School Board Advocacy

*Updated 2/13/2026

Current Situation

The Anchorage School District (ASD) presented its preliminary 2026-27 budget on Friday, Jan. 30. In order to balance a $90 million deficit, the proposed budget cuts more than 500 positions (with significant cuts to classroom teachers and classroom support staff), reduces the number of school nurses and shifts how nurses will operate in schools, cuts health educators, and eliminates IGNITE, middle school sports, and many high school sports programs. Class sizes will increase on average by 4 more students per teacher.

On Friday, Feb. 13, an additional set of recommendations were released as a part of the ASD Rightsizing Project, proposing adjustment at multiple schools to maximize budget efficiency.  

For Chugach, the proposed cuts include the reduction of 2 teaching positions, reductions to our arts, music, and health specials, the loss of IGNITE, and if the district shifts to a regional nursing model, we will lose Maya as our full-time, dedicated nurse.

What Can We Do?

The next ASD School Board meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 17, 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in the ASD Education Center Boardroom at the ASD Education Center (5530 E. Northern Lights Blvd). Here is what we need you to do:

• • Show up wearing Chugach purple to show your support.

    • The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and the main room will fill up quickly. Please plan to arrive early, if possible, to get seats in the boardroom. If you can't be there at 6 p.m., that's OK! Come when you can and stay as long as you can. There is overflow space in the main area where the meeting is livestreamed! 

• Sign up to provide written testimony: You can submit written testimony online by signing up here. You must sign up by the deadline at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16.

• Write a letter to the school board: You can write a letter to the School Board and send to this email address schoolboard@asdk12.org to reach all members of the School Board as well as the Superintendent. Full School Board contact information can be found here. 

*To respect the rightsizing conversation currently underway, we are recommending that families do not testify in person at this School Board meeting. Instead, we encourage everyone to attend to show support for Chugach and to share the talking points below via email/written testimony. 

Tips & Talking Points

Talking points for email/written testimony:

• Chugach Optional is already operating at over 100% capacity and has an active waitlist.  

• Chugach Optional has the ability to increase class sizes in a strategic manner by adding children from the waitlist.

• Chugach Optional's model is cost efficient due to our lack of transportation. This saves the district an estimated $200,000 - $500,000 annually.

• Chugach Optional's model does not include an assistant principal, full time counselor, or reading coach.

• Chugach Optional is a cost-efficient program that maximizes pupil-to-teacher ratios and represents a strong budget value for the district.

Sample Statement

Chugach Optional is currently operating at full capacity with an active waitlist, positioning us to responsibly adjust pupil-to-teacher ratios and maximize the impact of each full-time staff member.  We also operate more cost-efficiently than many other programs.  By not requiring district transportation we avoid an estimated $200,000 - $500,000 annually in bussing expenses.  In addition, our model does not include an assistant principal, full time counselor, or reading coach, and our board supplements the program by purchasing portions of our curriculum and instructional materials. Chugach Optional is a cost-efficient program that maximizes pupil-to-teacher ratios and represents a strong budget value for the district.

Additional Talking Point for Support of the Rightsizing Proposal

• I support the Anchorage School District's current rightsizing project and the careful consideration behind it.  Thoughtful adjustments now can help ensure we maintain strong, sustainable programs for students and families across our district. 

Additional information and talking points:

• Regional Nursing Model (More info here!)

• Fine Arts Consolidation

• More Chugach Program Specifics 

Resources

Anchorage School District

• ASD's FY27 Preliminary Budget Book details the preliminary 2026-27 budget.

• ASD’s FY27 Budget Solutions page provides updates and information on the budget process.

• Use ASD’s Budget Simulation Tool to submit suggestions for the FY27 budget.

Media Resources

• "Class sizes likely to get bigger as Anchorage schools look to close budget gap." Anchorage Daily News, Jan. 11, 2026

• "Anchorage leaders propose one-time tax hike to send millions to schools." Alaska Public Media, Jan. 12, 2026

• "Anchorage School District proposes major cuts to positions, programs, sports and more." Anchorage Daily News, Jan. 30, 2026