Joint Meeting of Anchorage Assembly and School District - September 26, 2025

A joint meeting of the Anchorage Assembly and the Anchorage School District (ASD) was held on September 26, 2025, to discuss financial updates, capital planning, and mutual concerns. The meeting covered ASD's FY26 budget results, the FY27 outlook, a right-sizing initiative, school-based health centers, and potential regulatory changes affecting local funding. The assembly and school board expressed shared concerns about state funding and collaboration on child care and transportation.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of Previous Meetings: Approved without objection by both bodies.
• Agenda: Approved as amended, with items C and D (Assembly task force on public safety advisory commission and ASD bus barn location) moved before other items, per member Rivera's request.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Caroline Storm, Executive Director of the Coalition for Education Equity, urged rejection of a "scarcity mindset" regarding state funding, noting Alaska's resource wealth. She also offered pro bono architectural services to assist ASD with code compliance for housing different occupancies in school buildings.
• A second speaker (name not provided) discussed a private organization's pilot program to get fourth graders back into swimming pools, with potential funding through Senator Lisa Murkowski's office, emphasizing the need for low-income access to swim lessons.

Discussion Items

• ASD FY26 Budget Update and FY27 Outlook: Chief Financial Officer Andy Ratley presented the final budget report. Key points:
  • The legislature passed HB 57, providing a $700 per-student base student allocation (BSA) increase and a $48 per-pupil transportation increase, both overridden after a veto.
  • Despite the increase, ASD made significant reductions: 136 permanent and contracted positions cut (87 school-based, including teachers, principals, librarians, nurses; 18 from special programs; 31 from administration), plus millions in cuts to supplies, equipment, and maintenance.
  • Enrollment declined by 850 students (650 fewer than projected), with a potential revenue loss of $4–6 million pending the October OASIS count.
  • For FY27, ASD projects a $75 million deficit, with additional needs for capital equipment, curriculum (social studies materials over 20 years old), and meeting state class-size targets (K-6: 23, 7-12: 30), which would cost an extra $26 million.
  • A state regulatory change under consideration by the Board of Education could limit local contributions for transportation, student nutrition, and pre-K, potentially costing ASD $15 million or more. The district urged the assembly to advocate for delaying this regulation.
• Right Sizing ASD: Superintendent Dr. Bryant and Mr. Anderson presented updates on school consolidations and repurposing. Highlights:
  • Consolidation of Nunaka Valley Elementary into Baxter Elementary resulted in Baxter nearly reaching 400 students (from under 200), gaining teachers and resources.
  • Alaska Native Cultural Charter School moved into the Lake Hood facility, allowing it to add students from its waitlist.
  • Abbot Loop Elementary closure data showed displaced students maintaining academic growth.
  • ASD plans to use closed schools for commercial child care, partnering with Thread and the municipality. A pilot with Kids Core International (Head Start) at Fairview Elementary will reserve 17% of slots for ASD employees and similar priority for municipal employees. An ITB for child care operators is expected in spring 2026.
  • A recommended list of schools for closure/repurposing and boundary changes will be announced on October 7.
• School-Based Health Centers: Presented by Alison Cecil (ASD Student Support) and Heather Ireland (Anchorage School-Based Health Centers). The centers provide physical exams, sports physicals, and urgent care at five high schools (Clark, Bartlett, Begich, East, and West—new this year) plus pop-up clinics. Utilization has grown 50% since 2018, with about 25% of students uninsured. The program operates on a $200,000–$250,000 budget, supported by a $750,000 municipal grant, billing revenue, and donations. Mental health services are integrated through community partners. The district noted that the proposed state regulation could threaten municipal funding for such programs.
• Other Matters:
  • Assembly Task Force to Reimagine the Public Safety Advisory Commission: Member Rivera reported that the task force is in phase two, with meetings through November to recommend a new commission structure. School Board President Jacobs is the designated liaison.
  • ASD Bus Barn Location: Member Rivera noted that the mayor's office is not currently pursuing relocation, but interest remains in reviving the topic for future development.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on substantive items. The meeting was informational.
• Agenda and minutes approved unanimously.
• Next meeting scheduled for December 5, 2025, at 10 a.m., hosted by Anchorage School District.
• Directives and requests:
  • Assembly member Donley requested an agenda item on school resource officer (SRO) staffing for the next meeting, citing understaffing and the chief's reluctance to fill vacancies.
  • ASD Superintendent urged the assembly to advocate for delaying the state's local contribution regulation and to support a sensible fiscal plan, warning of a "fiscal cliff" equivalent to a $700 per-student cut.
  • Multiple members expressed appreciation for the budget transparency and pledged to continue public education on fiscal challenges.