Key takeaways:

• Remarks from Mayor LaFrance 

• The Anchorage School Board approves:

  • Proposed Rightsizing plan with minor amendment

  • Use of State Capital Improvement Major Maintenance Grant funds with amendment to reflect new Rightsizing plan
  • FY27 budget with amendments:
    • Mostly restoring sports and activities
    •  Restores some middle school teacher and nurse positions
    • Provides for “zero hour” P.E./Health at middle schools for students who have scheduling conflicts

 

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the Anchorage School Board held a Special School Board meeting at 7 p.m. Board meetings typically take place the first and third Tuesday of the month. 

Work sessions, committee meetings, and Board meetings are open to the public. Meetings take place at the Education Center and can be watched live or on demand on the District’s YouTube Channel.

Anchorage School Board Resources:

Calendar of upcoming meetings

School Board meeting agendas

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Board Meeting Review

Resources from this meeting:

The Agenda as presented was approved by the Board. 

Superintendent Update

During his update, Superintendent Dr. Jharrett Bryantt provided a final outlook on the proposed FY27 budget ahead of the School Board vote.

He reiterated that ASD is facing a $90 million structural deficit for FY27. Even after balancing the deficit for next school year, the District projects:

• At least $42 million in FY28
   
• At least $30 million in FY29

Dr. Bryantt explained that discussions have centered on stabilizing operations and aligning resources for long-term sustainability. At this time, it is not evident that the Legislature will make meaningful structural changes to K–12 funding this year.

“These difficult reductions do not reflect our aspirations as ASD,” Dr. Bryantt said. “This budget reflects the real-world impact of declining enrollment, rising costs, and funding uncertainty.”

He acknowledged that the proposed changes are extraordinarily difficult and added, “Delaying structural alignment does not eliminate disruption.”

Dr. Bryantt then turned the presentation over to Administrators to provide a final overview of the budget, including how the District arrived at this point, reductions already made, and the structural pressures that remain.

ASD Presenters:

• Deputy Superintendent Sven Gustafson
• Chief Financial Officer Andrew Ratliff

 

How We Got Here

Chief Financial Officer Andrew Ratliff outlined the timeline and financial context shaping the FY27 budget.

The District is required to submit its budget to the Anchorage Assembly by the first Monday in March.

Despite a recent Base Student Allocation (BSA) increase, this marks ASD’s third year of flat funding from the State, following eight consecutive years of flat funding prior to that.

Had the BSA been tied to inflation, it would have generated an additional $102 million in funding this year, or approximately $1,440 more per student than the current $6,660.

Last year, ASD used reserve funds equivalent to approximately $700 per student in additional funding. Those reserves are no longer available.

Since FY17, State funding for K–12 education has increased by approximately 7%. In contrast, many other State departments have seen increases ranging from 30–40% to as high as 89–90% to keep pace with inflation and rising operational costs.

Additionally, local education contributions remain capped by State limits.

For FY27, ASD is experiencing:

• An overall reduction of $43 million in revenue
   
• Rising service costs, including insurance
   

Together, these factors contribute to the $90 million structural deficit.

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Preliminary FY27 Budget Allocations

Administrators provided a high-level breakdown of how resources are allocated in the proposed budget:

• 5% Administrative costs

• 14% Operations and maintenance

• 23% Student supports

• 58% Direct classroom instruction

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Reductions Already Made

Over the past 15 years, ASD has reduced staffing in multiple areas:

• 33% reduction in instructional staff

• 17% reduction in education support staff

• One-third reduction in District administration

• One-half reduction in Community Services

• Special Education staffing has remained approximately level
   

The FY27 proposal includes an additional 10% reduction to the general workforce.

From FY12 to FY27, ASD has decreased staffing by 388.63 FTE (Full-Time Equivalent).

 

FY27 Budget Changes

The proposed budget includes:

• A +4 increase in the K–12 PTR (pupil-teacher ratio)

• Elimination of IGNITE

• Changes to the Elementary specialist and nursing models

• Removal of secondary activities and sports (with a separate restoration proposal discussed below)
   

Reductions include impacts to:

• Special Education

• Principals

• Counselors

• Paraprofessionals

• Summer school

• Building Plant Operators (BPOs)

• Library assistants (leaving one remaining Districtwide)
   

District office reductions include:

• 13% – Human Resources

• 45% – Teaching & Learning

• 15% – IT

• 50% – Grants & Development

• 17% – Communications

• 17% – Warehouse drivers

• 33% – Community Rentals

In total, District office reductions amount to 57.8 FTE, representing nearly $14 million in savings.

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Classroom Teacher Changes

Due to enrollment declines, 49 teacher positions are reduced.

The proposed +4 PTR increase results in additional reductions of:

• 90.4 FTE – Elementary

• 29.4 FTE – Middle School

• 40.0 FTE – High School

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Rightsizing Proposals

Deputy Superintendent Gustafson summarized the Rightsizing recommendations previously outlined in the Board resolution adopted earlier in February.

Proposed Closures

• Fire Lake Elementary (repurposed for Eagle Academy)

• Lake Otis Elementary (repurposed for Rilke Schule)

• Campbell STEM Elementary (building declared property excess)

 

Proposed Program and Boundary Changes

• Tudor Montessori program relocates to Denali Montessori

• Denali Montessori sixth grade moves to middle school

• O’Malley Elementary boundary adjustment: neighborhood (non-immersion) students move to Huffman Elementary

• Government Hill Elementary boundary adjustment: non-immersion students move to Inlet View Elementary

• Abbott Loop building declared property excess

If closures and related deferrals are approved, the District projects:

• $2.6 million – Rightsizing savings

• $2.2 million – Bond debt reimbursement

• $1.4 million – OCEANS Academy deferral

Total available: $6.2 million

Recommended Allocation of Redirected Funds

• Restore most Sports & Activities under a revised model: $3.16 million

• Reduce Middle School PTR (16 FTE): $2.20 million

• Add 6.5 Nurse FTE: $0.84 million

• Remaining balance: $0
   

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Community Feedback and Survey Data

Dr. Bryantt shared updated data points for the Board to consider, emphasizing the importance of understanding community trends.

Balancing Act Tool (December 2025)

• 88% of participating community members selected school closure/repurposing options.
   

Alaska Research Group Survey (February 14–18, 2026)

Q: How should ASD approach school consolidations?

• 39.5% support immediate consolidation

• 41.5% are open to consolidation, with support contingent on the process, timeline, and implementation

When asked whether consolidating under-capacity schools could partially reverse cuts to nurses, sports, and core programs:

• 74% leaned toward consolidation
   

Potential Levy Impacts

When asked whether consolidation that reduces operational expenses would make them more inclined to support the tax levy:

• 49% indicated support

• 51% indicated they would not support
   

Among respondents initially opposed to the levy:

• 32% indicated consolidation could influence their position
   

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Remarks from Mayor LaFrance 

Dr. Bryantt introduced special guest Municipality of Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance to speak.

Mayor LaFrance thanked the Board for its work preparing the budget and said she felt compelled to join the meeting to express support for ASD schools.

“Let me be blunt. These cuts will be devastating not just for families, students, and educators, but to the future of our community,” she said. “A strong public school system is the foundation of our economy.”

Mayor LaFrance noted that current reductions are occurring because the State funding formula has not kept pace with today’s economic realities.

She said the $12 million school levy on the April ballot would retain approximately 80 educators.

“I urge voters to approve it. That is the most we can do at the local level. Now our state leaders must act.”

 

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Public Comment

The Board sets aside for the remaining public comment from the February 17, 2026 School Board Meeting.

Consent Agenda

The Consent Agenda as presented was approved unanimously by the Board.

Action Items 

ASD Memorandum 137

This memo details the Administration’s recommendation to close:

• Fire Lake Elementary School (repurpose: offer to Eagle Academy Charter School)
• Lake Otis Elementary School (repurpose: offer to Rilke Schule Charter School)
• Campbell STEM (declare excess to the District’s needs)

Additionally:

• Transition Denali Montessori’s 6th grade to Middle Schools (removed per amendment detailed below)
• Relocate the Tudor Elementary School’s Montessori program to Denali Montessori 
• Change the school boundary to move the non-immersion students at O’Malley Elementary School to Huffman Elementary School 
• O’Malley Elementary School becomes an alternative French Immersion School
• Change the school boundary to move the non-immersion students at Government Hill Elementary School to Inlet View Elementary School
• Government Hill Elementary School then becomes an alternative Spanish Immersion School
• Upon relocating Rilke Schule Charter School to Lake Otis, declare Abbott Loop Elementary School as excess to the District’s needs

 

The Board voted 4-3 to approve Memo #137 as amended. The amendment that passed was from Jacobs/Lessens Amendment #2 to Memorandum 137 and delete the phrase “Transition Denali Montessori’s 6th grade to Middle Schools” from Memorandum 137.

 

The Board discussion is available for playback. 

 

ASD Memorandum 116 State of Alaska Department of Education Capital Improvement Major Maintenance Grant funds

In this memo the Administration recommends the School Board authorize the transfer and allocation of up to $4.235 million of State of Alaska Department of Education Capital Improvement Major Maintenance Grant funds for planning, design and construction of maintenance and capital projects across the District.

 

The Board voted 5-2 to approve the memo #116 as amended. 

 

The amendment removed the following line from the memo, which aligns with the Rightsizing plan that was just passed in memo #137:

“Abbott Loop Elementary Improvements Phase 1 (Rilke Schule) Year one facility upgrades are needed to support the instructional program and ensure the building meets functional and learning environment requirements.”

 

By removing this line, the Administration said it would reinvest the $350,000 into a different priority. 

The Board discussion is available for playback.

ASD Memorandum 131 The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Preliminary Budget

Memo #131 as amended was approved by the Board with a vote of 5-2. 

The approved amendments are linked and summarized below:

Finance Committee Amendment #1  Details how additional funds will be used if voters approve the Levy on the April 7, 2026 ballot, saying funds will be used to retain 80 K-12 classroom teacher positions and 3.44 Kindergarten paraprofessional positions. 

Jacobs/Lessens Amendment #1 Utilizes the savings captured from adoption of ASD Memorandum #137 (ASD Rightsizing), to restore $3.16M toward Middle and High School sports and activities. In addition, utilize $2.2M to restore 16 teacher FTE at the Middle School level, and $840K to restore 6.5 Nurse FTE.

Jacobs/Lessens Amendment #2 Restores 10 nurse FTE by eliminating $671K funding for AK Choice Virtual school, an additional 3 FTE in non-classroom positions, and removing School Board funds for memberships and audits.

The Regional Nursing Model would continue, but with additional nursing staff. 

Lessens Amendment #1  To restore 3.6 Middle School classroom teacher FTE (or equivalent in addenda) to support "zero period" P.E and/or Health courses. This was created with immersion students in mind, but open to all middle school students who could not otherwise pursue under a 6-period schedule. This is restored by:

• Eliminating the contracted service for a United Way employee to serve as the Academies of Anchorage Convenor
• Reducing funds for Freshman First Day expenses
• Canceling bussing for FY27 Freshman guaranteed experiences (Career Expo, college visit)
•  Reducing funds assigned to marketing for Academies of Anchorage
• Reducing FTE for high school office administration by 4. 

 

The Board discussion is available for playback.

 

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For more information, visit the FY27 Budget Planning and School Levy hot topic pages.

 

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