By SUZANNE DOWNING
Feb. 25,2 026 – A packed chamber and protesters outside did not stop the Anchorage School Board on Tuesday night from approving one of the most debated sets of reductions in recent district history, a budget that is a direct response to years of declining enrollment and flat funding.
The approved budget closes Fire Lake, Lake Otis and Campbell STEM elementary schools at the end of the 2025–26 school year. It increases class sizes by four students per grade level, eliminates the IGNITE program for gifted students, cuts eight school nurses and nearly 50 middle school teachers, and restructures the district’s elementary specialist and regional nursing models.
On a 5–2 vote, the board adopted a spending plan that increases class sizes, eliminates more than 500 staff positions, including over 300 teaching jobs, closes three elementary schools and cuts several popular programs. Board members Dave Donley and Andy Holleman voted against the measure.
District leaders say the reductions are needed to balance the books.
Over the past decade, the Anchorage School District has lost roughly 7,000 students, or roughly 700 students per year. Fire Lake has less than 200 students, Lake Otis has 264 students, and Campbell STEM has less than 400 students. The total is about 864 students between those schools, coming up far short when measured against the 7,000 lost students in 10 years.
Declining birth rates, an outmigration of working-age families, and broader demographic shifts have steadily reduced enrollment. Fewer students mean less state funding, which is largely driven by per-pupil formulas.
The district projects a $90 million shortfall for next year. Officials say even maintaining current service levels would require funding the district does not have. Anchorage schools are also staring at a projected $42 million deficit in the 2027–28 school year.
Last year, board members tapped district savings to avoid similar reductions. That cushion is largely gone.
Administration had presented a revised proposal ahead of Tuesday’s vote that reinstated some of the most unpopular cuts. Board members amended the budget to preserve most sports programs, some middle school teaching positions, and most school nurses. A reimagined sports and activities plan would partially restore athletics that had been slated for elimination.
Still, the cuts sparked strong reaction. Students, parents and teachers picketed outside the district office building before the meeting. Families filled the board chambers, with additional spectators watching from the lobby.
Some of the reductions may not be final.
Anchorage voters will decide in April whether to approve Proposition 9, which would provide an additional nearly $12 million to the district. The board passed an amendment stating that if voters approve the measure, the district would reinstate 80 teachers and three kindergarten paraprofessionals, effectively cutting the planned class size increases roughly in half.
District officials also said they will wait until after the April election to issue layoff notices to teachers.
There has been discussion of additional education funding from the state Legislature this session, but several board members said they are not anticipating a significant increase.
5 thoughts on “Anchorage School Board approves deep cuts as enrollment drops by 7,000 students in 10 years”
Teachers won’t have a problem finding work in Alaska. 70 of these layed off teachers can go to work for the Lower Kuskokwmin School District. They can replace foreign permit teachers.
“……..Declining birth rates, an outmigration of working-age families, and broader demographic shifts have steadily reduced enrollment………”
Question:
How does homeschooling (especially after Covid) affect this situation?
ASD has to make deep cuts. It’s Today or its later. Deep budget cuts are inevitable.
The Democrats protesting parents, staff, and friends won’t like it whether it happens today or if it happens 15 years later when the year is 2041. The sooner the better because then they can find a New life somewhere else instead of being strung along on.
By the way Gifted children aren’t gifted children unless they are three-five letter grades ahead of their peers
That’s the intention of a gifted learning program was for the kids far ahead of their peers and they needed courses that’ll teach them what their peers would be leaning three-five years later. It’s why in millennials or GenY generation there was Advance placement junior and high school courses for the few who needed more.
To which ASD does not have gifted learners. They don’t have the teachers not the kind of kids who attend AsD for such programs. It’s the parents and teachers Ego and pride in their workplace that their students are smarter than they actually are. When reality is ASD graduates either in a charter school or neighborhood school Are three-five letter grades behind.
The state’s gifted students are either in a private school or they are homeschooled.
Why can’t the board and superintendent do these things under extreme confidentiality not to have any leaks to the public to cut the budget since the public is so emotional but it’s what us needed for the future of ASD continuing to operate so it can put its financial resources where it needs to go.
In Alaska’s case i would be okay with hush hush when it comes to budget cuts. No media is allowed. No union representatives allowed. No one but the board and superintendent, and a budget director all sworn to secrecy to avoid those packed Dramatic rooms of dissent.
Whether or not you agree All government budgets need to be cut and be a shoelaced budget.