Anchorage School District Faces Backlash Over Proposed Budget Cuts
Anchorage School Board members are facing mounting opposition to proposed budget cuts aimed at addressing a $90 million shortfall, with parents, students, and employees voicing concerns at a packed meeting Tuesday evening. The proposed cuts include larger class sizes, reductions in school nursing staff, and significant reductions to educational programs and athletics.
Around 300 people attended the February 17th school board meeting to protest the planned cuts, with nearly 140 individuals signing up to testify before the board. The meeting stretched late into the night, ending at 11:59 p.m., as board members listened to hours of testimony from those affected by the potential changes.
One key area of concern revolves around a proposed shift in school nursing to a regional model. Currently, each school has dedicated nursing staff. Under the new plan, the Anchorage Bowl would be divided into five regions – north, south, east, west, and central – with Eagle River operating as its own region. Each region would be staffed by approximately ten nurses, serving around a dozen schools. If substitute nurses are unavailable, front office clerical staff would be responsible for tending to sick children, a prospect that has raised alarm among parents.
Megan Charles, a nurse at Eagle River High School, testified about the critical role nurses play in student safety, recounting an instance where she identified a life-threatening allergic reaction that a non-medical professional might have missed. “A regional model compromises student safety and well-being and will likely drive families with medically complex children out of the district,” Charles stated.
Cuts to elementary specialist positions, specifically the combination of art and music classes, also drew criticism. Hannah Johnston, a music teacher at Homestead Elementary School, argued that such a change would limit students’ opportunities and unfairly burden teachers with teaching subjects outside their expertise. “For many students, the arts are the very reason they get excited to come to school each day,” Johnston said.
The potential reduction in middle school class offerings also sparked concern, with students like Cora Moe, a fifth grader at Turnagain Elementary, expressing fears about limited access to electives. Moe, who participates in Russian language immersion, journalism, and basketball, worried about fitting these activities into her schedule under the proposed changes.
The district’s initial plan to close three elementary schools also faced strong opposition, though administrators indicated they had adjusted relocation plans based on previous criticism. Parents and students shared personal stories about the positive impact of specific schools, like Fire Lake Elementary, where a student with autism credited the staff with helping her find her voice. Brittanee Harris, whose children attend Campbell STEM, emphasized the school’s importance to the community and its success in supporting students with learning disabilities.
Much of the testimony focused on the proposed cuts to middle school and high school sports. However, district administrators announced a potential alternative that could save most sports programs by increasing participation fees and reducing travel buses within Anchorage. This revised plan would reportedly spare all sports except esports and gymnastics.
Kris Armstrong, mother of a Chugiak High School skier, spoke passionately about the importance of winter sports to Alaskan identity and culture. “That’s how our daughter became an Alaskan, in the winter on skis,” Armstrong said. “Tonight she and the entire ski community are sending you an S.O.S. Save our skiing.”
The Anchorage School Board is scheduled to vote on the budget on February 24th. While the proposed sports cuts may be mitigated, the district still faces significant financial challenges and difficult decisions as it seeks to close a $90 million budget gap. The board has not yet discussed what it would do with additional funding from the state or the city, if it were to become available.
