Anchorage School District - Educating All Students for Success in Life
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A message from the Superintendent
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Dear ASD Families and Staff,
I am writing to provide you with an update on ASD’s FY25 budget development process. ASD faces a $98 million dollar structural deficit, largely due to unprecedented inflation, stagnant state funding, and lower student enrollment. Per Anchorage Charter requirements, ASD must submit a balanced budget to the Anchorage Assembly by the first Monday in March.
The School Board reviewed the Administration’s FY25 budget proposal during a special Board meeting on Tuesday, Feb, 27th. This meeting came on the heels of the historic passage of Senate Bill 140 (SB140) through the Alaska House of Representatives on Feb. 22 and the Alaska Senate on Feb. 26. SB140 addresses K-12 funding, charter schools, student transportation, correspondence schools, the Base Student Allocation (BSA), and support for reading improvements.
Hours before the special School Board Meeting, Governor Mike Dunleavy held a press briefing to discuss the education bill, where he expressed concerns about the bill as it is currently written. Regarding SB140, the Governor stated that “It’s a three-legged horse, meaning it’s not going to run very far.” He continued “But we can fix that. We have 15 days before it becomes law or before I veto. And I made it clear that if there are not certain elements in that bill… I won’t sign it into law. I’ll veto it.”
These developments added a new dimension of uncertainty to ASD’s budget development deliberations. Ultimately, the Board unanimously approved an amendment to the budget, which included reversing the elimination of 69.3 teacher positions and maintaining the IGNITE program. This amendment adds back $8.7 million to the budget, roughly the equivalent of a $100 BSA increase, to benefit student outcomes.
While the Administration and School Board members recognize that projecting a minimum revenue increase of $8.7M carries some risk, the amended budget proposal is also an acknowledgement that 93% of the legislature passed SB140, which would increase the BSA by $680 if signed into law. It is our hope that the legislature and Governor’s office continue their conversations to agree upon a path for this to occur.
These developments mean that, while the School Board has passed an FY25 budget, ASD depends on the State to increase funding for public education this legislative session. Should school districts receive no additional revenue this year, ASD will need to swiftly change course and make reductions that could impact your children’s classroom experience. While this worst case scenario is discomforting, I am committed to being transparent with you as we weather this storm together.
Years of flat funding have left us, along with other districts across Alaska, in a fiscal crisis. I encourage you to voice your support for investing in public education by contacting your elected officials. Your stories and perspectives matter, and they play a vital role in shaping our priorities moving forward.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication and commitment to our students' success.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Bryantt
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For more information about the ASD's FY 25 Budget Click Here
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Did you know that the Anchorage School District (ASD) has more than 7 million square feet of facilities, has about 90 school and support buildings, and maintains the largest public facility footprint in the State of Alaska?
As Alaska’s largest public school system, the District’s priority is to create a safe and secure environment for students and staff. Extending the useful life of its buildings ensures that the buildings adequately support the educational needs of our students. ASD budgets nearly $21 million annually for building and preventive maintenance. A school’s functional life, without major renewals, ranges from 30 to 50 years. However, for many of ASD’s schools—built in the 1960s and 1970s, additional funds beyond the routine maintenance budget are occasionally needed.
This is accomplished through its annual Capital Improvement Program, funded by Municipal Bonds which will appear on the April 2nd ballot, during the Municipal Election.
The ASD bond is Proposition 1 on this year’s ballot.
Proposition 1 will support the Anchorage School District (ASD) with security and safety upgrades and school revitalizations.
The link below will give you details to make an informed decision.
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The 2024 School Climate and Connectedness Survey is available!
Please take a few moments to fill it out online which helps ASD with strategic planning, evaluating programs, and improving community-school relationships in our schools.
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When the weather outside is frightful, the ASD mobile app puts the information you need in the palm of your hand.
Our free app is available to anyone in our community who wants to stay connected, with additional features for current ASD families and students.
Download the app today to be sure you get the latest updates, including inclement weather alerts.
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The Anchorage School District is changing school start and release times for elementary, middle, and high schools. The changes will begin this August, in the 2024-25 school year, to allow families and the community time to adjust.
New start times may affect schedules outside of school. Consider how it could impact your family and start thinking through changes you may have to make in childcare, transportation, work schedules or other activities. Anchorage after-school providers have been phenomenal partners as we continue to meet to discuss adjusting schedules.
Charter schools and Alternative programs have different start and release times.
For a list of every school’s start and release times, click here.
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Seven of the District’s comprehensive middle schools and Stellar Secondary are preparing to welcome sixth-graders next school year.
Moving elementary 6th graders to middle school programs provides long-term benefits for students including:
- More options for core instruction
- Increased elective / exploratory opportunities:
- Band, orchestra, choir and PE are offered daily
- CTE course offerings available
- World language electives available
- Daily PE classes and participation in sports and activities
- Greater access to school counseling
- Increased daily instruction in Social Studies & Science
- Availability of higher level math (i.e. Algebra & Geometry)
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ASD's Lottery is open! Apply today! The District is taking applications until March 21, 2024. ASD offers additional schools or programs outside of the typical neighborhood school. The District utilizes a randomized lottery system to provide equal opportunity for all students who would like to participate in a school or program outside your child’s neighborhood school.
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Starting with the graduating class of 2028 (current 8th graders), Anchorage School District is adopting a new approach to provide students with career opportunities and workplace skills.
This means all future high school students will be a part of an academy and participate in a career-themed course every year.
Starting In fall 2024, students entering 9th grade will explore career pathways so they can make informed choices based on their interests, passions, and workforce trends. Current 9th and 10th grade students will also have opportunities to participate in career-themed courses, starting in Fall 2025, during their 11th and/or 12th grade year(s).
We are eager to involve parents and guardians in understanding and shaping the academy structure.
We urge you to please fill out the Academies of Anchorage Parent/Guardian Survey here.
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For more information about the Academies of Anchorage, please click the link below:
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The District is making a series of adjustments to its reading instruction to help students become better readers. Reading is foundational for students’ academic journeys, future opportunities, and overall success. Research shows time and again that reading proficiency by the end of the third year sets students on a path to excel academically and unlocks a world of possibilities for their futures.
ASD’s goal is for 80% of third-grade students to be strong readers by 2026. To achieve that goal, the District is implementing a number of changes this school year.
New reading curriculum – You'll notice a new reading curriculum for students in grades K-3. (Grades 4-5 will be implemented in the following 2024-25 school year.) ASD's dedicated teachers and staff are provided specialized training to effectively implement this curriculum.
New state requirements – The Alaska Reads Act has six strategic components designed to provide support to schools so all students read at grade level by the end of third grade. The new law incorporates a series of requirements for districts and teachers. These adjustments present an opportunity for educators and parents to work together to support young readers and open doors of opportunity and future success through the power of reading.
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The Anchorage School District recognizes March as Women's History Month and will celebrate the achievements of women here in Alaska.
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Congratulations, Sara Miller, Alaska 2024 School Counselor of the Year
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Congratulations to South Anchorage High School Counselor Sara Miller, who was recently recognized as Alaska’s 2024 School Counselor of the Year.
A counselor in ASD for 20 years, Sara created the Civic Leadership program at South, which provided students the opportunity to mix community service with their classes to earn college credits at UAA: University of Alaska Anchorage.
Thank you Sara for your commitment to students.
We appreciate you!
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Check out the new podcast, ASD Shine Bright, which highlights the awesome things students and staff are doing in the Anchorage School District. Listen to amazing stories, journeys, challenges, and successes. In the latest interview we interview 2024 Alaska Teacher of the Year Catherine Walker.
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Annual Wolverine ASD Elementary Basketball Tournament
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Move over NBA!
We have our own all-stars on and off the court in the Anchorage School District as ASD’s Elementary School Basketball teams showed out recently at the annual Wolverines Invitational Basketball Tournament put on by longtime founder/organizer Leroy Jones, a Physical Education Teacher at Willow Crest Elementary.
About 30 ASD elementary students ages 10-12 displayed great team work and sportsmanship while having fun playing basketball.
Thank you to the Alaska IBEW Local 1547 for the sponsorship and the Gamma Alpha Alpha Chapter for volunteering.
Thank you Leroy Jones for organizing this tournament (since 2009) and league (since 1993) at no cost to student athletes.
We appreciate you!
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Community partners and District departments will be providing information and will be available to help families sign up for services.
Partners include: AK Public Media, Anchorage Public Library, ASD Preschool, Charlie's Produce, Food Bank of Alaska, KCI Head Start, SNAP/TANF, The Children's Lunchbox, Trendsetters.
This event is available to ASD families.
Hot meals will be served.
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Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games
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The Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games is happening during spring break from March 10-16, in the Valley and Anchorage.
There will be 2,000 athletes in 20 sports, showcasing their talent from ASD, Alaska, and the world.
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#ASDShineBright - ASD Student Advisory Board Visits State Capitol
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Anchorage School Board President Margo Bellamy, Asa Utic (12th Frontier Charter), Colton Penetac (10th BDEAHS), Gwyn Eggleston (10th BDEAHS), Anchorage School Board Treasurer Kelly Lessens, and Maggie Cothran (11th Polaris & AMCS)
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#ASDShineBright - Chugiak High School, Homestead Elementary School collaborate to celebrate reading through art
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Chugiak High School Art Teacher Rachel Wall and Homestead Elementary School PTO President and Kindergarten Paraprofessional Erin Bodner joined forces to bring 20 high school arts students and two elementary students from each grade at Homestead together to create a mural inside Homestead that celebrates the students' I-Did-A-Read program. The Iditarod-inspired reading program encourages the elementary students to read at home to meet different checkpoints/reading minute goals. Thank you, Rachel and Erin, for bringing your communities together to celebrate reading through the arts!
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Chugiak Art Teacher and Homestead Parent, Rachel Wall, far left, center row, led efforts with Homestead PTO President/Kindergarten Paraprofessional Educator, Erin Bodner, far right, center row, to bring these creative Chugiak High School students to Homestead for the mural project.
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#ASDShineBright Read Across America Day - Lake Otis Elementary School
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#ASDShineBright - North Star Elementary & ASD Maintenance Team
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We at North Star Elementary want to extend our thanks to Maintenance and Operations as a whole!
We have received great support from ASD BPO Supervisor Specialist Rob Galosich, with our North Star Elementary BPO Jay bee De Lara, supporting our night crew, as well as ASD Maintenance Supervisor Brad Thiesen and ASD Security Specialist Mike Ireland throughout the year.
This team manages so many sites and with all the added snowfall, extreme temps, and staffing, we greatly appreciate the support they give and the work they do.
They help us keep our school safe.
We love this photo simply because we all happen to be matching nicely with our teammates but we want to express our appreciation for Maintenance and Operations as a whole and the huge lift they do.
Abby O'Neill, Principal - North Star Elementary
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Follow ASD on social media as we shine a light on the small but bright moments that happen every day in our schools. ASD will highlight stories of kindness, students accelerating individually and in group projects, and staff successes using the hashtag #ASDShineBright.
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Margo Bellamy, President
Carl Jacobs, Vice President
Kelly Lessens, Treasurer
Dora Wilson, Clerk
Dave Donley
Pat Higgins
Andy Holleman
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Tues. March 5
School Board work session and School Board meeting
March 11 - March 15
Spring Break
Tues. March 19
School Board work session and School Board meeting
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5530 E Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99504
907-742-4000
asdk12.org
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