The Anchorage School Board on Tuesday decided to only close just two schools, rather than the four to seven that were proposed for closure over the past two years at various times.
The two that will close are Nunaka Valley and Lake Hood elementary schools.
Fire Lake Elementary in Eagle River was spared, after school board members were advised that a massive number of family-style homes had just been permitted by the city to be built within walking distance of the school, which also has a program for learning disabled students. Also spared was Baxter Elementary in Anchorage.
The district has suffered from declining enrollment, going from 50,055 students in 2002 to 42,588 last year. That’s a drop of 7,467 students in a decade. By 2027, it’s predicted that the district will be down to 37,000 students, as demographic changes take place and people move to the Mat-Su for better quality of life and better schools.
If an average elementary school has 400 students, the district still has far too many elementary schools and too few students for them, and will have even tougher decisions ahead between now and 2027, just three years away. The Tuesday exercise is one that will have to be repeated at least every year for the next few years.
Rep. Jamie Allard of Eagle River had fought to keep Fire Lake Elementary open, in part because of the new homes being built nearby and in part because of the specialize programs for learning disabled students. School Board member Dave Donley was persuaded by that argument, and asked during the meeting that the Fire Lake school be taken off the closure list due to the new information. Member Kelly Lessens seconded the motion. Only board president Margo Bellamy and member Carl Jacobs voted against the amendment offered by Donley.
Member Pat Higgins offered an amendment to take Baxter off the list for a similar reason — it has programs for special needs students and is a Title 1 school that has a current enrollment that would make it easier to incorporate more students, as other schools close.
“I understand this is an emotional outcome for these affected school communities. Together, we will work to support each other in this transition and ensure our students continue to thrive,” Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt said in a press release.
“I’m exceptionally thankful to the four School Board members who listened to the heartfelt pleas from Fire Lake’s supporters,” Allard said. “Closing a school within a vibrant, growing part of the School District’s boundaries never made practical or economic sense. Fire Lake is saved, deservedly, and they can continue educating their students to high levels of academic competency; ultimately enhancing our town’s entire community fabric.”
Here’s a video clip of the section of the meeting that dealt with the Fire Lake Elementary School:
The whole reason for this comes down to the Anchorage voters electing a communist assembly and now a commie mayor. The good people are leaving and it will get worse.
I am a parent who has exercised parental choice. My 31 YO daughter graduated from East HS. My 16 YO son attended private school thru 8th grade & is now home schooled thru ASD Frontier Charter. My 8 YO adopted son attended private school thru 2nd grade. He is now at Baxter Elementary as a 3rd grade, getting IEP support. I wanted to see Baxter stay open and helped rally the troops to educate our community. As a previous anti-ASD parent, the environment at Baxter has really helped to change my mind. The staff and families at Baxter have been amazing and I am proud to have helped keep Baxter Elementary a viable neighborhood school!!!