money, Finances Money Money, Finances Money issues Money, Finances Keep the money here! Money, Finances Lack of income No way out, too expensive to leave, need road Only two ways out of town No way out, too expensive to leave, need road too expensive to leave


Category Comment No way out, too expensive to leave, need road no road out No way out, too expensive to leave, need road No way out No way out, too expensive to leave, need road no way out No way out, too expensive to leave, need road no way out No way out, too expensive to leave, need road no way out No way out, too expensive to leave, need road no way to get out No way out, too expensive to leave, need road not being able to get in and out by car No way out, too expensive to leave, need road trapped not enough land Physical growth is limited for business and housing Paying for college Paying for college. Politicians our stupid senators Pool closing Pool closing :(, Juneau is dead, two high schools :( Prom? Prom?

Required to import too much We are a partially isolated town. We can't bring things in by truck it all has to be flown in or brought in on boats

Required to import too much we have to import a lot of our materials Required to import too much we have to import a lot of our supplies instead of getting it ourselves School Funding not enough money for schools School Funding school budget School Funding School funding Schools schools Two High Schools two high schools Two High Schools two high schools Two High Schools two high schools Two High Schools TWO HIGH SCHOOLS Two High Schools Two high schools, School lunch, sex, drugs Two High Schools TWO HIGH SCHOOLS, Student parking, classes Two High Schools two high schools Two High Schools Not enough money to support two high schools Sustainability Sustainability Sustainability Sustainability Sustainability Sustainability


Category Comment Sustainability using all the natural resources at a rapid rate Taxes taxes Taxes Taxes Taxes taxes, and housing The landfill The amount trash more where are they going to put the dump The landfill it smells this poll and this nagging isn't helping anything., GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL

this poll and this nagging isn't helping anything., GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL

Transportation Transportation unemployment unemployment rate We are OK I think we're good We are OK we don't have any, MORE PARKING Weather Bad weather Young people leaving Young people getting jobs elsewhere. Young people leaving Youth leaving Young people leaving Youth leaving Juneau


Appendix 3 – What is One Thing You Wish Was Different about Your School? Yaakoosge High School Attendance policy Better food, and no swag fags Building remodel Different building this one sucks! Free lunch Fun Having it a mostly natives again I hate having to stay in class the entire time, I wish they would take us different places even just for a new environment to work in I really like how it is here I wish guys at this school would stop being so immature and focus on their education instead of coming to school to just play around. I wish some people were more grown up. Nobody's going to respect you and take you seriously if you don't give the same back. I wish the teachers would discipline, and ask kids to leave that actually don't wanna be here I wish there was more class opportunities like ceramics, cooking, etc. Instead of having to take core classes for electives. Longer lunch Meetings in the commons More discipline, disruptive students gone More extra credit opportunities, I wish we could all learn early on about paying bills and finance managing. More field trips More field trips More laid back No more immature people. To have kids who want to actually come to school People's maturity Renovated building Students allowed here The food The immature students The people The people Yaakoosge gives children an opportunity to graduate and get ahead when they weren't able to do so at other schools


Thunder Mountain High School Juniors & Seniors Ability to turn homework in late Dance classes Different layout Different layout Different schedule and add new things Everything Extension being used for SAT prep Food Get rid of extensions I don’t know I don't know I don't know I love TM #toocoolforschool I wish some teachers would be more sympathetic. It's fine Less homework More classes so not compressed to gain credits More credit opportunity. They increased the credit requirements, but not the opportunity to take credits. More medical curriculum More programs More qualified teachers More sense of commitment More sports and athletic trainer More understanding teachers New principle No budget cuts No budget cuts. None Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing. I love it. School time schedule Student attitudes The budget cuts. They're hurting our education.


Juneau Douglas High School Juniors & Seniors All the students suck here Better AP language and literature teachers Better food Better food longer lunch Better independent study courses Class options Environment Everything Fixed schedule Food Free food Get a class that actually prepares us for the adult life Get rid of advisory and make lunch longer, get rid of enrichment and make lunch longer, get rid of teacher time and make lunch longer I want Japanese class back. I wish our seniors were more mature and less embarrassing. I wish the arts got more attention and support I wish the entire JDHS staff truly made an effort to help each student to the fullest extent. Students are not made aware of information I wish the school prioritized the students over their own wages I wish the students were more mature I wish there was less immaturity, they really think they're funny but they aren't. I wish there were better classes, more AP classes, I wish we were actually prepared for college as part of the curriculum instead of flying blind, higher standards for graduation so we don’t f_up our chances of getting into good schools, requirements that anticipate what colleges want it's easy to fuck up your chance of getting into college when the school just lets you fly blind., some colleges have requirements that are not possible to take at JDHS. I wish they asked for students ideas more. When we are serious, we can show that we actually care about our education and we know what will help us I wish we supported each other more I wish you guys were more mature, seniors need to mature If our school was newer and if we had good athletes If we could not suck at basketball It'd be great if there was a better attendance system and more updated computers for all the labs. We need more upgraded technology. Longer lunch breaks. Longer lunch. Longer lunches Longer lunches and more variety of classes More AP classes


More classes More classes More classes, business, financing, economics More classes, more opportunities, more teachers More classes, ways to get your credits up More fun classes More language classes and a creative writing class would be nice More mature seniors More parking More people to stay and live here, hotter guys More respectful students More slow for us to learn. But it was still good More teachers Much higher student involvement in school organization. Nicer people No advisory No advisory No advisory, earlier start time No advisory, longer lunches No advisory, need more classes offered, we had student parking., I don't know, more language class opportunities such as Japanese, Russian, and German, higher class standards, better classes and teachers No parking No split schools One school, parking One thing I wish was different was people in JDHS Our school board would actually listen to the students Our school board would actually listen to the students Parking Parking!!! And no advisory Parking!!!! People weren't so judge mental and that they weren't such bigots School spirit Sounds. Student input into Juneau school district changes Student parking Student parking Student parking Student parking Student parking Student parking!!


Teachers telling me different things and I got confused The community isn't great The competition against each classes The lunch food, more langue classes, school funding help the fine art department The maturity level and how we treat each other The people The people The people are jerks The people! The teaching style Too many rules and it's always about grades not about learning Try to get more money and get rid of advisory and add more enrichment Way at a baseball game than normally. Not a huge sports fan, but I liked it! Ways to engage conversation, mainly by engaging the doctor’s ego. We had a better hockey team. And student parking. We need advanced classes (e.g. AP Chem) We need AP Chem and more advanced classes We need more money We need more parking! More parking would be awesome, there's a massive lack of parking available to students, if AGB is closed turn it into a parking lot. We need student parking!!! Wish I had better lit teachers

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