2/017/2026 School Board Recap

 

Key takeaways:

•  Administration presented a revised proposal to close Fire Lake, Lake Otis, and Campbell STEM to address urgent budget pressures and realign ASD’s building footprint

• Structural changes to the Elementary Specialist and Regional Nursing models outlined

• A reimagined Sports & Activities plan would partially restore sports 

• District leaders emphasized long-term funding challenges remain unresolved

On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the Anchorage School Board held a work session at 3 p.m., followed by a Board meeting at 6 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

 

Work Session: Budget Update

The Board Work Session agenda is available to review. A recording of the meeting is available for playback. 

Superintendent Dr. Jharrett Bryantt opened the two-hour work session by providing context for the FY27 budget update, saying the discussion would include a deep dive into common concerns the community has raised. Additionally the presentation would formally introduce the administration’s revised Rightsizing recommendations.

 

Community concerns

Community concerns with the proposed FY27 budget are largely related to:

• Elementary Specialist staffing model

• Regional Nursing model

• Student sports and activities

 

New Rightsizing proposal

Dr. Bryantt acknowledged that last fall, after extensive engagement and analysis, the Board voted not to close schools.

“That decision reflected a wide variety of information, conditions and projections that were available at that time.”

He emphasized that the District’s financial outlook has since become clearer and more urgent.

 

ASD is now facing:

• A $90 million structural deficit for FY27

 

Even after the balancing the deficit this year ASD projects:

• At least $42 million projected in FY28

• At least $30 million projected in FY29

 

At the same time:

• Enrollment trends continue downward

• Revenues have not kept pace with inflation

• Operating costs have increased

• Purchasing power has declined
  
   

“ASD is currently operating more facilities than our enrollment and long-term funding levels can sustainably support,” Dr. Bryantt stated. “When resources are spread too thinly across many underutilized facilities, the entire system feels the strain.”

Dr. Bryantt stressed it is not the concept of school consolidation that is new but rather the urgency to close buildings in an effort to redirect short term savings towards restoring student services in the next budget cycle. 

During the February 9 Special School Board meeting, the Board adopted a resolution directing the Administration to revisit prior Rightsizing analyses using the most up-to-date academic, enrollment, transportation, equity, and fiscal data.

The Administration completed that review within four days and publicly released the updated recommendations on February 13 in ASD Memorandum #131.

Dr. Bryantt acknowledged the pace of the work. “From the District’s perspective, what we’re about to talk about reflects years of data and analyses and at the same time, from the community’s perspective, this understandably feels very fast. Both of those things can be true at the same time.”

He also spoke directly to the personal nature of school closure discussions, noting every school building represents relationships and routines. “Our school communities deeply matter, We did not make these decisions lightly.”

Consolidation Recommendation

Based on updated analyses, the Administration recommended closure at the end of the school year for:

• Fire Lake Elementary

• Lake Otis Elementary

• Campbell STEM Elementary
   

Dr. Bryantt explained that the proposal:

• Aligns facilities with current enrollment realities

• Strengthens academic service levels

• Improves operational efficiency

• Generates short-term savings that could be redirected toward urgent student priorities
   

“This is difficult work. It requires balancing stability, equity, and our long-term sustainability as a District. This is extremely challenging, but we will get through this together. “

ASD Presenters:

• Chief Operations Officer Jim Anderson

• Elementary Instructional Division Senior Director Helena Batman

• Creekside Park Elementary School Principal David Christal

• Deputy Superintendent Sven Gustafson

• Elementary Instructional Division Senior Director Likka McCauley 

• Deputy Chief of Schools Kersten Johnson

• Chief Financial Officer Andrew Ratliff

• Bayshore Elementary School Principal Anna Walker

 

 

Elementary Specialist Model

Administrators provided a detailed breakdown of the proposed Elementary Specialist model, addressing community questions and clarifying how the new structure compares to the current system.

 

District leaders emphasized that the proposal is not a reflection of the value specialists bring to students. Rather, the proposal addresses structural inefficiencies in the current model and rebuilds it in a way that can be sustained long-term with fewer moving parts.

 

Current Model vs. Proposed Model

Current model: 5 Specialist categories (Physical Education, Health, Art, Music, and Library) →

Proposed model: 3 Specialist categories (Physical Education, Fine Arts, and Library) 

 

Where the current model struggles

The Administration has spent time this year reviewing the scheduling process for Elementary Specials. Dr. Johnson explained that as class sizes rise and our population decreases it has created a challenging schedule process that is not necessarily the best use of District funds as structured.

The task: Fix a broken scheduling process while maintaining a quality student experience despite budget constraints.

 

What makes the current model unsustainable

• Schools are often allocated fractional FTE (0.5, 0.6, 0.7, etc.)

• Those fractions must be paired with other schools

• These employees are funded at 1.0 FTE, but their instructional minutes do not equate to a full-time instructional load

• Pairing requires travel time

• Travel time during the day can require mileage reimbursement

• This creates “lost FTE” across multiple buildings

• This year required 16 specialist holdbacks just to make the schedule work

• When FTE or enrollment changes occur at one school, changing the schedule creates a domino affect across multiple schools
   

In the current model, instability comes from fractional allocations and cross-building pairing.

 

What changes in the new model

• Reduces five categories to three

• Uses consistent 50-minute daily blocks

• Creates larger, cleaner staffing allocations

• Reduces the need for split-day travel

• Limits the number of schools a specialist serves

 

Why the new model is considered sustainable

• The structure avoids inefficient fractional staffing

• Stabilizes FTE across buildings

• Reduces travel-based inefficiencies

• Works with current enrollment realities

• Simpler scheduling architecture

• Benefits to students: More fulltime educators in one building leads to stronger relationships and consistency
   

And importantly, the Administration stated they would recommend this model even if additional funding were received, because the inefficiencies are structural, not just budget-related.

Instructional time: Monthly vs. weekly comparison

Administrators also compared current and proposed instructional minutes to clarify how student access would change under the new model.

Because Art and Health are currently delivered on alternating weeks, the only accurate way to compare total exposure is on a monthly basis, not weekly. 

Current monthly instructional minutes:

• Physical Education: 360 minutes

• Health: 120 minutes

• Music: 240 minutes

• Art: 120 minutes

• Library: 120 minutes
   

Proposed monthly instructional minutes:

• PE & Health: 400 minutes

• Fine Arts (Art & Music): 400 minutes

• Library: 200 minutes
   

Under the proposed structure, students would receive:

• Two 50-minute PE/Health blocks per week

• Two 50-minute Fine Arts blocks per week

• One 50-minute Library block per week
   

The shift to consistent 50-minute daily blocks eliminates the current bi-weekly rotation system and provides:

• More predictable scheduling for students

• Cleaner schedules for reading and math

• Increased instructional minutes in Fine Arts and Library when measured monthly
  
   

Administrators emphasized that the goal is not to eliminate access to Art or Music, but to restructure how those minutes are delivered in a more sustainable format.

Are specialists “teaching two specials now”?

Not necessarily.

• PE and Health are combined structurally

• Art and Music are combined under “Fine Arts”

• Library remains separate, with new responsibilities to support STEM learning and WIN time in some schools
  
   

But Administrators were clear that:

• They have not finalized how art and music would be delivered

• It could rotate by semester

• It could be a multidisciplinary fine arts model

• It could vary by school depending on staffing and expertise
  
   

They did not say every art teacher would now automatically teach music or vice versa.

 

What happens next

If the Board adopts the budget with this recommendation:

• Detailed curriculum planning would begin

• Content experts, including elementary specialists, would be directly involved in refining implementation

• Planning would consider staff expertise, content standards, and quality of student experience

Administration emphasized that this presentation focused on structure and sustainability. The next phase would center on collaborative instructional design.

 

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Regional Nursing Model

The work session included an expanded explanation of the proposed shift to a regional nursing model, based on community concerns of students with acute medical conditions.

Current model

• One nurse per building

• Nurse-to-student ratios range from 1:147 to 1:1704

• Four unfilled nurse positions

• Daily substitute shortages

• Frequent “buddy school” coverage is already occurring

Administration noted that most days involve double-digit absences and that the district is already informally operating regionally.

Proposed regional model

• Six geographic regions

• 9–11 nurses per region

• 12–14 schools per region

The model would:

• Allocate nurses based on student medical acuity

• Ensure full-time coverage where non-delegable medical tasks (e.g., tube feeding, diabetic care) are required

• Assign nurses to 1–3 schools depending on need

Administrators emphasize the regional model is:

• Adaptable to student needs

• Equitable for nurse workloads

• Student-focused

The regional model is not:

• Nurses rotating to different schools every day
   

Administrators also shared comparative data showing none of the other large Alaska districts operate a 1:1 nurse-to-building mode, pointing out we are not the first to do this, we are actually the last.

Charter schools would retain the option to:

• Keep a nurse using their allocation, or

• Opt into the regional model

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Revised Rightsizing Recommendations

In response to the School Board resolution, Administration presented updated consolidation recommendations.

Proposed closures:

• Fire Lake Elementary
• Lake Otis Elementary
• Campbell STEM Elementary

Estimated savings:

• $2.6 million in Year 1

• Declining to approximately $153,740 by Year 5 due to formula adjustments

   

Administration reiterated: You can’t close enough schools to balance the budget. However, Rightsizing:

• Generates short-term savings that can be redirected into student services next year
• Reduces fixed building-level costs (principals, BPOs, custodial, utilities)
• Frees FTE tied specifically to operating a building

 

What’s different this time

Several schools previously recommended for closure have returned to the proposal, but student reassignment plans have changed based on updated analysis and feedback.

Lottery updates

To support families impacted by Rightsizing:

• The Lottery application window has been extended to March 31
• Waitlists will reset annually to increase equity of access
   

Rightsizing proposal by school:

Fire Lake Elementary (repurpose for Eagle Academy) 

• Majority of students move to Eagle River Elementary School
  • Utilization increases from 55% → 88%.
• 8 students move to Chugiak Elementary School
• 3 SLC classrooms move to Alpenglow Elementary School

 

Lake Otis Elementary (repurpose for Rilke Schule)

• Students north of Tudor Road → Rogers Park Elementary School
• Students south of Tudor Road → Tudor Elementary School
• Tudor utilization increases from 62% → 99%.

Tudor Elementary changes:

• Tudor Montessori program relocates to Denali Montessori School 
• 4 developmental preschool programs move to Rogers Park Elementary School
• Life Skills classrooms move to Russian Jack and Airport Heights Elementary Schools
• Tudor becomes firmly Title I eligible

Denali Montessori School changes:

• Sixth grade moves from Denali Montessori to middle school

Rilke Schule changes:

• Once students move into Lake Otis, the Abbott Loop building they are temporarily residing in will be declared property excess

 

Campbell STEM Elementary (declare property excess)

Campbell was newly added due to lower enrollment across many schools in the Anchorage Bowl, and recent facility concerns including boiler and sewer failures resulting in five lost instructional days this year.

Students would move:

• 120 → Willow Crest Elementary School (64% → 87%)
• 84 → Gladys Wood Elementary School (62% → 80%)
• 45 → Klatt Elementary School (68% → 79%)

Capital implications:

• $9 million bond funds
• $2.2 million in School Bond Debt Reimbursement (SBDR)

 

SBDR funds could be redirected toward other District priorities.

O’Malley Elementary – Level of service change

• Neighborhood (non-immersion) students move to Huffman Elementary School
• Huffman utilization increases from 62% → 84%
• O’Malley becomes a full French Immersion school
• No transportation provided for immersion students (consistent with other alternative schools)

Student service changes:

• This would reduce non-immersion combination classes at O’Malley and Huffman
• Improve levels of service at both schools
• Align feeder patterns to Goldenview Middle School and South High School for all neighborhood students

Change noted in previous proposal:

The Government Hill Elementary School boundary would change to move non-immersion students to Inlet View Elementary School.

 

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Reimagining Sports & Activities

In response to Board direction, the Administration presented an alternative model to restore sports with structural changes.

The initial restoration cost would be $5.1M.

Through $1.94M in reductions and new revenue, the net cost to restore most sports is $3.16M.

 

Key Changes

 

Fee Adjustments

• Two-tier system ($300 Tier 1; $500 Tier 2)

• Athlete cap at $800

• Increased fees for non-ASD enrolled students

• Projected new revenue: $373,600

 

Transportation

• Parent/coach caravan model within Anchorage Bowl

• Buses retained for longer travel

• Estimated savings: $438,111
   

Adjustments examples

• Combine debate teams across schools (8 → 4 teams)

• Reduce hockey ice time

• Renegotiate ski trail maintenance

• Eliminate certain C teams

• Remove dome contract

Reimagining savings: $398,100

 

This proposal does restore middle school sports.

 

Recommended Use of $6.2 Million in Redirected Funds

If closures and deferrals are approved:

• $2.6M – Rightsizing savings

• $2.2M – Bond debt reimbursement

• $1.4M – Oceans ACADEMY deferral

Total available: $6.2M

 

Recommended allocation:

• Restore Sports & Activities: $3.16M

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

• Add 6.5 Nurse FTE: $0.84M

• Remaining: $0.00

 

Closing

The work session concluded with discussion acknowledging:

• Consolidations provide short-term mitigation but do not solve long-term funding challenges.

• Structural underfunding remains the core issue.

• The proposals reflect an attempt to balance equity, stability, and long-term sustainability.

 

The Administration reiterated that these recommendations reflect fiscal constraints, not District aspirations.

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Board Meeting Review

Resources from this meeting:

The Agenda as presented was approved by the Board. 

Reports

Student Representative Report

Student Representative Madison Arreola reported that the Student Advisory Board (SAB) met on February 10, where members discussed how proposed budget reductions would uniquely impact their individual schools. Students shared concerns about immersion programs, athletics, and potential impacts to Deaf and Hard of Hearing programs and English Language Learner (ELL) supports, among others. 

 

The February 10 SAB meeting featured school spotlights from West High School, Wendler Middle School, and South High School.

The SAB will hold elections for officer positions at its next meeting in March.

 

Across the District, Arreola noted an increase in student-led civic engagement efforts. Students have organized petitions advocating to preserve swim and tennis programs, as well as to maintain individual school nurses. She also highlighted that Eagle River High School recognized Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

 

Finally, Arreola shared that the next SAB meeting will include incoming Student Advisory Board President Stephen Gibson, who will begin transitioning into the role.

 

Committee Reports 

School Board Member Kelly Lessons provided an update on the Finance Committee, which met last Wednesday. The committee adjusted its regular meeting schedule, moving the meeting to take place between the Board’s two regular February meetings in order to focus specifically on budget-related discussion.

 

The committee discussed the origins, language, and intent of the one-time operational school levy approved by the Anchorage Assembly and placed on the April 7 municipal ballot by Mayor Suzanne LaFrance.

 

Lessons shared that language attached to Memorandum #131 reflects a proposed Finance Committee amendment. The amendment states that if a majority of voters approve Proposition 9 in the April 7 election, the School Board would direct the Administration to use all available revenue from the levy to reduce the projected FY27 K–12 pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) increase from +4 to +2.

 

Under the proposed language, levy funds would be used to retain 80 K–12 classroom teacher positions and 3.44 kindergarten paraprofessional positions. If both voters and the Board approve, the result would be cutting the projected class size increase in half for the upcoming fiscal year.

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Superintendent Update

 

During his update, Dr. Bryantt again invited the panel of Administrators to give their presentation for a second time, this time with a larger audience of community members present. 

He again introduced the presentation sharing he was clear about the core issue facing ASD. “ASD is currently operating more facilities than our enrollment and long-term funding levels can sustainably support. And this reality affects everything.”

 

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Public Comment

 

The Board sets aside one hour at the front of the meeting and any additional testimony occurs later in the meeting. In this instance, 43 students and 71 community members signed up for public comment. Board President Carl Jacobs shared they will hear all public testimony before moving on to the rest of the agenda.

 

The public testimony can be watched back in two videos:

 

2/17/2026: School Board Meeting 1 of 2

 

2/17/2026: School Board Meeting 2 of 2

 

Municipal code allows the Board meeting to operate until midnight. In this instance the Board heard public testimony from all but five speakers before President Jacobs adjourned the meeting at 11:59, noting the remaining speakers may choose to come back to testify at the February 24 meeting or submit their testimony in writing. Additionally, the agenda items would be continued at the February 24 school board meeting. President Jacobs noted the February 24 meeting is a Special School Board meeting and other than the rollover testimony from the current meeting, only written testimony will be accepted leading up to the special meeting on the 24th.