The Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), on behalf of Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS), is soliciting proposals for Dormitory Management and Student Supervisory Services at the student dormitories located at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka, Alaska.

Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS.US) is a public boarding school operated by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED). Initially established in 1947 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mt. Edgecumbe provided Alaska Native students in grades 5-12 the opportunity to acquire a traditional education unavailable in rural Alaska. Serving more than 600 students at its largest, the school closed temporarily in 1983 as the Bureau of Indian Affairs reduced its role in Alaskan Education. Two years later, the school reopened under the governance of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. The central role of Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Alaskan education is to provide a broad range of academic and extra-curricular opportunities that are unavailable to students in isolated home schools and communities. Academic expectations are high and students who attend are expected to enroll in higher education. The official governing body charged with oversight is the Alaska State Board of Education.

Demographics: Typically, over 400 students from approximately 110 villages throughout Alaska attend Mt. Edgecumbe High School. About 65 percent of the student body is female and 35 percent are male. Alaska Native students comprise 80-95 percent of the student population, 6-10 percent are typically Caucasian, and we usually have a population that includes students of Asian, Hispanic, and African American descent. Between 60-80 percent of students in attendance generally meet federal guidelines for free or reduced lunches. Annually, between 75-90 percent of graduates are accepted into a post-secondary university or training program.

MEHS has four dormitories in a physical setting like that of a college campus. Dorm rooms range from two to six occupants. Each student has an individual bed and closet or wardrobe. Each dorm has a central kitchen with refrigerators, freezer, and stove/ovens, as well as washing machine/dryer for student use.

Many of the learning experiences that enable students to become successful citizens occur outside of the traditional academic classroom.  Making healthy life choices, working collaboratively, and becoming a contributing member of a community often takes place in a residential environment. Thus, the school’s residential program is critical to Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s total program success.