[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6359008,"mediaKeyId","2207461-45b6785847be24706d5d941345874789","parentId",2207461,"title","Fairbanks school leaders warn of multimillion-dollar deficit, propose BSA increase to avoid further cuts","audioSeconds",2341,"startMs",1093000,"endMs",3434000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2207461-45b6785847be24706d5d941345874789&start=1093&end=3434","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2207461-45b6785847be24706d5d941345874789/thumbnail_1093000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6359008/Alaska/Fairbanks-school-leaders-warn-of-multimillion-dollar-deficit-propose-BSA-increase-to-avoid-further-cuts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359008-a00afa916b555e22a8037c201a8a93d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141751&Signature=UBmSNeF-vu2U9gNxxg-orNG3Sx6a2cqJhUwEXmHpGwSd6FtalcKAyrg80aeNG~uWWCXkUh~mDZfYuyBhvSk-p-zalYOySU-zgiNg6tP-FydPw9TW-EawdomIFkUieE-fagHHS7yi2p5z-GDy6cNWaDJzuvrqbk0LLqqZDOmIdMFV5L7PmYhmk0cR0feuQNuModqvflbtaG56VvdkT8PyJuMBAvV4R1XYPrKgwcZcBmdynrj6PY-EgGwrXUE4csqSV1merDmi37QZsCfeMF4gDjAfbqBuUxqCl1I25W6Y2AuQMbfaPnMno0-HgOrF0FbQ68CwsmaI0BaMEK2R7l2Oag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-01-29T00:00:00Z","article","Superintendent Dr. Luke Meinert and Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board President Melissa Burnett told the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 29 that the district is confronting a deep budget shortfall and enrollment declines that threaten programs and neighborhood schools.

Burnett and Meinert said the district currently enrolls about 11,805 students — 5,601 in elementary grades and 6,204 in secondary grades — and that enrollment has dropped by roughly 650 students this year. Burnett noted that about 25 percent of students are military-connected, citing Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base ties.

The presenters outlined several budget scenarios. They said the district is working from a $16 million shortfall if one-time outside-BSA funding provided last year is continued, and that a preliminary calculation without those assumptions produces a larger $31 million shortfall, which they described as roughly 15 percent of the district’s general fund. The district said potential savings from five proposed school consolidations would be approximately $7 million, which would still leave an identified gap of roughly $6 million for their Feb. 17 budgeting deadline.

Burnett listed cuts already made in recent years: four school closures, elimination of many elementary music and art programs, elimination of extended learning programs, a 20 percent reduction in administration since 2019, depletion of activity funds and the loss of more than 250 jobs. The district said it subsidizes transportation and nutrition services from general funds, and that transportation funding has not increased since 2015.

Meinert and Burnett urged the legislature to shift targeted funding into the Base Student Allocation (BSA) or otherwise provide sustainable support. They asked for a $1,400-per-student increase to the BSA this year, saying that amount would prevent additional class-size increases, allow required tutoring under the Alaska Reads Act to be fully implemented, and address liabilities such as outdated technology and deferred curriculum purchases.

Committee members pressed for clarifications on fund balance and budget processes. The presenters said the district’s unobligated fund balance available to address deficits was described in testimony as \"$750,000,0.0\" in the record; later clarification requests were promised to the committee. Burnett described the district’s general fund reserve as insufficient relative to recommended targets and said the board had worked to rebuild reserves from near zero in recent years.

District officials warned that continued state funding uncertainty has consumed administrators’ time and limited the district’s ability to recruit for positions early in the budget cycle. Meinert said months of district staff time have been spent on scenario planning and that the fiscal uncertainty has taken staff time away from student achievement work.

Members of the Fairbanks community who testified during the committee’s public comment period reiterated concerns about school closures, class-size increases, cuts to programs and the broader community impact of losing neighborhood schools. Several called on legislators to raise the BSA, fully fund transportation and sustain Alaska Reads Act implementation to protect neighborhood schools and student supports.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Education Committee - January 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Fairbanks North Star Borough School District leaders told the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 29 that the district faces a significant budget shortfall and enrollment decline that could force more school consolidations and program cuts.","taxTitle","Education, Standing Committees, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Alaska","taxId",16224,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6359013,"Anchorage educators warn of staffing crisis, cite high turnover and recruitment costs",833,151000,984000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2207461-45b6785847be24706d5d941345874789&start=151&end=984","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2207461-45b6785847be24706d5d941345874789/thumbnail_151000.jpg","/articles/6359013/Alaska/Anchorage-educators-warn-of-staffing-crisis-cite-high-turnover-and-recruitment-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359013-61972890e3978bae24e53794deac7b89/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141751&Signature=e-6pEHEurI9NrnFL2-5kawFu6~TkzaO5qzAqagiLZS9anRiSZzPIcthPhlPBWSGzkcvbSp6i5K5ag4UwO7EOVNqSiuOAoIkblww~hG-Fu6naPveVxAPtLR3I9n3LA6YfiQd3d1PeZf5N-wL3zzSMdrb31S7uQxYmRyPyIg~XTb4qppCrBWFkgCzup7gFqyAQ8Od2j6tutEG05Z8H7-f12wNe1tuwlj0RP-WJNw6IEQqRytTzC8Ay5lyLJvdluUu2a6-am2m0IUPmyQWVzete7SyGp0FJ7XV8~n~wctTNPKGOVV57dKrrqwzHTl0u1WbclywHL~LBtZgcgojU6sfZ9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Corey Aist, president of the Anchorage Education Association, told the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 29 that Alaska is facing an education emergency driven by high teacher turnover, large class sizes and unsustainably high special-education caseloads.

Aist, speaking remotely, said Anchorage Public Schools — which he said serves about 42,000 students — is at the “top of this teacher shortage crisis.” He told senators that the district estimates it spends more than $10 million a year on recruitment and related costs to fill vacancies, and that the district provided an estimate that it costs over $27,000 to navigate a single resignation.

The AEA president described a churn of certificated staff in recent years and said the union’s survey of members found nearly 1,100 responses from the roughly 3,000-member pool. He said the survey showed more than two-thirds of respondents reporting they felt “overwhelmed” or unable to continue at their current workload, and that early-career teachers are leaving at high rates: Aist reported that 48 percent of resignations last year were teachers in their first five years and that 42 percent were in their first three years.

Aist connected staffing instability to student outcomes, saying new teachers need time to learn curriculum and policies and that frequent turnover harms student relationships and school culture. He also said the departure of veteran staff has led to lost programs and weakened supports that help attendance and engagement.

Committee members asked about the AEA survey methodology. Aist said the union used SurveyMonkey, sent the survey to all Anchorage Education Association members (about 3,000), and received roughly 1,100 responses; he said the presentation extrapolated those responses to the larger membership but that he could provide raw data on request.

Aist urged legislators to fund measures that help districts retain educators and to prioritize having a certificated teacher in every classroom. He singled out funding for the Alaska Reads Act and supplements for nationally board-certified teachers as examples of targeted investments that, if funded, would help student success.

The committee did not take any formal votes on funding or legislation during Aist’s presentation. The senator chairing the meeting, Senator Tobin, and other members present asked clarifying questions on the survey and recruitment estimates.

Aist concluded by saying his goal was to advocate for students and communities and that stopping the outflow of educators will require funding and supports to keep certificated teachers in Alaska classrooms.","Corey Aist, president of the Anchorage Education Association, told the Senate Education Committee that Alaska faces an education emergency driven by teacher churn, high caseloads and recruitment expenses. AEA survey results and district figures were presented as evidence of worsening student outcomes and reduced classroom stability.","actionData","errors"]

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Fairbanks school leaders warn of multimillion-dollar deficit, propose BSA increase to avoid further cuts

Anchorage educators warn of staffing crisis, cite high turnover and recruitment costs