Anchorage school board approves $3.67 million emergency budget revision to staff schools before term

Member Higgins moved and Member Bellamy seconded a motion to approve ASD memorandum 038FY2526, a revision to the district general fund budget in the amount of $3,670,000. The motion passed 6–0, with the student representative voting yes.

The board approved the allocation as an emergency action so the district can fill positions and release funds before the school year begins. "I move to approve a revision to the general fund budget in the amount of $3,670,000," Member Higgins read into the record when the board reconvened with physical copies of the memorandum.

The memorandum breaks down the immediate allocations as follows: 20 classroom teachers ($2,600,000); elementary school support for curriculum, music and in-school activities ($230,000); middle school support for tutoring, after-school programs and professional development ($60,000); high school support for extended school, curriculum and professional development ($260,000); and a proportionate share for charter schools ($520,000). The district will develop a full budget revision that includes the remainder of restored state funding and present it to the board at a future meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Bridal told the board the timing of the legislature's action required rapid deployment of funds. He said the legislature overrode the governor's veto of the Base Student Allocation (BSA) increase, restoring roughly $700 per student and an estimated $10 million for the Anchorage School District. He told the board the district requested immediate authority to deploy $3,670,000 “to get resources to students” and to recruit teachers "because every day counts." The superintendent said a fuller plan for the full restored funds will be presented to the board in the coming weeks.

Board members explicitly invoked the board's emergency provision of policy to approve the allocation without the usual advance notice. Several members characterized the action as necessary to avoid losing candidates and to address large class sizes in some schools. Member Bellamy said, "We are...thankful to the legislators that voted to put the money where it needed to be most," and that the superintendent needed authority to get schools ready.

Vote record (as read at the meeting): Student representative Madison — Yes; Member Donnelly — Yes; Member Higgins — Yes; Member Holloman — Yes; Member Bellamy — Yes; Member Wilson — Yes; President Jacobs — Yes. The motion was adopted by a vote of 6 to 0 with the student representative voting yes.

Discussion (nonbinding) included members expressing concern about "bubble" classrooms with very large enrollments and noting the use of one-time funds this year may create budget pressures in future fiscal years. Members and the superintendent said the district will return with a comprehensive plan for the remainder of the restored funding and that the board will reapprove that full plan using normal notice and review procedures.

Next steps: administration will begin recruiting and deploying the approved positions and funds immediately. The board directed staff to prepare a full revision for board review at a future meeting. No amendments to the motion were recorded.

This action was taken under the single recorded formal motion on ASD memorandum 038FY2526 and the board's emergency procedure; no other formal motions, amendments or vetoes were recorded in relation to this memorandum at the meeting.