2025-02 School District, Federal & State News

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board makes broad cuts to staff, programs and sports in next year’s budget – Emily Goodykoontz, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board passes budget that makes deep cuts to staff and programs – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Anchorage School Board members propose which cuts to reverse if state funding increases – Emily Goodykoontz, ADN

Anchorage – With a $111M deficit, Anchorage School Board set to vote on ‘devastating’ budget – Emily Goodykoontz, ADN

Anchorage – Anchorage residents plead with school board to keep programs and staff slated for budget cuts – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Parents worry about budget cuts on Anchorage School District immersion programs – KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School District superintendent talks budget issues – Ian Stewart, Your Alaska Link

Anchorage – Public speaks out against deep Anchorage School District cuts – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Community Criticizes Government During Anchorage School Board Budget Meeting – Arielle Ingram-David, Your Alaska Link

Anchorage – Anchorage School District reviews executive orders, reaffirms student protections – Your Alaska Link

Anchorage – Anchorage School District cuts budget across the board, including staff, sports and special education – Joe Allgood, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School District proposes cutting teacher positions, middle school sports and more amid flat state funding – Iris Samuels, ADN

Anchorage – Proposed Anchorage School District budget includes massive cuts, facing $111M deficit – Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media

Anchorage – Proposed budget cuts in ASD could affect staffing, sports, and student services – Your Alaska Link

Anchorage – Anchorage high schoolers lead effort to expand access to period products in district schools – Jenna Kunze, ADN

Anchorage – ASD budget shows district with deficit of millions – KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School District says it will protect student’s rights during increased immigration enforcement – Lauren Maxwell, KTUU

Anchorage – Anchorage School District showcases alternative schools, programs at Saturday expo – Joe Allgood, KTUU

Cordova – After some resistance, Cordova School Board to vote on nondiscrimination language during Wednesday’s meeting – Camille Botello, Cordova Times

Dillingham – Dillingham School District Middle/High School principal announces end-of-year resignation, prompting immediate leadership reshuffle – Margaret Sutherland, KDLG

Fairbanks – School board, community discuss Fairbanks education cuts – Alex Bengel, KTUU/KTVF

Fairbanks – Fairbanks school district proposes cutting over 167 positions for FY 2026 – KTUU

Fairbanks – Fairbanks public schools facing $16 million deficit – Robyne, KUAC

Fairbanks – Admin proposed budget: increased class sizes, over 150 eliminated positions – Carter DeJong

Fairbanks – Pearl Creek Elementary seeks to become charter school – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – New principal named for North Pole High School – Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Closed schools’ utility costs come with sticker shock – Jack Barnwell, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Education board votes to close 3 schools in Fairbanks North Star Borough – Adrian Peterson and Nolin Ainsworth, KTVF

Fairbanks – Hunter, Salcha schools spared from closure – Carter DeJong, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks – Parents of Pearl Creek Elementary School press magnet school option amidst potential closure – Adrian Peterson, KTUU

Juneau – Proposed Juneau School District budget assumes $400 increase to per-student state funding – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Juneau School Board takes next steps in budgeting process as state funding remains unclear – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Superintendent suggests Juneau school board assume a $400 BSA increase in district’s budget – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Juneau – Budget projections put Juneau School District in better financial position for next fiscal year – Jamie Diep, KTOO

Juneau – Assembly ponders Floyd Dryden for tribal youth programs, demolishing much of Marie Drake for parking. Tlingit and Haida wants to lease two-thirds of former middle school for childcare and tribal education – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Kenai – Students, assembly ask for education funding boost – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL

Kenai – Community weighs in on school finances at Kenai town hall – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL

Kenai – ‘The fight has to be with Juneau’: Homer reacts to potential school closures. The community gathered Tuesday for budget conversation after announcement of potential school closures. – Chloe Pleznac Homer News

Kenai – District discusses $17M deficit at community meeting. More than 100 people gathered in the KCHS auditorium. – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – Nikiski students learn professional skills through technical education – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – KPBSD representatives press for funding during in-person testimony to Legislature. Districts spotlighted programs already lost over years of stagnant funding that hasn’t met inflationary pressure. – Jacob Dye, Homer News

Kenai – The State of Alaska’s education budget and its effect on KPBSD with Superintendent Clayton Holland – Kathleen Gustafson, KBBI

Kenai – KPBSD discusses possible school closures in face of $17 million deficit – Jake Dye and Chloe Pleznac, Peninsula Clarion

Kenai – Amid calls for increased education funding, Dunleavy debuts reform package. KPBSD is facing a $17 million deficit driven by stagnant funding that’s failed to keep up with inflation. – Jacob Dye, Homer News

Kenai – KPBSD considers 9 schools for closure – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL

Kenai – Peninsula residents join state school funding debate – Ashlyn O’Hara, KDLL

Kenai – KPBSD, other school districts call on Legislature for increased funding – Jacob Dye, Homer News

Kenai – Education dominates Elam’s 1st town hall as state rep – Jacob Dye, Peninsula Clarion

Ketchikan – Ketchikan School District begins process of restructuring elementary schools – Michael Fanelli, KRBD

Ketchikan – Draft KGBSD budget in works, based on $630 bump to BSA – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Stedman tells school districts to budget assuming BSA increase – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchilan – Ketchikan School Board is now considering closing a school – Michael Fanelli, KRBD

Ketchikan – School Board to review FY26 budget version with no SBA increase – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Ketchikan – Ketchikan School Board postpones grade level restructuring decision – Michael Fanelli, KRBD

Ketchikan – School Board defers consideration of restructuring motion – Alex Abbeduto, Ketchikan Daily News

Kodiak – District to offer cost-cutting buyouts for senior teachers – Steve Williams, Kodiak Daily Mirror

Kodiak – Chiniak school’s water pump finally repaired – Brian Venua, KMXT

Lower Yukon – ‘They can begin their own libraries’: Mountain Village brings back book fair by rewriting the rules – Samantha Watson, KYUK

Mat-Su – School board votes to create new Mat-Su Hybrid Learning Academy – Katie Stavick, Frontiersman

Nome – Student, school board president advocate for HB 69 in Juneau – Anna Lionas, Nome Nugget

Nome – Can ‘Visible Learning’ help rural Alaska schools? Nome among districts testing new model – Ben Townsend, KNOM

Sitka – Sitka School Board: ‘Let’s hold on to our schools’ – Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Sitka – Sitka School Board sends a strong message to Juneau about education funding – Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Unalaska – Unalaska school board, superintendent push Alaska State Legislature for education funding increase – Andy Lusk, KUCB

Unalaska – Unalaska City School principal to leave after one year with the district – Maggie Nelson, KUCB

Opinion: Alaska education funding does not have to be at others’ expense – Lon Garrison, Lisa Parady and Caroline Storm, ADN

Edgmon takes speaker’s gavel with plans to address education funding, defined benefits plans and more – Andy Lusk, KUCB

Rep. Bynum proposes one-time BSA hike – Ketchikan Daily News

Alaska House majority slows fast-moving school funding boost for further negotiations – Sean Maguire, ADN

Education bill inches toward House vote amid negotiations and questions over funding – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Major Alaska school funding boost heads toward final House vote as Gov. Dunleavy says he doesn’t support it – Sean Maguire, ADN

Alaska education funding boost nears vote of full House amid affordability concerns – James Brooks and Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

‘Alaska has become too federally dependent,’ Congressman Begich tells state Legislature – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Alaska House advances school funding bill over Republican objections – Sean Maguire, ADN

Down a member, Alaska House takes unusual step to move education funding bill forward – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Vote advances key education bill in Alaska House, with tight margin. The illness-caused absence of Rep. Maxine Dibert, D-Fairbanks, is complicating legislative work in the state House – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska House majority’s major school funding boost stalls with a Fairbanks legislator’s absence – Sean Maguire, ADN

Bill proposes $24K in student debt relief for ex-Alaskans who return to teach or work for the state – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Alaska students and school board members make emotional plea to legislators to boost school funding – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

State spent $47M on correspondence allotments last year, new report shows – Iris Samuels, ADN

Four Alaska school districts named in legal challenge over use of public funds to pay for private school tuition – Iris Samuels, ADN

Alaska House lawmakers begin hearings on high-priority pension bill – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

State lawmakers face tough budget choices as faltering oil revenue turns a surplus into a deficit – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Education bill negotiations with Gov. Dunleavy off to a ‘productive’ start, lawmakers say – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

‘It’s crystal clear now, there isn’t cash lying around’: Alaska Senate majority discuss education funding concerns – Leah Thom, KTUU

Legislators and governor form working group seeking quick education funding and policy package – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Seeking to avoid public education fight, Alaska lawmakers plan quiet talks – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska’s test scores fuel political debate on future of schools – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

Alaska Legislature faces a $200M-plus deficit as it weighs school funding, dividend – Sean Maguire, ADN

Opinion: Data doesn’t show that Alaska charter schools are more effective than neighborhood schools – Beth Zirbes and Mike Bronson, ADN

With fight over education renewed in state capital, lawmakers consider funding methods – Beth Verge, KTUU

Sen. Stevens Issues Statement After Governor Dunleavy Releases Education Package – Noah Hanson, Alaska Native News

Gov. Dunleavy unveils education legislation that would boost Alaska homeschooling and charter schools, setting up a battle with lawmakers – Iris Samuels, Sean Maguire, ADN

Dunleavy outlines ‘omnibus’ education bill, setting stage for negotiations with lawmakers on school funding – Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media

Gov. Dunleavy introduces education legislation he says aims to tackle school policy reforms – Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon

Bill making big increase to BSA receives overwhelming early support – Juneau Empire

Dunleavy’s delay in releasing state salary study frustrates legislators, union leaders. Draft report to assess competitiveness completed last June, but not released publicly – Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire

Lawmakers grill Dunleavy administration over delayed salary study – Iris Samuels, ADN

Limited state revenue foreshadows fiscal tug-of-war in Alaska Legislature. School funding, Permanent Fund dividends and aging state buildings will compete for scarce dollars due to lower oil revenue – James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Alaska senator pushes to limit cellphones in class, students react – La’shawn Donelson, Your Alaska Link

Cultural crossroads: Helping Native Alaskan students thrive – Blake Timm, Pacific University