BY CHRISTOPHER DEMOSKI

Staff writer

            There are about 50 more students this year at the Galena Interior Learning Academy, which means that the school now has about 165 students according to Lisa Shelby, principal at GILA.

            There are currently 53 freshmen, 45 sophomores, 45 juniors, and 47 seniors. Ms. Shelby said the school wants to increase the student population as one way to sustain the entire district. As the community of Galena’s population continues to decline, the boarding school population is rising.

            Heavy changes were made to accommodate the additional students this year.

            There are extra bus runs in the morning to transport kids to the Sidney C. Huntington High School. Mr. Blasco, the dean of students, has hired additional staff for the residence hall, the school has purchased a lot more supplies, and there are buildings that were renovated to increase classroom space.

            Many of the unused buildings that are on base should be used by GILA students, said Ms. Shelby, GILA’s new principal.

            Gabby Strange, 14, from Anchorage was asked why she applied to GILA and she said that the education in Anchorage “sucked”. She was also asked what she thought of GILA and she said she likes it because there are a lot of nice people.