2025-05 School District, Federal & State News

Anchorage – Despite passage of ‘historic’ education bill, Anchorage School District leaders anxious about potential budget veto – Jenna Kunze, ADN

Anchorage – Two beloved Anchorage schools are closed for good – Jenna Kunze, ADN

Anchorage – Scaled-back Academies of Anchorage will launch next year amid funding and other concerns, ASD says – Lauren Maxwell, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – 2 Anchorage high school graduates say extracurricular activities were key to their success – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Parents say uncertainty over school funding is stressing families – Lauren Maxwell, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – Anticipating funding boost from the state, Anchorage School Board votes to reinstate hundreds of employees – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board votes to reverse cuts – Joe Allgood & Lauren Maxwell, Alaska’s News Source

Anchorage – ASD plans to reinstate most displaced employees after BSA increase passes Legislature – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board to consider reversing most cuts, betting on additional funding from state – Jenna Kunze, ADN

Anchorage – The Anchorage School Board will vote on a revised budget that would reverse deep budget cuts restoring programs and staff – Alaska’s News Source

Cordova – Cordova School District proposes major budget cuts, as state continues to spar over BSA – Camille Botello, Cordova Times

Cordova – Mayor’s Message: Encourage federal reps to continue funding schools, child care – The Cordova Times

Fairbanks – School board approves new cell phone policy – Haley Lehman, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – School board sends Capital Improvement Plan to the state, approves strategic plan – Haley Lehman, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Commissioner sends Pearl Creek charter application back to the school board – Haley Lehman, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Fairbanks school district reacts to borough Assembly’s $2.7M education funding boost – Alex Bengel, Alaska’s News Source

Fairbanks – To ban or not to ban: School board considers cell phone use policy – Haley Lehman, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Assembly gives Fairbanks school district additional $2.7 million – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Parents say uncertainty over school funding is stressing families – Lauren Maxwell, Alaska’s News Source

Fairbanks – Fairbanks North Star Borough budget passage bolsters education funding, restores monies for rec center – Alex Bengel, Alaska’s News Source

Fairbanks – Potential $700 BSA increase may still lead to Fairbanks school district budget deficit, superintendent says – Alex Bengel, KTUU

Fairbanks – Fairbanks school district seeks state increase in transportation funding – Alex Bengel, Alaska’s News Source

Fairbanks – Fairbanks school leaders: $700 BSA increase would be offset by charter school costs – Alex Bengel, Alaska’s News Source

Fairbanks – Fairbanks school district leaders discuss HB 57 and $700 BSA increase – Alaska’s News Source

Fairbanks – School district faces lawsuit in connection with alleged sexual abuse – Haley Lehman, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Haines – Haines school district leaders say they face financial crisis without funding boost – Will Steinfeld – Chilkat Valley News

Juneau – The Juneau School District will pay for more of local Lingít language immersion program – Yvonne Krumrey, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Class of 2025: Expanding by consolidating. Former TMHS students get tributes as nearly 300 seniors walk the stage in first post-merger commencement – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Juneau – Educators, the ‘backbone of our schools,’ are breaking – Jasz Garrett, Juneau Empire

Kenai – Enrollment numbers continue to decline in KPBSD – Hunter Morrison, KDLL

Kenai – KPBSD board votes to close Nikolaevsk School – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion

Ketchikan – Ketchikan School Board reaffirms commitment to restructuring plan – Michael Fanelli, KRBD

Ketchikan – School Board approves budget – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Kodiak – Ouzinkie graduates two out of four rural Kodiak Island Borough School District seniors – Davis Hovey, KMXT

Kodiak – School board to review cell phone policy – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Mat-Su – Proposed removal of one graduation requirement, addition of two new diplomas introduced at school board meeting – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman

Mat-Su – Mat-Su School Board approves restrictions on student phones & similar devices during school hours – Casandra Mancl, Alaska’s News Source

Mat-Su – Mat-Su College honors class of 2025 – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman

Mat-Su – All-day student phone ban discussed at Mat-Su School Board meeting – Leah Thom, Alaska’s News Source

Nome – Potential increase in state funding provides hope to districts – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget

Nome – Inside ‘impromptu’ meeting as city weighs massive cuts to Nome Public Schools – Ben Townsend, KNOM

Petersburg – Wrangell superintendent resigns; school board selects final candidates – Colette Czarnecki, KSTK

Sitka – ‘I am so blessed to grow up in this school district.’ Grateful senior thanks Sitka School Board for its dedication – Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Sitka – School Board to be At Graduations – Daily Sitka Sentinel

Southeast Island – A taekwondo class in rural Alaska may save the community’s school – Michael Fanelli, KRBD

Unalaska – Two Unalaska students make history by qualifying for National History Day contest – Sofia Stuart-Rasi, KUCB

Wrangell – Frequent turnover of school principals continues – Wrangell Sentinel

Alaska legislative leaders urge governor to address ‘pattern of obstruction’ by revenue department – Iris Samuels, ADN

Federal judge blocks Trump administration from dismantling U.S. Department of Education – Stetson Miller, Alaska’s News Source

As teacher burnout deepens, states scramble to fill school job vacancies. Some states are changing standards by dropping tests, recruiting aides to become teachers – Robbie Sequeira, Alaska Beacon

Superintendents across Alaska urge Gov. Mike Dunleavy to keep school funding boost intact – Sean Maguire, ADN

Alaska’s Legislature was in session for four months: Here’s what they did with their time. A look at the 33 bills that both the House and Senate passed this year, and where they stand in the process – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Gov. Dunleavy wants accountability? He’s single handedly dismantling Alaska public schools – Danette Peterson, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

The Dunleavy Decline: a legacy that’s left Alaska’s students behind – Rachel Blakeslee, Colleen Bolling, Rebecca Braun, Polly Carr & Ellen Jaimes, Alaska Beacon

Alaska schools need teachers. They’re hiring them from the Philippines – Brian Venua, Alaska Public Media

A rejected calculation change could cost Alaska $80 million in education funding – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Alaska lawmakers’ session is over. Here are 9 things they did – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Alaska Legislature passes budget with $1,000 dividend and adjourns for the year – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska Legislature overrides Gov. Dunleavy’s veto of public school funding bill – James Brooks & Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

Alaska lawmakers override Dunleavy’s veto of education bill – Iris Samuels, & Sean Maguire, ADN

Alaska Legislature overrides Gov. Dunleavy’s veto of public school funding bill – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska lawmakers override Dunleavy’s veto of education bill – Iris Samuels & Sean Maguire

Legislature overrides governor’s veto of education funding bill – Hannah Lee & Beth Verge

Dunleavy, who proposed giant deficit, looks for excuses to cut education – Dermot Cole, Reporting from Alaska

‘Massive unpredictability’: Alaskan education leaders react to Governor’s veto – Joe Allgood, Alaska’s News Source

Gov. Dunleavy vetoes bipartisan education bill, setting up override vote – Sean Maguire & Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy vetoes second education funding bill, repeats calls for policy changes – James Brooks & Corinne Smith

Dunleavy vetoes compromise education funding bill, setting up override vote – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Governor vetoes education funding bill just before statutory deadline – Beth Verge, Alaska’s News Source

Gov. Dunleavy vetoes bipartisan education bill as lawmakers say they will override – Sean Maguire & Iris Samuels, ADN

Gov. Dunleavy vetoes second bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy vetoes education funding bill, prompting second legislative override vote – James Brooks & Corinne Smith

Opinion: HB 57 is a victory for compromise and public education. The governor should let it stand – Lon Garrison, ADN

Opinion: An open letter to Gov. Dunleavy on the future of Alaska education – Jorden Nigro & Roz’lyn Grady, ADN

Opinion: Decades of inaction by Alaska’s leadership is leaving kids with the bill.  Why are we OK with that?  – Sarah K. Lewis, Alaska Beacon

Lawmakers have less than a week left in Juneau. Here’s what to know – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Here’s what to expect in the final days of Alaska’s legislative session – Iris Samuels & Sean Maguire, ADN

Alaska Senate votes on state budget, with $1,000 PFD – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget

Amid budget struggle, Alaska has little money for new construction or renovation – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

After federal funding cut, Alaska Legislature asks Congress to help rural schools – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska’s education department wants to further limit local funding for schools. A new bill may prevent that – Jamie Diep, KTOO

US House Republicans propose $5 billion for private school vouchers – Associated Press

Alaska House votes to revive pension plan for state and municipal workers – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

House passes bill reviving pensions for public employees, Senate expected to consider it next year – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Alaska House passes public pension bill, sending it to Senate – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska’s education funding bill awaits decision from Governor Dunleavy – Your Alaska Link

Opinion: It’s wrong to hold badly needed Alaska school funding hostage to political agendas – Löki Gale Tobin, ADN

Gov. Mike Dunleavy opposes tax bills and urges creation of joint fiscal plan group after session ends – Sean Maguire, ADN

Opinion: Alaska legislators delivered on education. A veto would set us back – Lisa S. Parady, ADN

Dunleavy threatens unprecedented veto of education funds in budget unless his policy goals are met. Line-item veto could leave districts with less money for months; legality of such action is questioned – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Gov. Dunleavy tells superintendents he will veto education bill, and reduce school funding in budget, unless his policies are approved – Sean Maguire, ADN

Legislature approves income tax on out-of-state businesses operating online – Sean Maguire, ADN

Dunleavy meets with superintendents across Alaska, says he will veto education bill unless proposed policies are approved – Leah Thom & Beth Verge, Alaska’s News Source

Meeting with superintendents, Dunleavy threatens to veto compromise education bill – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Alaska Senate approves budget with $1,000 PFD amid warnings of lean times to come – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

To fund education programs, Alaska lawmakers look to tax Netflix and Amazon – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Alaska Senate approves pared-down budget draft while warning of ‘coming storm’ in state finances – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Bill to create tribally-run public schools progresses through Alaska Legislature – Jamie Diep, KTOO

10 ways Trump has changed Alaska in 100 days – Liz Ruskin, Eric Stone, Avery Ellfeldt & Ava White, Alaska Public Media

Alaska Senate committee drops proposed 2025 PFD to $1,000 per recipient, an inflation-adjusted low – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska Legislature broadly approves compromise education bill that legislators say could survive Dunleavy veto – Sean Maguire, ADN

Bipartisan vote sends $700 school funding boost to Gov. Dunleavy’s desk – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Compromise education bill passes Legislature by veto-proof margin despite Dunleavy administration threats – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

House education funding bill with $700 BSA increase heads to governor’s desk. Following concurrence vote, HB 57 is now in the hands of Gov. Mike Dunleavy – Beth Verge, Alaska’s News Source

For Alaska legislators, it’s try, try, try again on big public education funding effort – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska education commissioner urged superintendents to lobby legislators for Dunleavy or risk a veto – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

Alaska education commissioner urges superintendents to back Gov. Dunleavy’s school policies or risk funding veto – Sean Maguire, ADN

Alaska House encourages school districts to limit students’ cellphones, with some exceptions – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Education funding veto: Alaska dad group voices strong opposition as supporters say Dunleavy made right move – Jonson Kuhn, Alaska’s News Source