Anchorage School Board meets for first time since school funding veto

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The Anchorage School Board held its first meeting less than a week after Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a school funding increase, and minutes after the legislature voted to uphold the veto.

Prior to the regular 6 p.m. meeting, the school board held a work session where they discussed the district budget in depth. At the beginning of the meeting, Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt addressed the veto.

“There’s real people attached to these processes, and this is a devastating time to be an educator right now,” Bryantt said. “And it doesn’t help that just moments ago, the governor’s veto was sustained by the legislature.”

“Our stance on education has never changed,” said House Minority Leader Mia Costello (R-Anchorage) in a statement after the veto. “And we stood firm again today. This was about rejecting an unfunded spending measure devoid of any further policy to improve education outcomes for our students.”

At the start of the work session, district staff and the school board addressed claims that the district was withholding information on extra findings that were available to them.

“It’s just frustrating to watch this type of attack without any chance to correct it,” said Board Member Pat Higgins during the work session. “If we can have an honest communication about funding, that’s fine. If they got areas to do, I can, I’ll concede if they find areas of issues, and I’ve got issues. But this thing of coming out with something without any communications, no back-and-forth information, is totally wrong.”

“We can’t fix their problems of declining enrollment chasing the BSA north, because our schools are so small,” said Sen. Bert Stedman, (R-Sitka) in Tuesday’s joint legislative session. “They’re gonna have to deal with their declining enrollment, and at the same time they have to deal with declining enrollment, they gotta deal with advancing salaries, especially for entry level teachers, we gotta keep our teachers.”

On Monday, Bryantt sent a letter to the legislature with information that “clarifies” ASD’s financial position, in response to claims that the district has $88 million in extra funds. The letter says the $88 million is broken into three categories:

• “$27 million is legally restricted to protect the Municipality of Anchorage’s bond rating and cannot be used for school operations
• $49 million is already programmed into ASD’s FY26 budget to offset next year’s projected shortfall
• The remaining $6–8 million is designated for emergency use — representing less than 2% of our annual operating budget. This reserve provides basic financial stability and allows us to respond to unforeseen events such as natural disasters, equipment failures, or other emergencies."

In addition to the $88 million, the letter says that next year’s budget projects savings of $41 million from attrition, including salary and benefit savings.

Facing a budget deficit in excess of $100 million, the school board approved sweeping cuts back in February. However, the budget included an amendment to roll back many of those cuts if state funding increases by a minimum of $1,000.

“As we approach the May 15 statutory deadline to issue layoff notices, ASD must prepare for every possible funding outcome,” Bryantt wrote in the letter. “Without legislative action, we will be forced to proceed with staffing reductions that directly impact students, classrooms, and schools. If funding becomes available, we are ready to act swiftly to restore as many positions as possible.”

Included in the budgeting process, the district has given notification to nearly 200 teachers that they are being displaced. Displacement for many of those notified will mean they are moved to another school.

“I appreciate what the administration’s doing in terms of trying to make things work with the resources they have,” said ASD School Board President Andy Holleman. “I do think it’s important that all of us remember that we’re really dismantling the Anchorage School District at this point.”

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