Latest news with #AnchorageSchoolDistrict
23-07-2025
- Business
Murkowski worries Trump administration's $6B funding freeze could result in 'closing schools'
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she's worried the Trump administration's federal education funding freeze could mean "closing schools" in her home state. "Many of our school districts have already made really hard decisions about closing schools," Murkowski said in the wake of three of Alaska's school districts suing the Trump administration for freezing more than roughly $6 billion dollars in congressionally authorized federal education funding nationwide. "Both in Fairbanks and Anchorage, we've seen layoffs," Murkowski said. Earlier this month, the Anchorage School District announced in a letter to the community that the district had already begun laying off some staff members after $46 million was impacted by the pause. The district receives about a third of the state's federal education funds, according to Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt. "I wish I could say that we were really solid on the state level, but we're not. And now there's questions on the federal level as well," Murkowski added. Murkowski and nine other Republican senators signed onto a letter last week requesting the Trump administration reverse the funding pause, which they said prompted the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to unfreeze more than $1 billion in after-school and summer learning funding. However, OMB did not indicate whether it would be unfreezing the rest of the roughly $6 billion in federal funds for programs, such as English language learning, educator development and adult education, among others. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, led the group of 10 senators signing on to the letter. She told ABC News that she hopes the administration can successfully restore all education funding to states by time school starts. "I'd like to see some of the other programs released, but, you know, we haven't heard one way or the other," Moore Capito told ABC News. School district leaders are now scrambling due to the uncertainty, according to state officials who've spoken to ABC News. At least two dozen states, several school districts and education advocacy groups have now sued the administration over the funding freeze. An OMB spokesman said the funds are under review for "grossly" misusing programs that promote "radial leftwing agendas." But Murkowski slammed the administration for contending that districts in Alaska pushed programs with radical ideology. She said the programs are not "woke or ideologically out of line." Murkowski fears the programmatic review from the OMB -- the stated reason for the freeze -- could stretch into the school year, suggesting it would harm adult and English language learners the most. The delayed funding could in turn impact the workforce, according to Murkowski. "If your literacy skills are weak, if you're working on your English skills, I mean, these are all things that are keeping people out of the workforce at a time when we're trying to get people into it," Murkowski said, adding "So I am very worried." Since the funding pause ensued on July 1, North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven said he has been hearing from concerned educators in his state as well. Hoeven was relieved when the after-school and summer learning grants were unfrozen because they, too, help the workforce, he said. With funding for those programs secured, parents won't have to make other arrangements for their children, potentially missing work to do so, Hoeven told ABC News. "That was the one that was most timely." Hoeven and Murkowski said they're reaching out to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, hoping she can help release the additional funding to schools. OMB hasn't made a decision yet on how long its review will take. ABC News has reached out to the Education Department for comment. Meanwhile, Arkansas Republican Sen. John Boozman said at this point unfreezing any aid is a positive first step. "The good news is that we are moving in the right direction," Boozman told ABC News. "Hopefully we can get them [the rest of funding] restored as soon as possible." As the school year approaches, Murkowski stressed that the administration must move quickly. "I don't want to call it cuts yet, because my hope is that they're just unpaused and that they are going to materialize," she said. The senator, who grew up in Alaska and raised her children there, told ABC News that she is hopeful McMahon understands that rural communities will suffer without critical education programs.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Dunleavy vetoes bipartisan education bill as lawmakers say override possible
May 19—Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Monday vetoed a bipartisan education package in a step against permanently increasing the education budget, which has largely stagnated during his tenure. Lawmakers convened earlier this year under a shared commitment to significantly increase the education budget for the first time in nearly a decade. Dunleavy also said he would support an increase to education spending, but stipulated his support on the passage of policy demands that lawmakers said were untenable. Educators have said that Alaska's public education system is in crisis due to years of virtually flat funding. Multiple school districts had planned steep cuts to programs, staff and more. But the Anchorage School District recently reversed many of those cuts on the assumption a funding boost would be approved this year. Dunleavy already vetoed one education bill passed by lawmakers earlier this year. Legislators returned to the drawing table and passed House Bill 57, which would raise the $5,960 Base Student Allocation — the state's per-student funding formula — by $700. That would translate to a roughly $180 million increase to the state's $1.2 billion education budget. The sweeping measure also has policies intended to improve student outcomes, including by limiting cellphone use in schools and creating a new task force to study some of Dunleavy's policy demands. Lawmakers and the governor last year agreed to a one-time increase in the education budget by an amount equivalent to a $680 BSA increase. The year before that, lawmakers also approved a one-time $680 increase, half of which was vetoed by the governor. "There is no evidence that a permanent increase in the Base Student Allocation will improve educational outcomes. Therefore, this bill in its current form does not serve the best interest of Alaskans," Dunleavy wrote in a letter delivered to the House and Senate on Monday afternoon. Lawmakers and education advocates have countered that an increase in education funding would allow districts to retain qualified and experienced teachers, and keep class sizes smaller — policies they say correlate to improved educational outcomes. House Bill 57 passed the Legislature on April 30 in a combined 48-11 vote. Opposition came from Republican lawmakers in minority caucuses. Since then, Dunleavy told school superintendents that he would veto the measure unless his preferred education policies were approved by the Legislature. Superintendents said Dunleavy also told them he was prepared to veto a school funding increase from the budget. House Minority Leader Mia Costello, an Anchorage Republican, on Monday declined to comment about the veto. But majority members say that the Legislature may be able to muster the 40 votes needed to override the governor. Legislators have thrice failed to override Dunleavy's vetoes of education funding. Rep. Justin Ruffridge, a Soldotna Republican, said Monday that over the past several days, he and other House members had spoken to members of Dunleavy's staff about the education bill in an effort to find common ground that would stave off a veto. But majority lawmakers also said they were not willing to consider Dunleavy's policy demands. "The message is: We have to find a way to get wins, and I think going to war with both each other and our school system isn't a good plan," said Ruffridge. Dunleavy's policy demands include a provision to allow students across the state to enroll in the public school of their choice, regardless of where they live. Legislators have said that the open enrollment plan Dunleavy is seeking has been described as unworkable by educators. Lawmakers are planning to hold a veto override session on Tuesday. The regular legislative session must end by midnight on Wednesday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'It feels surreal': Dimond High celebrates the Class of 2025
May 16—The roar of cheers from parents and family members filled the Alaska Airlines Center on Thursday as 301 seniors from Dimond High School flooded in for their graduation ceremony. The cheers continued later as each graduate's name was called, marking the completion of their high school career. The joy was visible as parents cheered on their children and grandparents took pictures of their graduates walking across the stage with their diplomas. Karen Warfield, grandmother of graduate Trenton Simmons, smiled and laughed, saying she was happy, excited and proud of Simmons for getting through high school. "It feels surreal," said graduate Sienna Pederson. The 58th commencement for Dimond High was one of the 19 graduations that are occurring in the Anchorage School District in May. Approximately 3,000 students are graduating from the Anchorage School District this year, according to a district spokesman. Dimond graduate Raelyn Rexford crossed the stage dressed in a kuspuk made by her grandmother in Dimond High's signature school color, maroon. "It means a lot to me ... having the opportunity to show off my culture," said Rexford. First-year principal Whitney D'Atri's message to students and the audience was to remember to "Stay Golden," one of Dimond's core values, as they progress through their lives. Staying golden was a theme echoed in honors speaker Josiah James' speech. "Some of us won a football state championship," said James, lifting his hand to show the crowd his sparkly championship ring. The Dimond Lynx football team won its first state championship in 23 years last fall. Graduates streamed out of the center, the sun illuminating the celebration waiting for them in the parking lot. Some family members stood with confetti poppers ready to douse their graduate in paper confetti. One family set up a photo booth for their graduate, equipped with a printed-out banner and music that flowed through the crowd. Families piled leis upon leis over their graduates' heads. "I'm not done yet," said one family member as she continued to heap leis onto a graduate's shoulders. One graduate, James Luaao, could barely see through the mountain of leis that went from his shoulders up to well past his ears. Topping off his ensemble was a unicorn floaty, sitting on his head like a crown. "This is only 1% of the leis," said Luaao. Reflecting on his graduation, Luaao said that "it's an accomplishment in life ... it's just a stepping stone to where I want to be." He hopes to play college football and "stay successful." Unicorn floaty crowns weren't the only thing on top of graduates' heads after the ceremony. Many graduates wore mortarboard caps that their relatives had beaded for them to show their culture. "It's a big statement, especially for Native people, how far we've come," graduate Talia Veldstra said in reference to her regalia. Veldstra donned a mortarboard cap decorated with beading and fur, which was sewed on by her aunt and grandmother. "It should really be celebrated. Graduation is a big deal, especially for Native people, especially in Alaska," said Veldstra.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Anchorage School Board makes broad cuts to staff, programs and sports in next year's budget
Feb. 26—The Anchorage School Board on Tuesday approved a budget for the coming school year that makes broad cuts to staff, programs and sports, while promising to restore them if the Alaska Legislature significantly increases state funding. In a 6-1 vote Tuesday night, the board slashed funding for the 2025-26 school year by about $43 million. The cuts include more than 380 teacher, staff and administrative positions, ending the IGNITE program for gifted elementary students and eliminating all middle school sports and high school hockey, gymnastics and swimming and diving. Additionally, class sizes are set to increase by four across all grades, and some elementary schools will see their singular nurse and librarian positions reduced to half time. The cuts are "beyond deep," school board member Dora Wilson said. "This budget truly is removing limbs." Before approving the budget, board members unanimously voted to include an amendment that commits the district to reversing most cuts if the Alaska Legislature increases the Base Student Allocation in state statute by a minimum of $1,000 before May 15, the district's deadline for issuing layoff notices. Anchorage School District leaders have been wrestling with an $111 million structural shortfall that they say is caused by nearly a decade of largely flat state formula funding, along with rising costs and inflation. On top of the massive cuts, the district is relying on essentially all its reserves, about $50 million, to balance the budget. District administrators say they are making cuts to primarily unfilled teacher and staff positions and will largely avoid layoffs. Under the amendment from school board members Kelly Lessens and Carl Jacobs, the district would reverse the cuts to student instruction and support, including the IGNITE program, special education school staff, language immersion teachers, librarians, nurses and middle and high school sports. An increase in the state's per-student formula of $1,000 would generate about $71.1 million for the district, Lessens and Jacobs said. The district would retain cuts to about 42 administrative positions and some other areas of the budget — but it would reduce class sizes to the same sizes it had in 2016, rather than just reversing the four-student class size increase. And it would use about $4 million for "high dose reading and math tutoring" for students in grades four through 12 who test below proficiency. Lessens said the amendment "signals our clear-eyed intent to align every dollar we possibly can with our remarkable students' needs." The district would still be spending down its funds to the lowest level possible, she said. "This is a Hail Mary if I've ever seen one," Lessens said. "But again, it's the right thing to do." In Juneau, a contentious debate over education policy and funding is continuing to unfold. A measure in the Alaska House would add $1,000 to the per-student allocation for the 2025-26 school year, and by another $404 in each of the following two school years — but Gov. Mike Dunleavy has opposed the bill. Dunleavy and some GOP legislators say they want funding increases attached to policy changes, such as directing more funding to home-schooled students and expanding charter schools. The state is also facing a budget deficit of about $500 million over two fiscal years. School district leaders say it's largely unclear just how much of a funding boost public schools can expect — and when the Legislature and governor might reach an agreement. Board President Andy Holleman said the timing puts the district in a bind, because the board is required to pass a balanced budget now while the legislative session is ongoing. "Every bit of this disruption is harmful," he said. Alaska Rep. Julie Coulombe, R-Anchorage, was in the audience on Tuesday night and said she flew in from Juneau to attend. Coulombe said she would likely support a "decent" Base Student Allocation with policy changes, and that the school board's amendment directing a state funding increase directly into classrooms "helps." "One of the things I really wanted was a commitment to where the money was going to go," she said. The school board took no public testimony during Tuesday's special meeting, but last week members heard an outpouring of testimony from students, parents, educators and community members who implored the board to save various programs, sports and staff positions. Many had expressed concern about how the cuts of about 295 teaching positions in the district could be a fatal blow to some language immersion programs at elementary schools. On Tuesday night, many parents, teachers and students from O'Malley Elementary again attended, all wearing the school's bright green color, to advocate for its French language immersion program. After the vote, parents said they fear the future of the entire school is at stake. Many of the students live outside of the neighborhood school zone and go to O'Malley for the immersion program. Without that, those students wouldn't attend the school at all, they said. "To us, it's vital. It's not a luxury," said Zieh Fink, parent of a fourth-grader at O'Malley. Board member Dave Donley made several attempts to amend the budget with about $5.4 million in cuts and direct the savings to restore other cuts, like language immersion teachers. He also attempted to save IGNITE and to lessen the increase in pupil-to-teacher ratios. "I think it's just catastrophic to increase class sizes by that much," Donley said. However, other school board members voted down his proposals — though they broadly agreed that the programs should be saved and class sizes should be reduced. To pay for the programs, Donley proposed cutting the district's middle school model planning period, and defunding the district's Department of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement, but keeping sign language interpreter staff and a volunteer coordinator position, among his other attempted budget trims. Other board members said the middle school model planning period is critical to teachers' ability to collaborate and support students and families, and critical to the success of students. Removing it would upend how middle schools function if the state doesn't end up increasing school funding, they said. Member Dora Wilson said that to take away the middle school model, in addition to the staff cuts already in the budget, "would be absolutely devastating to our middle schools." Several members also said they didn't want to pick one program over another, and that they would rather move ahead with the administration's proposed budget, and return to the conversation once they get a final revenue number from Juneau. And with the resolution from Lessens and Jacobs, the district is already poised to reverse the cuts and class size increases when the Legislature increases funding, members argued. "We can't cannibalize our all of our programs" to get a few dollars, school board member Margo Bellamy said. Donley said his proposed cuts likewise could have been reversed once an increase in state funding came through, he said. He was the only member to vote against the budget's passage. "I fully acknowledge that this is a terrible situation we're in, trying to balance the budget at this point in time, not knowing what we're going to get for additional state revenue," Donley said. "But I really felt that class size, immersion, IGNITE — these were all things that should have been within this active budget and not on the list of things to fund if you got more money."
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
January cold returns as snow makes for slick roads after weeks of warmth
Jan. 27—An intense bout of snow and dropping temperatures led to slick roads around Anchorage Monday after several weeks of unseasonably warm weather. The Anchorage School District has canceled all after-school sports, activities and community rentals due to "worsening road conditions," officials said in an announcement before noon. Prolonged wet, windy weather had saturated Southcentral Alaska through the weekend, leaving a trail of potholes, high water and avalanches. Now the cold is muscling its way back in. In other words: False spring breakup is over. Second winter is here. Temperatures began dropping toward January norms Monday morning, and snow returned to Anchorage and Mat-Su. Slick conditions were reported on the Glenn Highway and in the city. Two sections of Elmore Road were closed briefly Monday morning after trucks blocked traffic due to icy conditions, according to an Anchorage police spokesman. Citing hazardous weather conditions and lingering power outages, Mat-Su district officials closed schools in the Susitna Valley on Monday. Road crews were contending with "extremely slick" conditions around the region after 2 1/2 days of high wind and heavy rain followed by Monday's temperature drop and coating of snow, said Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokesperson Shannon McCarthy. "Crews worked all weekend with thaw trucks and pot hole patching to keep roads drivable and had to switch back over to sanders in record time," McCarthy said. The forecast is calling for potentially subzero temperatures Wednesday night into Thursday morning, replacing the past few weeks of unusually balmy readings. Warmth, a major windstorm and rain eroded the official snowpack from 8 inches around the December holidays to nothing at all by Sunday. "It went to zero for maybe 12 hours there," said Anchorage-based National Weather Service meteorologist Tracen Knopp. "With this snow band that came over us this morning — they're actually out there measuring it right now, but we got I would estimate maybe a quarter inch of snow." Several inches of snow was reported in other parts of the city, he said. Until the latest storm system arrived, a series of atmospheric rivers deluged the region, melting most accumulation at lower elevations and coating the mountains with heavy, wet snow that triggered a number of large avalanches. At Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, a cornice on a ridge above Glacier Bowl gave way Sunday afternoon, sending a massive slide all the way down to the Main Street run, according to Duane Stutzman, Alyeska's mountain general manager. There were no reports of anyone caught in the slide, Stutzman said Monday morning, adding crews plan to do one more search of the debris pile, then spend the day on avalanche mitigation and regrooming the debris path. "We had only one guest up there. He happened to be the reporting party. Talk about luck," he said. The other lucky element of a non-injury avalanche within the boundaries of a ski area: "It brought down a lot of good snow that we can displace into the right areas," Stutzman said. A large slide shut down traffic on the Parks Highway on and off since Friday, when an avalanche blocked both lanes of traffic north of Cantwell. The highway was closed again Sunday evening but reopened Monday with pilot car operations in place to escort the public through the area, according to the state's 511 highway information site. Hatcher Pass Road in the Talkeetna Mountains near Palmer remains closed due to avalanches and avalanche danger just past Skeetawk Ski Area until at least Tuesday, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Days of unseasonal rain cratered roads around the region with tire-blowing potholes. The Alaska Zoo reported bears Oreo and Izzy lumbered out of their dens at least briefly over the weekend. The National Weather Service registered a high of 46 degrees at its offices near Anchorage's airport on Sunday, tying a record set in 2014. The most recent storm came on the heels of historic winds and warmth that battered Anchorage and the region this month, leaving some without power for days. By last week, parts of the Deep South, including Mississippi and Louisiana, saw more snow on the ground than Anchorage's diminished pack could muster. [Hey, New Orleans, please send some of your snow to Anchorage] A new weather system bringing cold air is pushing the warmer, moist air to the east, Knopp said Monday. "A low-pressure system with an Arctic air mass is wrapping around this low-pressure system and bringing cold air over Southcentral Alaska," he said. "Cooler air is flowing in, and we'll just see a gradual temperature change over the next few days."
