Key takeaways:

Board Approves Early Investment in Students While Awaiting State Funding Decision

The Board voted to invest $6.8 million from the District's remaining unassigned fund balance to restore up to 45 school-based positions, highly gifted transportation, and athletic transportation and practice access, citing the need to hire staff before school begins while awaiting the State's final funding determination.

Board Discusses Next Steps for Rightsizing Advisory Committee

Board members review updates to the committee charter and process, including opportunities for meaningful community engagement and informed recommendations on future facility decisions.

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On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Anchorage School Board held a Work Session at 4 p.m., followed by a School Board meeting at 6 p.m. 

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

The Board Work Session agenda is available to review. 

There were two topics of discussion: 

1. Projected revenue from HB263
2. Rightsizing Advisory Committee

FY27 Projected Revenue

Superintendent Dr. Jharrett Bryantt introduced the Work Session discussion, reminding the community that earlier this summer the Board approved allocating $11.6M in new funding from the State’s budget to the 2026-27 school year, which allowed ASD to move forward with the pursuit of hiring 50+ additional teacher positions and other support services. 

Dr. Bryantt explained that projected revenue from HB 263 differs from typical State funding because it relies on a one-time State surplus, driven largely by anticipated higher oil revenues, rather than recurring or predictable funding.

The Superintendent framed the decision as one of risk tolerance vs. opportunity:

• Risk: HB 263 funding is not guaranteed until the Revenue Commissioner's Aug. 31 assessment confirms State revenues.
• Opportunity: ASD has a “small but important window of opportunity where we can leverage these dollars to make a difference in classrooms.”

Treasurer Rachel Blakeslee shared that the memo was developed within hours after 12 Alaska House members sent a July 31 letter expressing confidence that one-time HB 263 funding would be available to districts.

HB 263 could appropriate up to $115 million for school districts across the state but is contingent on the Commissioner of Revenue’s August 31, 2026 assessment of oil revenue through the end of FY26. Of the $115 million, ASD may receive up to $32.2 million in “waterfall” funding this fall, meaning ASD could receive less than that amount. Member Blakeslee framed this during discussion as an opportunity because funding is not “all or nothing.”

The original version of Memorandum #016 proposed using $6.8 million from the District's $7 million unassigned fund balance to hire 50 FTE before the school year begins. If the anticipated state surplus funding is less than expected, the District could still cover the cost without spending more than its available unassigned fund balance.

Vice President Kelly Lessens then presented the updated "S version" of the memo, which builds on the original proposal by:

• Defining "unassigned fund balance."
• Reducing the proposed new positions from 50 to 45 and specifying they be used for teachers, building substitutes, and/or counselors.
• Directing the new positions to address critical school-based staffing needs and support progress toward the Board's adopted goals.
• Using the funding difference between 45 and 50 positions to restore student athletics services that were reduced in the adopted 2026-27 budget.

 

Documents related to the discussion:

ASD MEMORANDUM #016S (2026-27)

Rightsizing Ad Hoc Committee Discussion/Update

Board President Carl Jacobs led a discussion about the new Rightsizing Ad Hoc Committee. The Board adopted language in April to form the committee with the purpose of improving the process for evaluating how the District should approach Rightsizing.

On July 16, the committee was officially established. Three members were chosen to engage the work as members: Clerk Margo Bellemy, Member Blakeslee and Member Paul McDonogh.

President Jacobs prefaced the purpose of the discussion was to gather Board feedback on possible updates to the committee charter and discuss any potential role for a separate joint committee with the Anchorage Assembly on this topic. 

Board members expressed support for extending the duration of the committee’s work through May of 2027 in order to meaningfully develop and implement the community engagement and listening process. The Board reached consensus to extend the committee timeline.

Under Guiding Principles, Member McDonogh recommended:

• Explicitly emphasizing equitable access to instructional opportunities in the student-centered section
• Prioritizing narrative data (student experiences, community input, instructional vision, pathway analysis, and public-facing reports) alongside existing demographic and operational data
• Ensuring the dissenting voices of committee membership were captured in applicable reports and data, when consensus on an issue could not be achieved

Potential joint assembly committee discussion was paused for a future date due to time restrictions. 

Documents related to the discussion:

Charter to Establish the Anchorage School Board Rightsizing Advisory Committee

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Board Meeting

The agenda as presented was approved by the Board. 

Reports

Board Conference and Committee Reports

Member Blakeslee reported that the Finance Committee held a special meeting last month to discuss three topics: 1. Revisions to the budget regarding the funding Alaska Middle College School (AMCS). 2. Clarity around attrition budget line items 3. Updates around one-time appropriations from the Legislature. 

Member McDonogh reported that the Governance Committee will meet on August 27. Member McDonogh also shared that he was named chair of the Rightsizing ad hoc committee created in July to improve community engagement within ASD’s school consolidation and closure process. Regular Rightsizing updates will be available to the public soon, as the committee begins the work.

He also shared Resolution #26-27-01 is on the non-action items. The Board will vote in a future meeting on the resolution that expresses the Board will limit the closing of schools during the 2026-27 school year only to emergency situations. Member McDonogh shared this is necessary in order to allow the Rightsizing Advisory Committee to complete their work.

Goals and Guardrail Monitoring

Dr. Bryantt presented the technical report that will be discussed by the Board in two weeks on the following School Board Guardrail Monitoring Report:

Guardrail 3-  August 2026 

The Superintendent will not allow unsatisfactory employee performance to go unidentified or unaddressed.

Public Comment

Consent Agenda

The Consent Agenda as presented was approved by a vote of 7-0.

Action Items 

ASD MEMORANDUM #016 (2025-2026) 
FY27 Appropriation To Restore 50 FTE Positions  

The Board discussed ASD Memorandum #016S, which authorizes the use of $6.8 million from the District's remaining unassigned fund balance to restore school-based staffing and student services while the District awaits a final determination on anticipated State "waterfall" funding under HB 263. If the anticipated State funding is received later this fall, the memorandum also directs the Administration to restore the District's unassigned fund balance to at least 5% before recommending any additional allocations.

Dr. Bryantt explained that the proposal builds on the Board's July action to restore approximately 50 educator positions using known State funding. The additional appropriation is based on legislation that could provide up to $115 million statewide, with ASD eligible to receive as much as $32.2 million depending on the Alaska Department of Revenue's August 31 certification of surplus oil revenues. He emphasized that while the proposal carries financial risk because the funding is not guaranteed, delaying action until after the State's determination would significantly reduce the District's ability to recruit teachers before the school year begins. The proposed appropriation would allow hiring efforts to begin immediately while acknowledging the need to carefully manage the District's remaining reserves.

Member Blakeslee described her original proposal as recommending appropriating $6.8 million, an amount that would not exceed the District's approximately $7 million in unassigned fund balance, to restore up to 50 FTE positions. She explained that the original memo was intended to balance the opportunity to improve staffing before school begins with the financial risks of acting before the State's revenue determination. She also noted that subsequent discussions clarified the anticipated funding would not necessarily be "all or nothing," but could be distributed proportionally through the waterfall funding formula, making the proposal more viable while still requiring careful fiscal consideration.

Member Lessens then presented the revised S version of the memorandum, which she said added additional context, safeguards, and flexibility while preserving the original intent and also clarifies the Board should restore the District's fund balance to at least 5% before any future allocation of anticipated State funds.

To illustrate the financial risk involved of drawing down the fund balance, Member Lessens shared a "three pennies" analogy. Holding three pennies during her remarks, she explained that if the District's budget were represented by $100, Board policy calls for maintaining at least $8 in fund balance. Of those eight dollars, we have to retain about half of that to protect the municipality’s Bond rating. Because the Board has spent reserves down to 5% over the past several years to offset declining State funding, only one dollar of truly unassigned reserves remains in this scenario. This memo would spend 97 cents of that final dollar, leaving just three pennies available for emergencies such as natural disasters or other unforeseen events. While acknowledging that this represents an unprecedented level of financial risk, she said the recommendation reflects the Board's willingness to invest those remaining resources directly into classrooms and student services while anticipating that at least some State funding will replenish the reserves later this year.

The original S version allocated approximately $6.12 million to restore up to 45 school-based positions, or dollar equivalent, to address schools' highest staffing needs. The remaining $680,000 restores transportation and access for secondary student athletics, including transportation to practices and competitions, district-provided bus service and improved access to facilities such as daily pool time for swim and dive teams.

During deliberations, Board members discussed the importance of providing the Administration flexibility to address staffing shortages that vary by school. District administrators explained that while recruiting certified teachers remains the priority, some vacancies may be better addressed through building substitutes, counselors, paraprofessionals, long-term substitutes, or other qualified staff based on individual school needs and the availability of candidates.

Member McDonogh asked the Administration to provide the cost of restoring transportation for highly gifted students. Administrators confirmed that restoring the service would include three bus routes at an estimated cost of $429,000. Member Lessons raised questions about the revenue source for covering the expense, since the existing S-version utilized all available fund balance without this additional expense. After a brief recess, a new amendment was drafted to address these costs by allocating funding for the first semester, while staying within the available unassigned fund balance.

The Board approved three amendments to the memorandum then voted 7-0 to adopt ASD Memorandum #016S, as amended, authorizing the Superintendent to appropriate the funding and begin restoring school-based positions and student services immediately.

After amendments, the final approved memo directs the Administration to take the following actions:

• Appropriate $6.8 million from the District's remaining unassigned fund balance.
• Restore up to 45 school-based positions, or dollar equivalent, including classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, building substitutes, and counselors, based on schools' greatest staffing needs.
• Restores first-semester District transportation and access for highly gifted elementary students and Board-approved secondary athletics.
• Provides first-semester District transportation for athletic practices, district, regional, and state competitions, including daily pool access for high school swim and dive teams and bus service restored to no less than FY26 levels.
• Directs the Administration to restore the District's unassigned fund balance to at least 5% before recommending additional allocations if anticipated State "waterfall" funding is received.

Non-Action Items

Member McDonogh pulled Resolution #26-27-01 for discussion, A Resolution Declaring the Board's Intent to Forego School Closures During the 2026-2027 School Year Except in Emergency Circumstances.

Superintendent Update

During his Superintendent's Update, Dr. Jharrett Bryantt thanked the Anchorage School Board for its leadership and recent actions to restore nearly 100 educator positions since early July, describing the investment as an important step toward strengthening schools ahead of the new school year.

Dr. Bryantt acknowledged the difficult budget decisions made over the past year, including the reduction of approximately 400 certificated positions, and said the District continues to face significant financial challenges. While he described the Board's recent actions as "a glimmer of hope" for the coming school year, he emphasized that the work of rebuilding schools and stabilizing the District's finances is far from complete.

He also thanked the Alaska Legislature for providing additional funding that made the staffing restorations possible.

Looking ahead to the start of school, Dr. Bryantt encouraged families to review the District's Back-to-School Checklist, which has been mailed to households and is available online in multiple languages. He also shared that principals recently returned to prepare for the school year and outlined three priorities that will guide the District's work in the months ahead:

1. Implementing ASD's new Academic Strategic Plan, which is designed to better align the District's resources, systems, and communication around practices that support student achievement.

2. His second priority is fiscal stabilization. Dr. Bryantt reminded the community that although the District balanced its FY27 budget, the same budget is projected to cost more than $40 million additional dollars next year due to rising labor, utility, and operating costs. He said the District could receive up to $32 million in additional State funding pending the Department of Revenue's August 31 revenue determination, and that the outcome will play a significant role in developing the FY28 budget. He emphasized the importance of continuing transparent conversations with the community about the District's long-term financial challenges and the realities facing school districts across Alaska.
3. His third priority is a new initiative called ASD Listens, which Dr. Bryantt described as a long-term effort to rebuild trust and make community engagement more accessible. Rather than relying on traditional surveys or town halls alone, the initiative will create ongoing opportunities for families, staff, students, and community members to provide feedback and help shape District decisions. Additional details about the initiative will be shared in the coming weeks.

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Bryantt expressed optimism for the school year ahead, saying that despite ongoing challenges, ASD remains committed to serving students, strengthening schools, and working alongside the community to meet the needs of Anchorage's children.

School Board Comments

This report is from the ASD Administration and summarizes what was presented to the Board during each meeting. We hope that you find these updates valuable. As always, we welcome your feedback and thoughts at TeamASD@asdk12.org.